Jesus Is The Center Of The Universe

Colossians 1:14-20, “In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.”

Since we are all individuals, we tend to think that the universe centers around us. We are all selfish by nature from birth. The carnal man only thinks about himself. The spiritual man thinks about others. Our dear Lord Jesus Christ led the way by example, living for others:

Philippians 2:1-5, “If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:”

Even on the cross, while dying, Jesus thought about his mother. The Lord asked His beloved disciple John, to take care of His mother. John 19:26, “When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!” Our dear Savior was continually putting OTHERS before Himself.

If you want to be a good Christian, then LIVE FOR OTHERS! Pastor Jack Hyles said:

I read biographies a great deal. Especially in the early, formative days of my ministry, so very often did I read biographies. I have read about the lives of most great men. One of my favorite characters in all of history is General William Booth. General Booth was the founder of the great Salvation Army, when it was more salvation than it was army. He led in spreading the Gospel over much of the world, as he organized street meetings and evangelistic services.

With the passing of the years, General Booth became an invalid. His eyesight failed him, and one year he was in such bad health that he was unable to attend the Salvation Army Convention in London, England. Somebody suggested that General Booth send a telegram or a message to be read at the opening of the convention. General Booth agreed to do so.

When the thousands of delegates met, the moderator announced that General Booth would not be able to be present because of failing health and eyesight. Gloom and pessimism swept across the floor of the convention. A little light dispelled some of the darkness when the moderator announced that General Booth had sent a message to be read with the opening of the first session. He opened the message and began to read the following:

Dear Delegates of the Salvation Army Convention: 

Lord, let me live from day to day
In such a self-forgetful way
That even when I kneel to pray,
My prayer shall be for others.
Others, Lord, yes, others;
Let this my motto be.
Help me to live for others
That I may live like Thee.

OTHERS! 

Signed, General Booth.

You recognized awhile ago the words of our Lord. No one ever exemplified the "others" life as did our Saviour. He never typified His life for others quite so beautifully and so clearly as He did when He was on the cross. As I have said from this pulpit several times, our Lord in dying on the cross, suffered as no man ever suffered, agonized as no man ever agonized, and hurt as no man ever hurt. His Father turned His back on Him. His own race had crucified Him. His own city had hated Him. His own people had nailed Him to the cross. Yet when our Lord opened His mouth on Mount Calvary, the first statement that He made had nothing to do with His own pain or His own suffering, but He said, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." (Luke 23:34) He did not speak of His own suffering.

SOURCE: OTHERS, a sermon by Pastor Jack Hyles; September 29, 1974 

There is no happiness in this life, than the happiness that comes from living for OTHERS for Jesus Christ. I love to be helpful. I am always looking for ways to be helpful. I love when I am in the store, and I hear someone at the cash realize that they don't have enough money. I love to say: “Please let me pay for that.”

I was in the store one day and a homeless man stood in line behind me. He had a big bag of Doritos and a coke in his hands. The woman at the cash register sharply said to him: “No, leave the store!” I took out my wallet and handed the man a $20 bill. She said to me: “Are you sure?” I gladly smiled and said: “Yes.” He now had his own money and could buy what he wanted. That is love dear friend. I know he did that on purpose. Perhaps someone would say that I helped enable him to beg some more. But friend, I saw a man for whom the Lord Jesus Christ died on the cross! I saw the son of a mother and father. I saw a man created in God's image. I have a weakness for helping OTHERS, because I love everyone.

I am not the center of the universe and neither are you friend, Jesus Christ is! I get frustrated with businesses who think that everything centers around their little company. They buttonhole customers with emails, annoying you with pop-up advertisements on your computer. I hate when they do that! It's like they think life is all about them. What of every business did that? For that reason I decline to give out my email when asked at stores.

We live in a very unethical society in the United States. When you install some software on your computer that you paid for, they put a bunch of junk on your computer that you didn't ask for, polluting your system. Companies lie all the time! They lure you in with an offer for a low price. But then once you sign up or buy their service, they hound you for more money. I could write a book just about the shady business practices we see in our American society today. My point here is that these selfish companies think the universe centers around their product, or their service, and then make your life more difficult in an attempt to get more of your money.

Wouldn't it be tremendous if everyone put OTHERS before themselves? Our precious Lord set the example, living for OTHERS. Ultimately, Jesus gave the greatest sacrifice by dying on the cross for our sins. JESUS PAID IT ALL!!! Colossians 1:20, “For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.” The only way anyone will ever have eternal life and see Heaven someday, is through the precious BLOOD of Jesus! 

You just need to cease from your own works (good and bad works alike, which are all dead works). You don't have to give up anything to be saved, simply come oh guilty sinner and “BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST” (Acts 16:30-31). Eternal life is a gift from God (Romans 6:23). Faith is the only righteous thing I can do!