"Let It Shine!"

 "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man." (Ecclesiastes 12:13 KJV)

  "One of the teachers of religious law was standing there listening to the debate. He realized that Jesus had answered well, so he asked, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?" Jesus replied, "The most important commandment is this: 'Listen O Israel! The LORD our God is the one and only LORD. And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.' The second is equally important: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' No other commandment is greater than these."" (Mark 12:28-31 NLT)

 When it comes to following and keeping God's commandments, we seriously fall short of keeping just about every one of them. Even the ones that seem simple, like, "Thou shalt not commit adultery," which seems easy enough to avoid, unless you count the thoughts and wicked dreams that take place in our minds. Another that might seem easy, for some, "Remember the sabbath day, and keep it holy," is not just a day that is not meant for work! Oh, how I messed that day up! You would be surprised by the stupid things we might do, when we are bored and think we are all alone. 

 We have a very special gift that we have been given, if that is, we would just practice making it real and making a difference. The whole meaning of abundant life does not speak to having lots of stuff and many children, it is about being filled with love for God and others! The more you love, the more abundant your life seems to be. But the less you love, the least abundant life you seem to have, no matter how much you have or how many children. 

 If you don't feel as though you have what it takes, then pray for what it takes to happen! But when you do, be prepared for God to give you someone to hate! Sometimes we need to be broken before we can be fixed and shine as we should...

 "Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God." (Ephesians 5:1-2 NLT) 

"This Little Heart of Mine"

"And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh." (Ecclesiastes 12:12 KJV)

  "For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. God chose him as your ransom long before the world began, but he has now revealed him to you in these last days. Through Christ you have come to trust in God. And you have placed your faith and hope in God because he raised Christ from the dead and gave him great glory. You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. Love each other deeply with all your heart. For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God." (1 Peter 1:18-23 NLT)

 When I first looked at this verse, I placed it in a negative setting, as if there was something here that was talking about the body being broken down from writing many books; or in my case, from continually doing this blog, day after day, without missing a single day. (What was I thinking!) We must not make light of what we do not know or understand, because this is really about those ripples that get washed up on the shores. 

 Let me try to put it into something easy to understand: Continuing on from the previous verse, this is like a "therefore," where we most pause for a brief moment, thinking, 'What is it there for?' In this case, as in the example of the ripples caused by waves, these "goads," as Solomon calls them, do not go away; they are continually used again and again, because they are administered to and through everyone that speaks of them, through one Shepherd. 

 "And further, by these, my son, be admonished," is like passing the torch or shinning your light, the Light that is discovered in sharing and putting forth the word of God! That is what this word, "admonished," is talking about: to warn, teach, shine, send out light, be light, be shining; and to be taught! Every time I sit down each morning to share, I am also being taught. Whenever I deliver a massage in a church, the one who gains the most from my message is usually me. 

 "Of making many books there is no end," is the byproduct of what happens when things get written, they are written without end, as if there always a chance that they might get looked upon, one way or another. If you really want to look at it a little different way, you can imagine God's perspective, which is that of eternity and beyond: When He reads it, it will surely never end! 

 "And much study is a weariness of the flesh," can be looked at in several ways, primarily that of breaking down or fatigue, as you would do to your body if you worked too much and slept too little. Which I can really relate to, as it real and happens over and over again. However, this specific word occurs only one time in the Scripture, and we are looking at it right now. 

 Basically, it also means labour, which is feminine noun, which is the way it works towards the flesh, which is that thing we must always be trying to crucify and not try to satisfy with the things of this world...    

"Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was. We know that our sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with him." (Romans 6:5-8 NLT) 

"Take It to Heart" - Too

 "The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assembles, which are given from one shepherd." (Ecclesiastes 12:11 KJV)

  "And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise." (Philippians 4:8 NLT)

 Instead of judging what might be wrong, look to see that which is worthy of praise and of a good report. Remember, we are meant to do onto others, as we would have them do unto us, which is easier to think of doing when we judge ourselves, first. 

 As to Solomon's life, he was blessed and was known to be the richest man, not because he wanted to be, but because God made it so. He asked for wisdom to rule God's people; God blessed him with great wisdom, and then blessed him with great fame and riches, more than he could handle, wisely. 

 It seems a little like he spun out of control; but he still belonged to God! The rest of these last few verses are easier to deal with than this one between the words or truth and final conclusion. Besides that, there is really nothing we can do that God doesn't already know about, no matter how hard you might fall, if you are His child, He will catch you!

 I really hope we can take that to heart, because He is always ready to forgive us, no matter what...

