TITLE: Is Jesus’ Offer Desirable? “[Human history is] – the long terrible story of man trying to find something other than God which will make him happy.” - C. S. Lewis “The desire for happiness is deeply planted in the human heart ...the grand test of a person’s faith and religion is this: does it make them happy.” - J. C. Ryle OUTLINE: What is Jesus offering? Is Jesus’ offer desirable? (will I be happy?) What is Jesus Offering? Answer: Eternal life! It is found exclusively in Jesus. (1 Jn. 5:11) It is a gift of God’s grace. (Romans 6:23) It is received by believing in Jesus. (John 3:16) It is the only satisfying life. (John 4:14; 6:27) It is something to be assured of. (1 John 5:13) It is knowing God personally. (John 17:3) It is salvation from eternal punishment. (Mt. 25:46) “If one is a Christian and Christianity is true, there is an infinity of an infinitely happy life to be won.” - Pascal, Pensées The Way of Happiness (Psalm 1:1-3, NASB) “Blessed (happy) is the person who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers! 2 But his delight is in the Law of the Lord, And on His Law he meditates day and night. 3 He will be like a tree planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season, And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers.” The Way of Unhappiness (Psalm 1:4-6) “The wicked are not so, But they are like chaff which the wind blows away. 5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. 6 For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the wicked will perish.” The great difference between the wicked (the indifferent to God) and the righteous is the fact that righteous know God and have eternal life. This makes all the difference in the world now and in the judgment to come. “God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing.” - C.S. Lewis