FAST FOOD: THIRD HELPING (2016)

If someone does not choose a particular means, it is because he or she sees no hope in it for achieving what they wish to achieve in the future. Let us say that a person or community desires to “obtain eternal life,” that is, to exist with their loved ones, and perhaps all people, beyond biological death in a state where there is no pain, no sorrow, no sin, no sighing but only peace and everlasting life. Then someone comes along, say Jesus, and says, “Follow me. I am the way, the truth and the life.” If a person does follow Him it would be because he or she has hope that His way, His truth and His life will bring him or her and their loved ones, and perhaps all people, to eternal life, to existence beyond biological death and into a state where there is no pain, no sorrow, no sin, no sighing but only peace and everlasting life. If a person or a community desiring to “obtain eternal life” does not follow Him, it would be because that person or community does not have any hope that His way, or perhaps any way, is the way to “obtain eternal life.” In any case in such a person or in such a community the hope that Jesus saves one or all from eternal death would be zero. His way to “obtain eternal life” would not be good news, but a hopeless use of one’s life and time.