Is Jesus Worth More Than Romance?

A quiet visit to a bookstore turns into an unexpected conversation about Jesus, the Christian faith, love, eternity, and the Gospel.

Yeona comes to buy her first Bible, hoping to understand why the boy she loves—and the girl he loves—are both being changed by Jesus. Instead, she meets Emika, the bookstore owner, whose gentle questions lead the conversation far beyond romance.

Together, they explore questions many seekers ask:

Why would someone choose Jesus over a relationship?
Why do some Christians wait until marriage or even walk away from romance for their faith?
What is sin, and why does the Gospel say everyone needs forgiveness?
Why did Jesus die on the cross?
Why would a loving God allow Hell?
Is Christianity true because it's useful—or because it's true?

As the conversation unfolds, Yeona begins to realize that the deepest questions aren't really about finding the right relationship—they're about whether Jesus is truly worth more than anything.

What neither of them realizes is that Emika is Hanaya's mother—the very girl Yeona sees as her romantic rival. As Yeona unknowingly describes Hanaya, Emika offers wisdom without realizing how deeply personal the conversation truly is.

Whether you're exploring Christianity, asking honest questions about faith, or wondering whether Jesus is truly worth following, this episode is an invitation to consider the Gospel for yourself.

For Curious Minds:
Looking for answers to life's biggest questions?
Read Why Am I Here? for free online:
https://superdifferent.com/book/why-am-i-here/

Hanaya Oki Chapters:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7r2cZbxW9a3lozAhzXfEPy

