JESUS CAN BE YOUR BEST FRIEND

Victor M. Eskew

 

            A “best” friend is very difficult to obtain.  Most of us only have two or three best friends in our lifetime.  We value our best friends.  We know just how much of a blessing they are to our lives.  There are many things we could do without, but we will not do without our best friend.

            One of our best friends, if we will allow Him to be, is Jesus Christ.  This seems like it would be impossible because He is not on earth at this time.  We must remember, however, that He is not like other men whose presence has departed from the earth.  He is not dead.  He is alive.  Too, He is both man and God.  In His exalted position, He longs to be our friend.  Once we have chosen to make Him our friend, He has the ability to fulfill every requirement of a best friend to every one of us.  Let’s look at what Jesus can do for us as a friend.

            First, He will be INVOLVED in our lives.  Isn’t this one of the aspects of friendship?  A friend is there.  A friend knows about the things happening in our lives.  They know the good and bad.  They know our successes and our struggles.   Once Jesus is allowed access into our lives, He will be there.  He has promised:  “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Heb. 13:5).  His omniscience allows Him to know everything about us.  He knows and understands the physical things that transpire in our lives.  He also knows and understands the deep, hidden, emotional struggles through which we pass in life.

            Second, He will always CARE.  Again, this is what a true friend does.  Associates do not really care.  We can tell by their affect and their lack of attention that they are not absorbed in our troubles, hurts, and difficulties.  Such is no so when a true friend knows of our trials.  A true friend will drop all to listen.  That friend may leave all behind to be at our side.  This is how our Jesus is toward us.  Peter exhorts us, saying:  “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you” (I Pet. 5:7).

            Third, Jesus will truly LOVE us.  Love for a true friend is not something that comes and goes.  It is not based upon our perfect behavior.  A true friend will love even when we are not loveable.  Jesus manifested His love for us initially by dying in our stead on the cross of Calvary.  He himself said:  “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).  He will continue to love us throughout all of our lives.  His love is the purest expression of agape love.  Our flaws, shortcomings, and sins will not cause Him to cease loving us.  He will constantly be seeking our best interest.

            Fourth, Jesus will always SUPPORT us.  There are times in life when those we think are our friends forsake us.  We need them.  We are in trouble.  We need support, but they are nowhere to be found.  This will never happen with Jesus.  He will always be in our corner.  If everyone else turns their backs on us, Jesus will be present.  Paul learned this lesson while in a Roman prison.  He writes about it in II Timothy 4:16-17.  “At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me:  I pray that it may not be laid to their charge.  Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me…”  Yes, when everyone else turned away from Paul, Jesus was there.  He will be there for us as well.

            Fifth, as our best friend, Jesus will REBUKE us.  A true friend will not allow us to continue on a dangerous or sinful course without rebuking us.  He will warn us of evil.  He will rebuke us of wrong doing.  The reason is because he loves us.  Jesus often rebuked His disciples while He was with them during His earthly ministry.  He will rebuke us as well.  In the letter to the Laodiceans in the book of Revelation, Jesus said:  “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten…” (Rev. 3:19).  Proverbs 27:6 tells us:  “Faithful are the wounds of a friend…”  When Jesus rebukes us, we may hurt for a while, but His rebuke is intended for our good.  He does not want to see us hurt.  He does not want for us to be lost.

            Sixth, a best friend FORGIVES.  Our best friend realizes that we are not perfect.  He understands that we have weaknesses.  Sometimes our imperfections can harm the one we care about the most, our friend.  Our friend, even though he is wounded, is willing to forgive.  Jesus is a friend who will forgive.  He forgave the woman taken in adultery.  He forgave Peter who denied Him three times.  He forgave the penitent thief on the cross.  He would have forgiven Judas had he truly repented and asked for forgiveness.  These examples show that Jesus is willing to forgive even the most horrible actions we could commit.  In Exodus 34:6-7, we learn of the forgiveness of God.  “And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth.  Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin…”

            Seventh, Jesus will GIVE because He is our best friend.  He will give us advice through the pages of the New Testament.  He will give us blessings from the storehouses of heaven.  He will give us divine intervention when we stand in the presence of God in prayer.  He will provide hope when our lives seem to be unravelling.  He will give us strength to endure the temptations and trials of life.  He will give us rest from our burdens.  In Matthew 11:28, Jesus says:  “Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

            No can have too many best friends.  However, no one has very many best friends.  Jesus is willing to assume that position in your life.  Can you imagine having the Son of God has your best friend?  We begin developing that relationship with Him by obeying His word.  It was Jesus who said:  “Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you” (John 15:14).  Make Jesus your best friend today.  You will never regret having Him at your side.