Passion is defined as a strong and barely controllable emotion according to dictionary.com. We can be passionate about a multitude of things, but what is the cause of this passion? Two things I’m passionate about are education and young people worshipping God.
I get really excited at the opportunity to teach or when I see young people worshipping or standing up for God. It’s not something I can completely explain as to why I’m passionate about them, but there is a part of me that goes into overdrive when it comes to my passions. It’s an intense feeling of love that makes me want to do all in my power to see things work out.
I thought about this as Easter is approaching and I reflect on all that Christ has done for me. His sole purpose of coming to earth was to go to the cross. He knew that was his mission and he knew how much suffering he would have to go through, but he did it anyway.
It was the “strong and barely controllable emotion” that lead him to the cross. Even though we were the ones that sinned and caused the separation from God, he wanted to restore our relationship with him. The love he had for us was one that would endure anything, just for the chance that we might accept him.
“But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.” Isaiah chapter 53, verse 5. The peace we have today was because of the suffering he endured. The hope we have today was because of his death on the cross. And even though he asked for another way out – “if possible, let this cup pass” (St. Matthew chapter 26, verse 39) – he didn’t want to leave us without a way out of our suffering.
The passion he had for God’s creation kept him on the path to calvary so that you and I can receive salvation today.
The same passion that was in Christ to save us from sin, is also in us for other people. That’s why we teach, preach, evangelize, and hurt when people die outside of Christ. Like Christ, there is a part of each of us that want to see the best in others. We feel hurt when others hurt, we feel sad when others are sad but we also feel happy when others are happy.
It’s the intensity of our emotions that drives us to carry out the great commission: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel” Mark 16:15, because we don’t want to see anyone perish. If we truly understand what heaven is and all the benefits that we have in Christ, then we would want everyone to experience it too. That’s why Christ came to earth, he knew what we would be missing out if he didn’t bridge the gap between us and God.
Now because of his love, we now are benefitting from blessings that are contingent on us accepting salvation. Whatever your passion is, use it to draw others to Christ. He put the passion in you for a reason because your passion will not be my passion, so I won’t be able to reach the people you can reach.
As you reflect on your passion, how can us use it to reach others? Another passion of mine I forgot to mention was writing; this is my way of using my passion to reach others. What is your passion?
Ashea West is a third-year medical student from Manchester, Jamaica studying in the USA. I am passionate about sharing the gospel, using whatever opportunities I am given. I do believe in blooming wherever I am transplanted.
