For the last week our life has been a blessed confusion. And it’s been wonderful!
“Now hold on just a minute! How is ‘blessed confusion’ wonderful?”
Well, let me tell you. Take two working adults. Add a visiting daughter on vacation with her three girls. Then put us all under the same roof and you have a recipe for blessed confusion!
Trying to coordinate work schedules, play time, day trips and family dinners disrupts our daily routine. And when three or four people talk to me at the same time, it’s confusing!
But I wouldn’t trade it for the world.
According to the Bible, living to see your grandchildren is a blessing from the Lord. It says they are “a crown to the aged.”
Now I don’t like to think of myself as “aged,” but I guess I am to my grandchildren! And I thank God that I’m healthy enough to play with them and enjoy them. What a blessing!
Last night the girls were getting ready for a bedtime story. The youngest walked up in her nightgown and said very seriously, “Grandpa, I wished we lived here.” That melts my heart.
On Sunday we took them to Sunday School and church. They looked so pretty in their dresses. But, more than that, they learned about God and his love for them through Jesus Christ.
It amazes me sometimes how people skip church because family is visiting from out of town. Not only do our grandchildren enjoy going to church with us, they love God wholeheartedly.
I guess that’s why Jesus said, “Unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” The faith of children is so pure and strong.
If you think about it, the only thing of lasting value you can leave to your children and grandchildren is your faith. Everything else gets spent, broken or wears out. But faith is forever.
Plus, in the light of eternity, passing your faith on to your children and grandchildren is the best investment you can make. When you die you will leave everything else in life behind. But if your family trusts in Christ, you will all be reunited in Heaven again.
Now some folks may think that’s too morbid to think about. Think again! Life goes by so fast. And then you will be somewhere forever a lot longer than you lived on earth.
But faith is good for more than just eternity. David, the shepherd king in the Bible once said, “I have been young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging for bread.” God knows how to take care of his children in this life as well.
The time to think about God is now. One of the wisest men to ever live, King Solomon, wrote, “Remember your creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come.”
How fast “the days of your youth” fly by! In just a little more than a week, I’ll be attending my fortieth High School reunion. Where did all those years go?
In the Bible, a man named Job said, “My days are swifter than a runner; they fly away.” In the musical “Fiddler on the Roof,” Tevye sang, “Sunrise, sunset; swiftly fly the years.”
Before we know it, children turn into adults. Our time with them is so brief.
If you are blessed to have your children and grandchildren nearby, stop and thank God. If they live far away and you only see them once or twice a year, be sure you enjoy the “blessed confusion” when they visit!
But most importantly, spend as much time with them as you can. Remember to point them to God and be the best example to them that you can be!
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
Showing posts with label Eternity. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Eternity. Show all posts
Monday, June 15, 2009
Monday, December 29, 2008
Final Thoughts
No this isn’t my last column. At least I don’t think so.
However, since it’s the end of the year, this seems like a good time to reflect and ponder life.
Do you ever think about how short your life is? How every year seems to go by a little faster than the last one? Try to really THINK about it. Not just notice it and comment about it.
It’s good to pause and think about life’s brevity. To consider life’s end once in a while. It helps us see life as it really is and to make needed changes in our lives.
I enjoy talking with people about spiritual things. Often I’ll ask them a question such as, “When you die, what do you think you’ll find on the other side? What’s the final reality?”
It surprises me to hear some say, “I haven’t given it much thought.” Really? How could you not think about the most certain experience in the world?
“Now hold it just a minute,” I can hear someone say. “Isn’t all this talk a little morbid?”
Only if you think ignorance is bliss.
Take a minute and do the math. A man born in America today will live on average to age 75. A woman to age 80. Then what happens? They die and go somewhere forever.
So if we subtract 75 or 80 years from forever it equals—forever! And as they say, “Forever is a long, long time.”
People spend their lives planning and preparing for retirement. And how long does it last? Fifteen to twenty years? Or maybe thirty--if they’re blessed with good health and long life?
And remember--there’s no guarantee they’ll even make it to retirement!
But everyone is guaranteed to die. Last time I checked, no one exits planet earth alive.
Because of this fact of life, the Bible’s advice to us is, “Prepare to meet your God.”
Now the Bible doesn’t tell us that to frighten or scare us. The point is to encourage us to push the “Pause” button on our busy lives and think about what happens when life’s movie ends.
Listen to the wisdom of God’s Word: “Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the dust returns to the ground it came from and the spirit returns to God who gave it.”
According to the Bible there is no reincarnation, no purgatory, and no second chances. Jesus clearly taught that eternity holds just two options: a place of delight and adventure the Bible calls heaven and a place of eternal punishment Jesus called hell.