"If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts." (1 John 1:8-10 NLT) 

"Take It to Heart"

"The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd." (Ecclesiastes 12:11 KJV)

  "And now, a word to you who are elders in the churches. I, too, am an elder and a witness to the sufferings of Christ. And I, too, will share in his glory when he is revealed to the whole world. As a fellow elder, I appeal to you: Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly - not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God. Don't lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good example. And when the Great Shepherd appears, you will receive a crown of never-ending glory and honor." (1 Peter 5:1-4 NLT) 

 Sometimes we miss the actual meaning of the passage we have been looking at, as if there is actually a point that is prodding at our heart and making us feel uneasy or guilty. It is those things that need to be taken to heart, because the Holy Spirit could be the one prodding, letting us know that we have something that needs to be dealt with. 

 When we think that we are okay and have it all together, watch out! We are setting ourselves up for a fall, without even knowing it; unless we realize that we are weak and helpless, we are on our own! If you don't know what I mean, it really isn't that hard to understand. Whenever we think we have it all under control, we find out soon enough what is really controlling, is really not good. 

 With that, I need to remind anyone who might think Solomon was lost and ended up rejecting God's wonderful mercy and grace, that you must not judge a man, or woman, based upon the things they did that were wrong. We are all guilty of sin, some more than others! Yes, he did many things that displeased the LORD, and, whether you believe it or not, God knows beforehand what we are going to do.

 What is the meaning to all of this mess? Just that: A meaningless mess...

"You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things. And we know that God, in his justice, will punish anyone who does such things. Since you judge others for doing these things, why do you think you can avoid God's judgment when you do the same things? Don't you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can't you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sins?" (Romans 2:1-4 NLT) 

"Something Precious" - 3

 "The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth." (Ecclesiastes 12:10 KJV) 

  "Many people have set out to write accounts about the events that have been fulfilled among us. They used the eyewitness reports circulating among us from the early disciples. Having carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I also have decided to write a careful account for you, most honorable Theophilus, so you can be certain of the truth of everything you were taught." (Luke 1:1-4 NLT)

 This is what we need to get settled, once and for all: First of all, these "words" shown with this closing section, although they speak of sayings, speech, and words, they also speak of business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something! In other words, they are a manner! 

 Just a reminder, John's Gospel has the opening illustration of "The Word," saying: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." (John 1:1 KJV) Additionally, he adds this to his opening illustration: "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." (John 1:14 KJV) 

 Some people might try to say that Solomon is not the author of this book, as if we should treat the author as someone anonymous; seeing how Solomon is not mentioned anywhere is this book. However, he does begin by saying: "The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem." The "words" is the same used in the "words" used twice in the verse above; so, his words here are also a manner! 

 Much like John's Gospel message, it is highly believed that John's Gospel actually was written from verses 1:19 to 21:24; and John added the first 18 verses as the beginning, in order to show who Jesus was and is; then he added the final verse, verse 21:25, in order to show that Jesus always has been!  

 Secondly, if this author is indeed Solomon, as I believe he is, then if he is also the author of, "The Song of Solomon," then I am absolutely sure that he had knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ! I know, we have been down this road before; we have heard it all before about the speculation of what The Song of Songs might represent. 

 What I don't believe it represents is the freedom a married couple might have in sexual matters; God has made that very obvious from the very beginning, we are one. What I am certain it is about, is that it shows us the relationship of Christ and the church, as this is what Jesus came for; and He is coming for her again, very soon...

"Jesus also did many other things. If they were all written down, I suppose the whole world could not contain the books that would be written." (John 21:25 NLT) 

"Something Precious" - 2

 "The Preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth." (Ecclesiastes 12:10 KJV) 

  "We always pray for you, and we give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. For we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and your love for all of God's people, which come from your confident hope of what God has reserved for you in heaven. You have had this expectation ever since you first heard the truth of the Good News. This same Good News that came to you is going out all over the world. It is bearing fruit everywhere by changing lives, just as it changed your lives from the day you first heard and understood the truth about God's wonderful grace." (Colossians 1:3-6 NLT)

 Having been saved for all of these years, you would think by now I would have it all together; that there wouldn't be any doubt or weakness in my belief, at least not the things which have been settled, over and over again. But it isn't the truth of the Bible that make me doubt and weak in my faith; it is all about me, my lack of doing those things I should, and not doing the things that I should not. 

 So it isn't that I have any issues with the truth of God's wonderful grace, because it has been abundantly clear to me that it is true; but when I see my own life, I feel as though it falls short of the love and care I should be living out for others; especially those I seem to hurt the most. 

