तुम्हाला कधी येशूला सोडून देण्याचा मोह होतो का?

ग्रेग मोर्स

देवाने तुमचे तारण केले याचा तुम्हाला कधी खेद वाटतो का?

इस्राएल लोकांना खेद वाटला.

त्यांनी पिढ्यानपिढ्या सुटकेसाठी देवाकडे धावा केला. मग अखेरीस त्यांनी ऐकले की देवाने फारोला आपल्या लोकांना जाऊ देण्याची आज्ञा दिली आणि देवाने फारोचे मन वळवण्यासाठी दहा पीडा पाठवल्याचे त्यांनी पाहिले. जल्लोषात, त्यांनी तांबडा समुद्र पार केला आणि सीनाय पर्वतावर पोहोचले, येथे त्यांनी आपल्या उध्दारकासोबत करार केला. येथून पुढे त्यांच्या सदैव सुखी-समाधानी आयुष्याची सुरुवात होईल अशी आपण अपेक्षा करतो. पण त्याउलट आपण पाहतो की, इस्राएल लोक आपल्या उंच शिखरावरून खाली घसरले. ठार मारल्या गेलेल्या अजस्त्र मिसरी अजगराला पाहून पुढे गेले आणि आपल्या राजावर आक्षेप घेतले, अविश्वास दाखवला आणि तो आपल्या सुटकेसाठी आलाच कशाला याबद्दल दुःख करू लागले. हे सर्व त्यांच्या सुखी-समाधानी आयुष्याच्या सुरुवातीलाच घडले.

एकामागोमाग एक तक्रारी. प्यायला पाणी नाही;  कुरकुर. खायला अन्न नाही;  कुरकुर. हवेतसे जेवण  मिळत नाही; कुरकुरच,  एवढेच नव्हे तर ते शोक करतात. त्यांना तर मांस खाण्याची अढळ, तीव्र इच्छा आहे. परंतु अद्भुत मान्ना त्यांना नको. आम्हाला शाकाहारी बनवण्यासाठी गुलामगिरीतून आमची सुटका करण्यात आली काय? तेव्हा त्यांना आठवू लागते.

“—- इस्राएलाची संतानेदेखील पुन्हा रडत म्हणाली, आम्हाला मांस खायला कोण देईल? जे मासे आम्ही मिसरात फुकट खाल्ले होते त्याची आठवण आम्हास येते, आणि काकड्या, खरबुजे, व शाकभाजी व कांदे व लसूण यांचीही आठवण येते, परंतु आता आमचा जीव सुकून गेला; आणि या मान्न्यावाचून काहीच आमच्या दृष्टीस पडत नाही” (गणना११:४-६).

आमचे गुलामगिरीचे दिवस जाचजुलमाचे होते खरे, पण निदान तिथे पोटभर खायला तरी मिळत होते. त्या दिवसांची त्यांना हुरहूर लागते — देव त्यांच्या सुटकेसाठी धावून आला त्या आधीचे हेच ते दिवस, “आणि लोक येथून तेथून  आपापल्या कुटुंबात, प्रत्येक माणूस आपल्या डेऱ्याच्या दारी असे रडत होते. ते मोशेने ऐकले; आणि यहोवाचा राग फारच पेटला; मोशेच्या दृष्टीनेही ते वाईट होते” (गणना११:१०).  लोक मोठ्याने ओरडून विचारतात, “आम्हाला खायला मांस कोण देईल? कारण मिसरात आम्हाला बरे होते” (गणना ११:१८).

इस्राएल लोकांचे सांत्वन करणे अशक्य आहे. मोशे हतबल झाला आहे. यहोवा अत्यंत संतप्त झाला आहे.

तुम्हांला मांस हवे? तुम्हाला ते मिळेल. देव वचन देतो: “तर महिनाभर ते तुमच्या नाकपुड्यांतून बाहेर निघेपर्यंत आणि तुम्हांला त्याचा कंटाळा येईपर्यंत तुम्ही ते खाल; कारण यहोवा जो  तुम्हांमध्ये आहे त्याला तुम्ही धिक्कारले आहे; आणि कशाला आम्ही मिसरातून निघून आलो असे म्हणून तुम्ही त्याच्या पुढे रडला आहा” (गणना ११:२०)  

“तेव्हा यहोवाकडून वारा वाहीला आणि त्याने समुद्रापासून लावे आणले आणि….. ते छावणी जवळ पाडले. तेव्हा लोकांनी उठून तो सगळा दिवस व सगळी रात्र व पुढचा सगळा दिवस लावे गोळा केले; मांस त्यांच्या दातांत होते आणि ते चावण्याच्या आधीच यहोवाचा राग लोकांवर पेटला, आणि यहोवाने लोकांना भारी मोठ्या पटकीने मारले.” त्यांनी अन्नासाठी यहोवाला नाकारले. लोकांच्या तोंडात घास असतानाच देवाचा न्याय आला. त्या दफनभूमीचे नाव “किब्रोथ- हत्तव्वा” (म्हणजे ‘सोस   घेणाऱ्या लोकांच्या कबरा) असे ठेवले (गणना११:३१-३३).     