Know more:
https://superdifferent.com/hanaya

Transcript

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SPEAKER_00 0:01

Excuse me? Oh, uh yes? Can I ask you something? Sure. Have you done this before? Done what? Walk into a quiet bookstore, set up a tripod, and immediately start a photo shoot. I get nervous just opening a bag of chips in a quiet bookstore. Hehehe. Oh, sorry. I wasn't bothering anyone, was I? There weren't many people around, so I thought I'd take a few quick shots. That's exactly why I'm impressed. Most people would spend 10 minutes wondering if they're disturbing someone. You spent 10 seconds finding the best light. Well, good lighting waits for no one. I respect that philosophy. But you probably should have asked the owner first. Oh, where's the owner? You're talking to her. Oh no, I'm so sorry. I get carried away sometimes. Should I pack everything up? Hmm. I probably should make you. I'm kidding. If you were knocking shelves over, it'd be a different story. You've actually been very considerate. I'm just curious. These aren't just random selfies, are they? You look like someone with a plan. What's the photo shoot for? Thank you. I've started getting opportunities to work as a teen model, so I do little shoots like this to build my portfolio and create content for Instagram. Hopefully it helps me land more freelance work. Oh, no wonder. Aren't you signed with an agency? I am. But the competition is really tough, so I can't just wait for the agency to find every job for me. My contract lets me accept some freelance work if my agency approves it. I can tell you take this seriously. Modeling is fun, but acting is what I really want to do. That's the dream. I'm planning to enroll in acting school after I graduate from high school. I can definitely picture you acting. You have a very natural presence. Thank you. It's funny though, you can have everyone's attention except the one person's attention you actually want. Oh. That sounded awfully specific. So, there's someone you like? Yeah. Would you mind if I sat here and told you about it? It's actually one of the reasons I came here. Of course. Have a seat. So the thing is that boy is my childhood friend. I dropped hints back in ninth grade, but he never really picked up on them. Then my dad's work took us to Seoul. By the time I came back, he had moved here from Tokyo. And now you're both here again? Yeah. I came back this year because my dad wanted to start a business here, and somehow. I ended up in the same class as him. It felt like a second chance, so I surprised him. That must have been quite a moment. It was. But then I found out he likes someone else, so I'm kind of in this weird position where I'm close to him again, but not really where I want to be. So did you ever tell him directly, like, clearly say you like him? Yeah. Just a month ago, I'm trying to change how he sees me, so I'm not just his childhood friend anymore, but I don't want to pressure him. So I'm keeping it playful. If it doesn't work out, at least I won't regret trying. That's a brave way to handle it, but also a difficult one. I know. But I'd rather try quietly than keep wondering what if for years. Does the other girl know? No. She also doesn't know that I know she likes him, and he's not going to tell her I confessed. That would just make things messy for him. She likes him too, but she keeps him at a distance. She says she feels called to something else. So that's kind of where I'm taking my chance. Do you think it's wrong for me to pursue him? I'm not trying to hurt her. But if she finds out someday she might be upset, would that make me selfish? No. Being interested in the same person doesn't make either of you wrong. The important question is whether you're respecting his feelings. I am. Then I don't see anything cruel about it. People aren't prizes that belong to whoever noticed them first. If he has feelings for her, that's his choice. If he develops feelings for you, that's his choice too. The other girl is allowed to be disappointed. But disappointment isn't the same thing as being wronged. Huh. I've never heard it explained like that. That's because when we're young, we tend to think love is about fairness. Most of the time it's about honesty. Hmm. And there's something else. He started following Jesus recently. The girl he likes had a lot to do with that. They talk about Jesus, the Bible, all that stuff. At first I thought it was just another thing they had in common, but then I got curious. That's actually another reason I came here today. I wanted to buy a Bible. Maybe a few beginner books about Christianity, too. Oh, are you genuinely curious? Or are you trying to understand something that's important to him? Both, I think. At first it was definitely because of him. But the more I read online, the more I realized I don't actually know much about it. So now I'm curious for my own sake, too. And maybe because of that girl. I don't know her that well. She's actually a nice girl. But she tests my patience sometimes. I don't think she's trying to hurt him. She doesn't push him fully away, but she doesn't let him get close either. So he keeps hoping. And maybe that's not fair to him either. What I don't understand is this. She clearly likes him. I can see that much. And he's a genuinely good guy. So what is it about Jesus? What is it about this mission she talks about that makes her willing to walk away from something like that? She's even decided she won't kiss before marriage. I don't mean that in a judgmental way. Honestly, that's what fascinates me. Because if I liked someone that much, I don't think I would have that kind of self-control. You know, it might seem unusual to you, but for a Christian girl to make a choice like that, it's actually not as rare as people think. We just don't hear many of those stories. Even at our age? Yes, even at your age. Sometimes people postpone relationships. Sometimes they even walk away from someone they genuinely love because they believe God is calling them somewhere else. And sometimes it's about drawing boundaries around things they believe are sacred. A kiss might seem like a small thing to one person. To another, it represents a level of intimacy they're not ready to give away. And more than that, for some, those choices aren't really about proving how disciplined they are. They're about honoring God with something they consider precious. Hmm. And actually, I'm a Christian myself. I had a feeling. You did? A little. The way you talk about these things. And I'm a single mother too. I have a daughter who's about your age. Wait, my age? You look way too young for that. I had her when I was 17. Seriously? Yeah. My story is for another day. But trust me, I've spent a lot of time thinking about the choices people make when they're young. One thing I've tried very hard to teach my daughter is to take the long view of life. What do you mean? Most people make decisions based on what they want right now. What feels exciting right now. But Christianity asks a different question. It asks, what kind of person am I becoming? And where is this choice leading me? Not just next week. Or next year, even beyond this life. Beyond this life? Eternity. Christians believe this life isn't the whole story. And if that's true, then eternity should influence how we make decisions here, including romantic ones. So that's what you think she's doing. She