To be sure we don’t miss this fact the Bible says, “Man is destined to die once and after that to face judgment.” That’s the facts straight up. No sugar coating.
The good news is that God made it possible to spend forever with him. Through Jesus’ death on the cross, God offers forgiveness and peace to all who come to him through faith in Christ.
Jesus came to bring new life now and eternal life later to everyone. God’s offer is not just for Jews or Christians. It’s for everyone regardless of his or her religion.
The angel who announced Jesus’ birth to the shepherds said, “I bring you good news of great joy that will be for ALL THE PEOPLE. Today in the City of David a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord.”
A New Year’s resolution can help change a habit. But Jesus Christ offers a better life—both now and forever. Faith in him brings us peace with God and can help us be at peace with others.
Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Because Jesus came we can follow him to our eternal home. And that’s final.
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
However, since it’s the end of the year, this seems like a good time to reflect and ponder life.
Do you ever think about how short your life is? How every year seems to go by a little faster than the last one? Try to really THINK about it. Not just notice it and comment about it.
It’s good to pause and think about life’s brevity. To consider life’s end once in a while. It helps us see life as it really is and to make needed changes in our lives.
I enjoy talking with people about spiritual things. Often I’ll ask them a question such as, “When you die, what do you think you’ll find on the other side? What’s the final reality?”
It surprises me to hear some say, “I haven’t given it much thought.” Really? How could you not think about the most certain experience in the world?
“Now hold it just a minute,” I can hear someone say. “Isn’t all this talk a little morbid?”
Only if you think ignorance is bliss.
Take a minute and do the math. A man born in America today will live on average to age 75. A woman to age 80. Then what happens? They die and go somewhere forever.
So if we subtract 75 or 80 years from forever it equals—forever! And as they say, “Forever is a long, long time.”
People spend their lives planning and preparing for retirement. And how long does it last? Fifteen to twenty years? Or maybe thirty--if they’re blessed with good health and long life?
And remember--there’s no guarantee they’ll even make it to retirement!
But everyone is guaranteed to die. Last time I checked, no one exits planet earth alive.
Because of this fact of life, the Bible’s advice to us is, “Prepare to meet your God.”
Now the Bible doesn’t tell us that to frighten or scare us. The point is to encourage us to push the “Pause” button on our busy lives and think about what happens when life’s movie ends.
Listen to the wisdom of God’s Word: “Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the dust returns to the ground it came from and the spirit returns to God who gave it.”
According to the Bible there is no reincarnation, no purgatory, and no second chances. Jesus clearly taught that eternity holds just two options: a place of delight and adventure the Bible calls heaven and a place of eternal punishment Jesus called hell.
To be sure we don’t miss this fact the Bible says, “Man is destined to die once and after that to face judgment.” That’s the facts straight up. No sugar coating.
The good news is that God made it possible to spend forever with him. Through Jesus’ death on the cross, God offers forgiveness and peace to all who come to him through faith in Christ.
Jesus came to bring new life now and eternal life later to everyone. God’s offer is not just for Jews or Christians. It’s for everyone regardless of his or her religion.
The angel who announced Jesus’ birth to the shepherds said, “I bring you good news of great joy that will be for ALL THE PEOPLE. Today in the City of David a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord.”
A New Year’s resolution can help change a habit. But Jesus Christ offers a better life—both now and forever. Faith in him brings us peace with God and can help us be at peace with others.
Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Because Jesus came we can follow him to our eternal home. And that’s final.
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
Monday, November 17, 2008
Beyond Belief
Do you have strong beliefs? Then brace yourself. This could come as a shock.
It doesn’t matter what you believe.
“Say what? Now hold it right there for just a minute! All these religious people who talk about faith and ‘Just Believe’ –and now you say believing doesn’t matter? What’s up with that?”
I didn’t say believing doesn’t matter. I said it doesn’t matter WHAT you believe.
What matters is what is TRUE. Belief by itself is not enough. We must believe in truth.
Do you believe there is nothing after death? Or reincarnation? How do you know that to be true? What evidence have you found that convinced you to gamble your eternity on that belief?
Or maybe you’re an atheist. You believe there is no God. Tell me, what evidence have you found to prove that? And if there’s no evidence to prove your belief, then it’s blind faith.
Many people base their eternal future on something that isn’t fact and they haven’t fully investigated. They heard about it or read about and it sounded good to them. They hope it’s true.
Some people when asked why they believe what they do say, “I believe in my heart it’s true.”