धर्मत्याग्यांची भूक

आपण ह्या लोकांपासून धडा घेऊ या, “— यासाठी की त्यांनी लोभ धरला त्याप्रमाणे आपण वाईट गोष्टींचा लोभ धरू नये ” (१ करिंथ १०:६). त्यांच्यापैकी इतके जण तारणाच्या शिखरावरून इतक्या लवकर कसे खाली पडले? आपण धर्मत्यागाच्या अधःपतनाच्या पायऱ्यांचा मागोवा घेऊ या.

१. रोजच्या भाकरीचा कंटाळा येतो.

मला एका मनुष्याची आठवण येते, ज्याने आपल्या विश्वासाची कबुली सोडून दिली कारण त्याला शुक्रवारच्या रात्री काय करावे हेच कळत नव्हते. मोजक्याच शास्त्राभ्यासांना उपस्थित राहणे त्याला पेलवत होते –  कारण तेथे रोमांचकारी काय होते? त्याने कबूल केले की, त्याच्या सभोवतालच्या ख्रिस्ती लोकांच्या जीवनाने तो अजिबात मोहित झाला नव्हता. हे जीवन त्याला मान्न्याप्रमाणे अगदी बेचव होते — तेथे मांस कुठे होते? कांदे कुठे होते?

 ख्रिस्तापासून दूर जाणाऱ्यांची सुरुवात रोजच्या भाकरीचा कंटाळा करण्यातूनच सुरू होते. काही अविश्वासू लोकांचा असा आग्रह असतो की, जर देवाने त्यांना एखादे चिन्ह दाखवले, तर ते विश्वास ठेवतील. इस्राएल लोकांना दररोज सकाळी चिन्हे दिसत होती, पण त्याचा परिणाम विश्वास बसण्यात नाही, तर कंटाळा येण्यात झाला. पुन्हा दंवाबरोबर भाकरीच? देव आपल्या भोजनात विविधता आणेल का? या नित्याच्या भोजनात काही चमचमीत खाद्यपदार्थांची भर घालता येईल का?

त्याचप्रमाणे, कोठेही असलेले विश्वासाची कबुली देणारे विश्वासी लोक कृपेच्या सामान्य साधनांचा तिरस्कार करण्याच्या मोहात पडतात. दररोज सकाळी देवाच्या अद्भुत वचनाचा पुन्हा पुन्हा आस्वाद घ्यायचा काय? किती वेळा बायबल वाचायचे, चर्चला जायचे, प्रभुभोजन घ्यायचे, आणि किती प्रार्थना सभांना झोपून उपस्थिती लावायची? आत्मिक जीवनासाठी पोषक असलेल्या गोष्टींचा तिरस्कार देवापासून बहकण्याच्या  धोक्यात असलेल्या लोकांच्या ह्रदयात चोर पावलांनी प्रवेश करतो.  क्वचितच असे घडते की ते देव आणि त्याच्या वचनाचा अचानक धिक्कार करतात — याउलट, ज्या महान तारणाची उत्कंठा देवदूतांना आहे त्या तारणाकडे हे लोक रमतगमत जातात.

२. जगिक मांसाची लालसा येते.

पुढे ते अस्वस्थ ह्रदय अधिकतेची, आणि विविधतेची हाव बाळगते. सुरुवातीला, त्यांना फक्त त्या जुन्या गुलामगिरीतून मुक्त व्हायचे होते. पापाने त्यांना रिक्त केले आणि भ्रमात टाकले. ते जितके जास्त देहाचे चोजले पुरवू लागले, तितके त्यातून मिळणारे सुख आटत जाते. ही फसवणूक त्यांनी ओळखली. त्यांना एक नवीन देश, एक नवीन जीवन, एक उत्तम मार्ग हवा होता.