 Anywho, that's just me; I'm sure there isn't those kind of problems with anyone else! Don't get me wrong, it's not like I go around knocking heads or trashing people, just because I feel like it. But when we are not walking as we should, we have a tendency to take it out on others, as if it isn't our fault, but it is the fault of our situation or circumstance. 

 What does it mean to walk as we should? The point is the word "upright," which Solomon uses to express what was written. Basically, it means to do what he ought to do, his office; office meaning the position or place in this world. If we are saved and assured eternal life, then the things that happen in this life are not all that important; at least not enough to act as if they matter more than love, especially our love for God and others! 

 When we get overwhelmed by certain situations, they need to be evaluated as what they are, nothing compared to our eternity with the Lord! Those around us need to see the hope that is within us, especially in the trials and tribulations. When we have anything going on that appears to be harmful or disruptive to our precious lives, that is an opportunity to shine the Light of Jesus! 

 If we fail to do that, we fail to show others that we truly believe...

"Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other's faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful." (Colossians 3:12-15 NLT)  

"Something Precious"

 "The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth." (Ecclesiastes 12:10 KJV)

  "Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God." "What do you mean?" exclaimed Nicodemus. "How can an old man go back into his mother's womb and be born again?" Jesus replied, "I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. So don't be surprised when I say, 'You must be born again.' The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can't tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can't explain how people are born of the Spirit." "How are these things possible?" Nicodemus asked." (John 3:3-9 NLT)

 This might take a minute or two, because there are several segments of thought that are coming out from this, mostly the things of truth! If you recall, Pilate asked Jesus, "What is truth?" It was not a question, but a statement, as he walked away from Jesus after he said it, basically ending the conversation. 

 Here is something that we must think about, whether we want to or not, there must be these things that are unseen and real, settled in our hearts! It might just be me, but there are times when I debate with myself, wondering the same thing, "What is truth?" thinking how it could be, where do I find proof, and how do I determine what is really happening? 

 I really don't think that I am alone, but I do know what is required to settle the question...

"Jesus replied, "You are a respectable Jewish teacher, and yet you don't understand these things? I assure you, we tell you what we know and have seen, and yet you won't believe our testimony. But if you don't believe me when I tell you about earthly things, how can you possibly believe if I tell you about Heavenly things? No one has ever gone to heaven and returned. But the Son of Man has come from heaven. And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life."" (John 3:10-15 NLT) 

"Gave Good Heed"

 "And moreover, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he gave good heed, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs." (Ecclesiastes 12:9 KJV)

  "So humble yourselves under the might power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are. In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. All power to him forever! Amen." (1 Peter 5:6-11 NLT)

 Looking back at several of my postings, there were several times when I took the message Solomon was giving, and flipped it into something positive, from something which might have seemed worldly. This is not really a bad thing, because it is exactly the kind of thing we should do, whenever we are looking at a situation that is based upon the world's wisdom, because God's point of view is usually opposite of what the world might think. 

 When it comes to going through trials and tribulations, the worldly thought is directed towards wrath and punishment as if you might be suffering due to some sin or wrong actions in your life. When, in reality, we who are actually doing right and making waves that might bring people closer to the Lord, get beat upon by the devil, as he tries to take down the saints, but doesn't beat a dead horse! 

 I actually heard that in a message yesterday, as the pastor was sharing how the enemy won't try to harm anyone who isn't alive to God and making a difference. If memory serves, I believe it was Pastor Jack, as he also said, with reference to Job's situation, "God, if you want to brag about me, please don't say it out loud, just in case the devil is listening." 

 As to the title of today's post, it is the three words which only appear in this one passage, which are only found once in the Hebrew writing. Basically, it means, "weigh, test, prove, consider." All four of those things must be taken as the right way to prove a point and apply it to a life; that is, if you are actually alive enough to apply it...

"I have written and sent this short letter to you with the help of Silas, whom I commend to you as a faithful brother. My purpose in writing is to encourage you and assure you that what you are experiencing is truly part of God's grace for you. Stand firm in this grace." (1 Peter 5:12 NLT)

"Zoom Daddy"

 "Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity." (Ecclesiastes 12:8 KJV)

  "Common people are as worthless as a puff of wind, and the powerful are not what they appear to be. If you weigh them on the scales, together they are lighter than a breath of air. Don't make your living by extortion or put your hope in stealing. And if your wealth increases, don't make it the center of your life. God has spoken plainly, and I have heard it many times: Power, O God, belongs to you; unfailing love, O LORD is yours. Surely you repay all people according to what they have done." (PSALM 62:9-12 NLT)

 You might be wondering what this title means, "Zoom Daddy," and how it might have any relationship with this summary of the preacher's closing thoughts? When Daniel Amos performed this during their live tour, they began this song by playing another song first, "Broken Ladders to Glory." On the track, you cannot get to the song, Zoom Daddy, without first listening to Broken Ladders to Glory, as the songs are linked together.  