isn't rejecting him because she doesn't care. She's choosing something she believes is greater? Yes, I think that's possible. Sometimes people walk away from something they deeply want because they believe something else has a greater claim on their life. I don't think I understand that. Most people don't. Falling in love is one of the most powerful experiences we have. There's a thrill to it. Being wanted, being chosen, feeling seen. Those are beautiful things. God created those desires. But they're powerful enough to blind us, too. You think that's what's happening to me? I think you're 17. And I think you're asking honest questions. That's different. But I do think it's worth asking yourself something. If you started reading about Jesus because of a boy, would you still want Jesus if the boy disappeared? That's a difficult question. It's an important one. Because if Jesus is only a bridge to something else you want, eventually you'll stop crossing the bridge. I don't think I fully understand. The Bible says, our lives are like a mist, here for a little while, then gone. Most people know they're going to die. They just live as though it's always far away. So they postpone the most important questions. Like what? What am I living for? What does the afterlife look like? What will matter when everything else is taken away? That's a little scary. It can be, but it's also freeing. Because once you realize this life isn't forever, you stop asking temporary things to satisfy an eternal longing. No relationship can do that. No career. Not even the perfect person. Can I ask something? Of course. You keep talking about Jesus as if he's worth giving things up for. A relationship, a future you thought you wanted, even something as simple as a kiss. Why? What makes him worth that? That's a good question. And honestly, if Christianity were only a list of rules, I wouldn't think he was worth it either. Then what is it? Christians believe the deepest problem in the world isn't politics, or money, or bad luck. It's the human heart. The human heart? Jesus said that evil comes from within us, not just from outside us. Pride, hatred, envy, selfishness, deceit, lust, bitterness, the things that hurt other people, and the things that separate us from God. But I haven't committed any serious sin. Can I ask you something? Have you ever lied, looked at someone with lust, been jealous of someone, been selfish, held a grudge? Yeah, of course. Me too. Most people hear the word sin and imagine murderers or criminals. But Christianity asks a much deeper question. Have I loved God with all my heart? Have I loved my neighbor as myself? If I'm honest, I haven't. Not even close. But that doesn't make you a terrible person. No. It makes me a sinner who needs God's grace. And that's true of every one of us. For the story of Jesus to become more than just a familiar story, you have to realize sin isn't just making mistakes. It's failing to love a holy God, the way he deserves to be loved. God's commandments reveal his holy standard. None of us has lived up to it. Even the sins we think are small matter because God is perfectly holy. That takes humility to admit. It means letting go of the image we have of ourselves and allowing God to show us who we really are. That sounds pretty harsh. I know. It sounds harsh at first. It certainly did to me. But here's the other side of it. If our problem is really that deep, then forgiveness can be that deep too. That's why Christians treasure Jesus. Not because we think we're better than everyone else, because we know we aren't. We believe he forgives people who could never earn it. I've needed that forgiveness more times than I can count. I don't know if I like hearing that, but I also can't really argue with it. But if God is so loving, why would he send someone to hell? I actually think that question starts with another one. Have you ever had a boy pursue you when you didn't want him to? Oh yeah. Suppose he kept pursuing you anyway, and he gets to the point where he says, Look, I love you so much, I'm going to force you to love me. Could he do that? Heh, no, he can't. Exactly. Love can't be forced. If he really loved you, what would he do? He would leave me alone. Right. That's one part of the answer. God doesn't force people to love him, he invites us. Again and again. But there's another part. God isn't only loving, he's also holy and just. He can't simply ignore sin. That's why Jesus came. At the cross, God's justice and mercy meet. Jesus took the judgment we deserved, so we could be forgiven and brought back to God. If someone spends a lifetime saying, I don't want you, God won't force that person into his presence. Hell is ultimately separation from God, the result of continually rejecting him. Heaven is life with him. I never thought about it that way. And when someone believes they've been loved and forgiven much, it changes what they value. It changes what they're willing to sacrifice, and it changes what they live for. Because they believe eternity is real, and that nothing this world offers compares to the rewards and honor that come from God. I think I'm starting to understand why that girl is the way she is. Can I ask you something? Sure. Let's say you get the boy, he falls in love with you. Then what? Uh, I don't know. I guess I would be happy. You would? For a while. And that's not a criticism. It's just how we're made. Deep down, every person is searching for something that lasts. It's almost like the soul is homesick for a paradise it's never seen. And beneath all our longings is a longing for God. That's a beautiful way of putting it. Maybe that's why you're curious. Not just about the boy, not just about the girl. Maybe you're beginning to ask bigger questions. Maybe. If that's true, then my advice is simple: learn about Jesus because you want to know whether he's true. Not because he's useful. And don't trade your soul for any relationship. No matter how wonderful the person seems. Because if Christianity is true, your soul is worth more than getting the answer you want from that boy. And can I tell you something else? You know, when I first saw you, I thought, that girl's fearless. But after talking with you, I don't think it's fearlessness. I think you care deeply. You just have the courage to act on what matters to you. Don't lose that. Just make sure the things you give that courage to are worthy of it. I hope I don't forget what you just said. Can I tell you one more thing? You seem like such a sweetie. There's an innocence about you. Life has a way of trying to wear that down. The world tells you to chase whatever feels right, to become whoever gets you the most attention. But the deepest kind of beauty comes from becoming the person God created you to be. Hey, you're crying, I'm sorry. Did I say something that upset you? No, no, it's not that. When you called me sweetie, you reminded me of someone. Anyway, thank you. Really. I think I should head home. My dad will start worrying if I'm too late. Could I buy a Bible? And would it be alright if I came back sometime? I would like to talk with you again. I would like that. You can come around this time of day. That's when my part-time assistant is here, so I'm usually free. Oh, sweetie. I never asked your name. Oh dear. Sorry, it just sort of slips out. It's okay. I actually like hearing it. I'm Yona. And you are? Amika. Come on, let's find you a Bible.