ख्रिस्ती धर्म हाच तो पुढचा मार्ग बनतो. ते ख्रिस्ताविषयी ऐकतात आणि आनंदाने वचन स्वीकारतात — त्यांचा विश्वास बसतो, की हेच ते आहे. पण जसजसे ते त्याच्यासोबत प्रवास करतात, तसतसे त्यांच्या लक्षात येते की त्याचा मार्ग अपेक्षेपेक्षा अरुंद आणि इच्छिल्यापेक्षा अधिक खडतर आहे. त्यांचे दैहिक स्वभावाचे मित्र त्यांना साथ देत नाहीत. प्रार्थना ऐकली जात नाही (असे वाटते) आणि या बायबल वचनांना अर्थ तरी काय आहे? ते मिसरमधील जीवनाकडे मागे वळून पाहतात — म्हणतात ना? ‘विरह प्रेम वाढवतो.’ होय, तिथे मृत्यू, बंदिवास आणि इतर दुःखे होती, पण मिसरने त्यासोबत आमचे लाडही पुरवले. त्या कलिंगडांचे, कांद्यांचे आणि लसणाचे काय?

मग झाले काय? कदाचित त्यांना मिसरमधून स्वातंत्र्य हवे होते, पण देवाच्या अटींवर नाही. त्यांची योजना होती: जगातील कठोर धन्यापासून प्रथम स्वातंत्र्य मिळवू मग पुढचे पुढे पाहू. म्हणून, त्यांना बोचणारे दुःख नाहीसे करण्यासाठी ते ख्रिस्ती धर्माशी सहमत झाले. आणि तात्पुरता तो यशस्वी ठरला. परंतु मग हा नवीन स्वामी त्यांना हव्या असलेल्या सर्व गोष्टी, हव्या तशा, हव्या त्या वेळी देत नाही. त्यांना पवित्रता, मंडळी किंवा हा देव यांची मनापासून गोडीच लागत नाही. किंवा त्या धन्याची चाकरी करत असताना आपल्या किंवा आपल्या प्रिय व्यक्तीसोबत काहीतरी वाईट घडते. ते आपल्यातील कथित उणिवांना  घट्ट बिलगून बसतात आणि त्याची तुलना आपल्या पूर्वीच्या आयुष्याशी किंवा पूर्वीच्या मित्रांच्या आयुष्याशी करतात. क्रूरतेच्या, साथीच्या रोगांच्या आणि तांबड्या समुद्राजवळ गायलेल्या कृतज्ञतेच्या गीतांच्या आठवणी हरवून जातात. मांसाचे दृश्य त्यांच्या विचारांचा कब्जा घेते.

मिसर यापेक्षा चांगले नव्हते का?

३. कुरकुरीला वाव देतात.

जेव्हा रोजच्या भाकरीचा तिरस्कार वाटू लागतो आणि जुन्या सुखांची आठवण येते, तेव्हा कुरकुर सुरू होते. जवळ जे  काही आहे त्यावर नव्हे, तर जे हवे त्यावर. तसेच गरजेच्या गोष्टी नव्हे, तर हट्टाच्या सर्व गोष्टींवर दृष्टी खिळून बसते. आणि त्यामुळे हृदयाला असंतोषाचा रोग जडतो. ज्याप्रमाणे पत्नी पतीऐवजी जुन्या प्रियकराची आठवण करते, त्याचप्रमाणे त्यांना मिसरची आठवण येते.  ख्रिस्ताऐवजी प्रिय असलेल्या जुन्या गोष्टींची आठवण करणे या वृत्तीला प्रभू ‘त्याचा  नाकार करणे’ म्हणतो ते योग्यच आहे.

संतांची कुरकुर ही सैतानाची आवडती गाणी आहेत. एकदा का प्रभूचे स्वातंत्र्य धिक्कारून सैतानाच्या बेड्या घालून घेतल्या की, विलाप आणि कुरकुर, टीका आणि निंदा सुरू होते आणि हाच सैतानाचा विजय. कृतघ्नतेच्या एका पातळीवरून दुसऱ्या पातळीवर. आधी पाणी, मग अन्न, मग अशाच प्रकारचे अन्न. असमाधान उघडपणे जाहीर केले जाते. त्यांना संतुष्ट करणे अधिक कठीण होत जाते. प्रत्येक निराशा जणू प्रतिध्वनित होते. देवाच्या स्वर्गापेक्षा सैतानाचे पतित जग पसंत केले जाते. आणि एका धर्मत्याग करणाऱ्याचा जन्म होतो.

मग आता आम्ही जाणार तरी कुठे?

तुम्हाला देवाच्या तारणाबद्दल पस्तावा करण्याचा मोह होतो का? अधिक खोचकपणे विचारायचे झाल्यास, तुम्हाला ख्रिस्ताला सोडून देण्याचा मोह होतो का?

