Hebrews 5 explains the meaning of living by faith in the Son of God. One day, when we die, our tombstone will only record our name, date of birth, and date of death. But the footprints of our lives as children of God will be inscribed in eternity. Do not let it be that at the end of life we say, “What I regret most after living this life is that I never truly lived my own life.” What this means is that the life lived was not the life of the Son of God, but the life of the children of the world, with its endless pleasures. In the end, we will regret it. Therefore, while there is still an opportunity to change, let us change! The footprints of the Son of God—namely, the footprints of the Lord Jesus—are already written in the Bible. Meanwhile, the footprints of our lives will be written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
Jesus emptied Himself. How should this be applied in our lives? As written in Philippians 2:5-7, we too must empty ourselves. Celebrate His life, for we must put on His life. When He was baptized, Jesus was not a sinner, yet He identified Himself with sinners. How much more should we, who are indeed sinners, surrender ourselves to be baptized with genuine repentance. When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, the world was offered to Him. But He chose to submit to the Father in heaven, worship God, and serve Him alone. Celebrate His life in our lives—even to Gethsemane and Golgotha.
Many people quote verses from the Old Testament and then force their application onto Christians. But in truth, who are they imitating? We must imitate the Lord Jesus. Celebrate and follow His life, because such a life will surely weave the Father’s smile in heaven at every moment. Consider: when Jesus fed the hungry; when everyone wanted to stone the sinful woman, but He welcomed her; when a sinner washed His feet with tears; when Mary broke the alabaster jar of nard to anoint Him. Even when Jesus entered Gethsemane, He wrestled between His own will and the Father’s will, and He chose the Father’s will, and this is the life we must celebrate, follow, and emulate. Otherwise, whose life are we putting on? How can we be called God’s children if we do not bear the footprints of the Glorious One, our Lord Jesus Christ?
Therefore, let us no longer fill our lives with the wrong things. We must end our short lifespan well, finishing well. Do not be cruel, do not be wicked, do not be stingy, do not be selfish, and do not do anything that wounds God’s heart. We must intentionally weave God’s smile in this brief journey of life. One day, when we close our eyes, we will see eternity. As we look back, we will realize how blessed it was if, from today, we had truly repented and changed. Otherwise, we will only be able to say, “Lord, give me a second chance.” But remember, that second chance does not exist. Therefore, do not be arrogant. Do not think it is already finished. We must still strive.
Hebrews 5:7 records: “In the days of His flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverence.”
Never think that when Jesus took on a human body, He was incapable of sinning. He could! He could have rebelled against the Father; He could have chosen His own way. But He chose obedience to the Father in heaven. When He said, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” that was not a show. His sweat fell like drops of blood—He truly struggled between His will and the Father’s will. But He ended His prayer with the words, “Not my will, but Yours be done.” Jesus was serious about it. He was not pretending. And this proves that He loved the Father in heaven more than His own desires.