That’s nice. But have you ever believed something with all of your heart and later found out it wasn’t true? Most of us have. Maybe it was the Tooth Fairy or the Easter Bunny.
Many people like to think that we’re free to believe whatever we want about eternity. Sort of a “pick your own ending” approach. But we can’t all be right.
Well what if you’re wrong about eternity? Wouldn’t you want to know?
Someone might ask, “What if you Christians are wrong?” Good question.
Consider this: Christians believe in the only faith that has evidence to back it up. It’s true. If you doubt that, check out Josh McDowell’s book, “New Evidence that Demands a Verdict.”
Here’s something else: believing in Jesus Christ has changed my life. God made me a new person. I have peace. I have a purpose for my life that is greater than me.
But, in spite of all that, if I am wrong—I will die and go to my grave and that’s all there is.
But if someone chooses not to trust in Jesus Christ and then dies and is wrong, they are literally choosing hell for all of eternity. Is that a good choice?
If you sincerely seek truth I encourage you to read the Bible. Why? Here are some facts.
The Bible is the best selling book in the world. With that kind of record there’s a good chance it contains at least some truth. Why not read it and find out? Start with the Gospel of John
Another thing to consider is that the Bible claims to be written by God. What if it’s right?
Historical evidence also supports the Bible. No one has found an historical mistake anywhere in the Bible. That wouldn’t be true if only men wrote it.
What about archaeology? When I traveled to Israel, evidence was constantly being unearthed that proved the Bible to be true. To date not a single piece of archaeological evidence has been found to disprove the Bible!
Finally, the Bible is the only book in the world that contains hundreds of detailed prophecies about the future. The same cannot be said for any other “holy” book. And except for the few remaining prophecies about Jesus’ return to earth, every other prophecy has come true.
Who is the only one who can predict the future with 100% accuracy? God.
So when the Bible says about Jesus, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved” –it’s worth a second look!
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
It doesn’t matter what you believe.
“Say what? Now hold it right there for just a minute! All these religious people who talk about faith and ‘Just Believe’ –and now you say believing doesn’t matter? What’s up with that?”
I didn’t say believing doesn’t matter. I said it doesn’t matter WHAT you believe.
What matters is what is TRUE. Belief by itself is not enough. We must believe in truth.
Do you believe there is nothing after death? Or reincarnation? How do you know that to be true? What evidence have you found that convinced you to gamble your eternity on that belief?
Or maybe you’re an atheist. You believe there is no God. Tell me, what evidence have you found to prove that? And if there’s no evidence to prove your belief, then it’s blind faith.
Many people base their eternal future on something that isn’t fact and they haven’t fully investigated. They heard about it or read about and it sounded good to them. They hope it’s true.
Some people when asked why they believe what they do say, “I believe in my heart it’s true.”
That’s nice. But have you ever believed something with all of your heart and later found out it wasn’t true? Most of us have. Maybe it was the Tooth Fairy or the Easter Bunny.
Many people like to think that we’re free to believe whatever we want about eternity. Sort of a “pick your own ending” approach. But we can’t all be right.
Well what if you’re wrong about eternity? Wouldn’t you want to know?
Someone might ask, “What if you Christians are wrong?” Good question.
Consider this: Christians believe in the only faith that has evidence to back it up. It’s true. If you doubt that, check out Josh McDowell’s book, “New Evidence that Demands a Verdict.”
Here’s something else: believing in Jesus Christ has changed my life. God made me a new person. I have peace. I have a purpose for my life that is greater than me.
But, in spite of all that, if I am wrong—I will die and go to my grave and that’s all there is.
But if someone chooses not to trust in Jesus Christ and then dies and is wrong, they are literally choosing hell for all of eternity. Is that a good choice?
If you sincerely seek truth I encourage you to read the Bible. Why? Here are some facts.
The Bible is the best selling book in the world. With that kind of record there’s a good chance it contains at least some truth. Why not read it and find out? Start with the Gospel of John
Another thing to consider is that the Bible claims to be written by God. What if it’s right?
Historical evidence also supports the Bible. No one has found an historical mistake anywhere in the Bible. That wouldn’t be true if only men wrote it.
What about archaeology? When I traveled to Israel, evidence was constantly being unearthed that proved the Bible to be true. To date not a single piece of archaeological evidence has been found to disprove the Bible!
Finally, the Bible is the only book in the world that contains hundreds of detailed prophecies about the future. The same cannot be said for any other “holy” book. And except for the few remaining prophecies about Jesus’ return to earth, every other prophecy has come true.
Who is the only one who can predict the future with 100% accuracy? God.
So when the Bible says about Jesus, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved” –it’s worth a second look!
Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!
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