Wisdom From A "Saved" Man Who Is Definitely NOT A Saint

What's Behind Door # 1

(Don't go through Door #2)

Since not realizing that Jesus loves me until way too far along in my life, I have spent a great deal of time trying to absorb what I have read in the Bible, what I see outdoors in the beauty that God has created for all of us, and watching the de-evolution of mankind while everyone (it seems) becomes:
• greedier,
• more hateful/spiteful,
• less caring about:
  1. their families,
  2. the environment,
  3. honesty,
  4. integrity,
  5. morality,
  6. their fellow humans
• more immune to God and His teachings.

I can safely say that we are in what the Bible refers to as “The End Times”. For those folks who are aware of what the Bible teaches you know what that is. For those who don't, there is a huge “wake-up” call coming for you.

Either way, whether you are aware or not, the “Second Coming” of Jesus is on the horizon. The fact that you can't see over the horizon does not mean there is nothing there. It just means you can't see it…Yet.

Right now it is probably unimportant to you about Satan (the snake) enticing Eve to eat the apple from the Tree of Knowledge in the Garden of Eden, which allowed Satan to gain dominion over the entire Earth. However, what SHOULD be of extreme interest to you is God's plan to regain that dominion because it involves you. That's right, YOU!

Religious (a relative term) or not, you have no doubt heard or read about one of the most important statements in the Bible which provides the answer to that plan.

John 3:16 (TLB)For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son so that anyone who believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

God designated His only Son to be the sacrificial “Lamb of God” whose life would be sacrificed in order that our sins (that is EVERYONE'S SINS!) could be forgiven, thus taking away Satan's dominion.

All we have to do is to claim that forgiveness is to make the conscious choice (that's right, it is strictly our choice) to believe that Jesus died for our sins by being crucified, being buried, and, on the third day of his burial, ascended into Heaven.

We also have to believe in, and acknowledge Jesus as our Lord and Savior. (this could be the greatest example ever of the adage “you can pay me now, or you can pay me later”)

The Bible, which by the way has NEVER been proven wrong, offers only two choices here:
1. Believe in Jesus as your Lord and Savior and attain eternal life in Heaven, or
2. Reject Jesus and earn everlasting life in Hell.

You really don't need a Risk/Reward analysis to work this one out do you? This isn't a “money back” sort of promise. You can't dip your toes into the “Lake of Fire” to see how hot the water is, then decide to change your mind. This is, clearly, “in for a penny, in for a pound”. No mulligans!

Okay. Now that we have narrowed down the preceding two biblical options to the right one for us, I'd like to take a bit more of your time to explain what door #1, as outlined above, is all about. (if you have opted for door #2, you might want to skip this. However, if you can maintain an open mind, read on. I welcome that.)

Choosing Door #1 is not easy (keep in mind that nothing good ever comes easily) but the reward you gain is so much greater than the price you pay.

Here is a dichotomy, or apparent contradiction. I have 2 lives, separate but intertwined. So do you.

With some support from the Bible I will try to explain. (I will not change any wording but I may emphasize some to support a point.

The Bible draws the distinction between our physical bodies and our spiritual ones. It differentiates between “Man's Law” and “God's Law” and, in effect, says that you must follow both.

The Apostle Paul, in his first letter to the Corinthians, elaborates on John 3:16 by being much more specific about our “after-life”. He begins by clarifying who this letter is intended to reach, “The Christians in Corinth…” AND “All Christians everywhere…”.

He does NOT include non-Christians or non-believers. He does not exclude them either which is very important because that allows for people who change their minds and accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. Here is some compelling proof why they should:

1 Corinthians 1:1-2 (TLB)

From: Paul, chosen by God to be Jesus Christ's missionary, and from brother Sosthenes. To: The Christians in Corinth, invited by God to be his people and made acceptable to him by Christ Jesus. And to: All Christians everywhere—whoever calls upon the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and theirs.

(Please note that the following is NOT for, or directed to, anyone who is not already a Christian. It is a message of encouragement and patience for Christians.)

1 Corinthians 15:40-54 (TLB)

The angels in heaven have bodies far different from ours, and the beauty and the glory of their bodies is different from the beauty and the glory of ours. The sun has one kind of glory while the moon and stars have another kind. And the stars differ from each other in their beauty and brightness.

In the same way, our earthly bodies which die and decay are different from the bodies we shall have when we come back to life again, for they will never die. The bodies we have now embarrass us, for they become sick and die; but they will be full of glory when we come back to life again. Yes, they are weak, dying bodies now, but when we live again they will be full of strength. They are just human bodies at death, but when they come back to life they will be superhuman bodies. For just as there are natural, human bodies, there are also supernatural, spiritual bodies.

The Scriptures tell us that the first man, Adam, was given a natural, human body but Christ is more than that, for he was life-giving Spirit.

First, then, we have these human bodies, and later on God gives us spiritual, heavenly bodies.

Adam was made from the dust of the earth, but Christ came from heaven above. Every human being has a body just like Adam's, made of dust, but all who become Christ's will have the same kind of body as his—a body from heaven.

Just as each of us now has a body like Adam's, so we shall some day have a body like Christ's.

I tell you this, my brothers: an earthly body made of flesh and blood cannot get into God's Kingdom. These perishable bodies of ours are not the right kind to live forever.