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                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बाजूला असलेल्यांनी मिसरचा ध्यास करणे ही तर घृणास्पद गोष्ट आहे. सीनाय येथे केलेल्या करारापासून नव्हे तर; आपण वधस्तंभापाशी केलेल्या करारापासून दूर जातो. आपण ख्रिस्ताकडे पाठ फिरवतो. त्या वधस्तंभापाशी तुमच्या अपराधांसाठी रक्त सांडणाऱ्या, तुमच्या पापांसाठी दुःख भोगणाऱ्या ख्रिस्ताला पाहात असताना  त्याला सोडून जाण्याचे कारण तुम्हाला सुचू शकेल का? आपल्यासाठी मोडलेल्या जीवनाच्या भाकरीत सहभागी होण्याचा, त्याची आठवण करण्याचा, त्याच्यासाठी जगण्याचा, त्याची ओढ बाळगण्याचा आपल्याला कंटाळा यावा का?

इतर मांसाने आपली रुची मोहित करावी का? खुद्द येशूच्या मौल्यवान रक्ताने विकत घेतलेल्या या महान तारणाबद्दल आपण कुरकुर करायला सुरुवात करावी का? तो आपल्यासाठी पुरेसा नाही का? ख्रिस्तामधील देवाच्या आशीर्वादांमध्ये अशी कोणती उणीव आहे की, ज्यामुळे आपण मागे फिरू? जर त्याने आपला पुत्र देऊन आपले प्रेम आधीच सिद्ध केले आहे, तर तो त्याच्यासोबत कृपेने आपल्याला सर्व काही देणार नाही का? तो परिपूर्ण आनंद आणि अनंतकाळचे सुख देतो; तुम्हाला इतरत्र यापेक्षा चांगले काही मिळू शकेल का?

शुक्रवारच्या रात्री काय करावे हे कळत नाही म्हणून आपण ख्रिस्ताला सोडून द्यावे का? आपल्याला अजून वैवाहिक जीवनाचा जोडीदार मिळाला नाही म्हणून आपण ख्रिस्ताला सोडून द्यावे का? आपल्या कुटुंबाला तो मान्य नाही म्हणून, किंवा आपले मित्र आपल्याला त्यांच्या पार्ट्यांना बोलावणे बंद करतात म्हणून आपण ख्रिस्ताला सोडून द्यावे का? आपल्या शेजाऱ्यांसोबत ख्रिस्ताविषयी बोलायला लाज वाटते म्हणून आपण ख्रिस्ताला सोडून द्यावे का? त्याचे अनुसरण करणे धोकादायक आहे म्हणून आपण ख्रिस्ताला सोडून द्यावे का? ज्या ओकारीने माखलेल्या जीवनातून त्याने आपल्याला बाहेर काढले, त्याच जीवनात आपण परत जावे का? वधस्तंभाकडे पाहून, या नश्वर जगातून आपली सुटका करण्यासाठी तो आला होता, याचा खेद  करायचा का? अनेकांनी असेच केले. त्या पहिल्या इस्राएलच्या लालची लोकांनी प्रभूच्या तारणाचा तिरस्कार केला आणि हा असंतोष प्राणघातक ठरला. शतकानुशतके अशा प्रकारच्या लोकांनी आपली दफनभूमी भरून जात आहे.

नका हो. आता संकल्प करू या — प्रभू कृपा कर! — जग देत असलेल्या कोणत्याही आमिषांना बळी पडून आम्ही ख्रिस्ताचा त्याग करणार  नाही. स्वतःचा वधस्तंभ उचलून प्रभू जिथे नेईल तिथे त्याच्यामागे जाण्यासाठी मोजाव्या लागणाऱ्या किमतीचा विचार आम्ही केला आहे. ज्याच्यावर आम्ही विश्वास ठेवला आहे तो कोण आहे हे आम्हाला माहीत आहे. “कारण मी असे मानतो की आमच्यासाठी जे गौरव प्रकट होणार आहे, त्यापुढे या आत्ताच्या काळाची दुःखे ही काहीच नाहीत” (रोम ८:१८). आपण विचारतो, “आम्ही कोणाकडे निघून जाऊ?” त्याच्याकडेच तर  सार्वकालिक जीवनाची वचने आहेत — तो स्वतःच सार्वकालिक जीवन आहे (योहान ६:६८).

तोच आमचा वाटा आहे; आम्हाला दुसऱ्याची गरज नाही. तोच आमचा देव आहे; आम्हाला दुसरा नको आहे. तोच आमचे जीवन आहे; आम्हाला जीवन देणारा दुसरा कोणीच नाही.