But I am telling you this strange and wonderful secret: we shall not all die, but we shall all be given new bodies! It will all happen in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For there will be a trumpet blast from the sky, and all the Christians who have died will suddenly become alive, with new bodies that will never, never die; and then we who are still alive shall suddenly have new bodies too. For our earthly bodies, the ones we have now that can die, must be transformed into heavenly bodies that cannot perish but will live forever.

When this happens, then at last this Scripture will come true—"Death is swallowed up in victory."

Keeping in mind that the Bible has NEVER been proven wrong, and as difficult as it may seem for this to be accurate in this (or any) respect, how much are you willing to bet that you are right and the Bible is wrong? Also, keep in mind that the bet you are placing determines the fate of your soul. Does “pay me now or pay me later” come to mind?

It is imperative that you understand that we are all sinners. Our sinful nature prevents us from doing what we know is right and encourages us to do what we know is wrong.

Romans 7:18-19,25 (TLB)

"I know I am rotten through and through so far as my old sinful nature is concerned. No matter which way I turn I can't make myself do right. I want to but I can't. When I want to do good, I don't; and when I try not to do wrong, I do it anyway. Thank God! It has been done by Jesus Christ our Lord. He has set me free."

Pretty heavy isn't it?

While we seem to be fresh out of “Prophets” in this 21st century, it should not be interpreted that no one we know, are related to, or live near, is capable of opening the eyes of those who are in spiritual need. Jesus appears to make it clear that knowing someone, or being related to him/her, or living in the same neighborhood does NOT prevent them from offering wise counsel or advice. In other words, don't rule out what a friend, relative or neighbor tries to tell you.

Mark 6:4 (TLB)

Then Jesus told them, "A prophet is honored everywhere except in his hometown and among his relatives and by his own family."

Mark 7:14-23 (TLB

Then Jesus called to the crowd to come and hear. "All of you listen," he said, "and try to understand. Your souls aren't harmed by what you eat, but by what you think and say!" Then he went into a house to get away from the crowds, and his disciples asked him what he meant by the statement he had just made. "Don't you understand either?" he asked. "Can't you see that what you eat won't harm your soul? For food doesn't come in contact with your heart, but only passes through the digestive system." (By saying this he showed that every kind of food is kosher.) And then he added, "It is the thought-life that pollutes. For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts of lust, theft, murder, adultery, wanting what belongs to others, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, pride, and all other folly. All these vile things come from within; they are what pollute you and make you unfit for God."

Mark 4:21-24 (TLB)

Then he asked them, "When someone lights a lamp, does he put a box over it to shut out the light? Of course not! The light couldn't be seen or used. A lamp is placed on a stand to shine and be useful. All that is now hidden will someday come to light. If you have ears, listen! And be sure to put into practice what you hear. The more you do this, the more you will understand what I tell you."

Psalm 12:1-3 (TLB)

Lord! Help! Godly men are fast disappearing. Where in all the world can dependable men be found? Everyone deceives and flatters and lies. There is no sincerity left. But the Lord will not deal gently with people who act like that; he will destroy those proud liars who say, "We will lie to our hearts' content. Our lips are our own; who can stop us?"

Psalm 12:5-8 (TLB)

The Lord replies, "I will arise and defend the oppressed, the poor, the needy. I will rescue them as they have longed for me to do."

The Lord's promise is sure. He speaks no careless word; all he says is purest truth, like silver seven times refined. O Lord, we know that you will forever preserve your own from the reach of evil men, although they prowl on every side and vileness is praised throughout the land.

Psalm 15:1-5 (TLB)

"Lord, who may go and find refuge and shelter in your tabernacle up on your holy hill? Anyone who leads a blameless life and is truly sincere. Anyone who refuses to slander others, does not listen to gossip, never harms his neighbor, speaks out against sin, criticizes those committing it, commends the faithful followers of the Lord, keeps a promise even if it ruins him, does not crush his debtors with high interest rates, and refuses to testify against the innocent despite the bribes offered him—such a man shall stand firm forever."

Psalm 16:1-11 (TLB)

"Save me, O God, because I have come to you for refuge. I said to him, You are my Lord; I have no other help but yours. I want the company of the godly men and women in the land; they are the true nobility. Those choosing other gods shall all be filled with sorrow; I will not offer the sacrifices they do or even speak the names of their gods. The Lord himself is my inheritance, my prize. He is my food and drink, my highest joy! He guards all that is mine. He sees that I am given pleasant brooks and meadows as my share! What a wonderful inheritance! I will bless the Lord who counsels me; he gives me wisdom in the night. He tells me what to do. I am always thinking of the Lord; and because he is so near, I never need to stumble or to fall. Heart, body, and soul are filled with joy. For you will not leave me among the dead; you will not allow your beloved one to rot in the grave. You have let me experience the joys of life and the exquisite pleasures of your own eternal presence".

Psalm 17:15 (TLB)

But as for me, my contentment is not in wealth but in seeing you and knowing all is well between us. And when I awake in heaven, I will be fully satisfied, for I will see you face to face.

Mark 12:17 (KJV)

And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. And they marvelled at him.

There is a lot of 'stuff' here but it all points to the same thing. Jesus is Lord!