 As I said, several days, (who's counting,) ago: we are born into this world broken! From the very first breath we take, outside of the womb, we this separation from the Creator, which gives us a need to be reconnected. Whether or not the birth counts, I don't really know; but my heart tells me that the unborn baby in the womb is totally innocent and already has some kind of relationship with the Creator. 

 I know that might sound a little weird, but once the baby is introduced to this fallen world, it begins to take on the qualities and wickedness of this life, here on earth. Which reminds me of the commercial I have a problem with, about getting mothers to hear their baby's heartbeat. How can we say that God can't stand to see all that the child missed out on, if aborted, if God already knows all of the facts, beforehand? 

 God surely has spoken plainly! He knows the end from the beginning, and the beginning to the end! We, on the other hand don't; we can only hope that we make it; but by putting our trust in Him, we have a pretty good chance that everything will be amazingly perfect, in the end...

"Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken. My victory and honor come from God alone. He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me. O my people, trust in him at all times. Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge. Interlude" (PSALM 62:5-8 NLT) 

"Concluding Thoughts about the Teacher"

  ""Everything is meaningless," says the Teacher, "completely meaningless." 

 Keep this in mind: The Teacher was considered wise, and he taught the people everything he knew. He listened carefully to many proverbs, studying and classifying them. The Teacher sought to find just the right words to express truths clearly. 

 The words of the wise are like cattle prods - painful but helpful. Their collected sayings are like a nail-studded stick with which a shepherd drives the sheep. 

 But, my child, let me give you some further advise: Be careful, for writing books is endless, and much study wears you out.

 That's the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone's duty. God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad." (Ecclesiastes 12:8-14 NLT) 

  "Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; and honour not his father or his mother, he shall be set free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. Ye hypocrites, well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." (Matthew 15:1-9 KJV) 

 It might not make sense right now, but it will start to come together as we finish up this final conclusion of the Book. There is something I believe many people forget, besides the simple fact of God's love, which is so vast and too much to figure out, He doesn't look at the outward things which might appear somewhat indifferent or challenged, He looks at the heart! 

 Don't judge others, unless you want to be judged...

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh." (Hebrews 11:1-4 KJV) 

"Your Soul Belongs to God!" - 2

 "Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it." (Ecclesiastes 12:7 KJV)

  "God says, "Rebuild the road! Clear away the rocks and stones so my people can return from captivity." The high and lofty one who lives in eternity, the Holy One, says this: "I live in the high and holy place with those whose spirits are contrite and humble. I retore the crushed spirit of the humble and revive the courage of those with repentant hearts. For I will not fight against you forever; I will not always be angry. If I were, all people would pass away - all the souls I have made. I was angry, so I punished these greedy people. I withdrew from them, but they kept going on their own stubborn way. I have seen what they do, but I will heal them anyway! I will lead them. I will comfort those who mourn, bringing words of praise to their lips. May they have abundant peace, both near and far," says the LORD, who heals them. "But those who still reject me are like the restless sea, which is never still but continually churns up mud and dirt. There is no peace for the wicked," says my God." (Isaiah 57:14-21 NLT)

 And, here is the thing that will cause many to feel ashamed and very disappointed! The things which might be seen in those other books, will be those things connected to the lost, those who have rejected God's free gift of salvation. Yes, we will be a testimony to what could have been; as those who rejected God grace and mercy, will see what their rejection ultimately will cost them.

 I believe this is so, based upon what Jesus told Nicodemus, "But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants." (John 3:21 NLT) As well as what Paul says, "So God can point to us in all the future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus." (Ephesians 1:7 NLT) 

 Whatever you believe about God's mercy and grace, He goes far beyond our failure to obey and love Him as we should! He knows full well that we are not always going to be faithful and do what is right, which is the reason He sent His Son to pay the penalty for our sins. I truly believe we I get in Heaven, there will be so many that I didn't expect to see there, and many more that I expected to see, but did not make it. 

 That said, there is only one reason for those two discrepancies: Did you really believe that He loves you...

"All wicked actions are sin, but not every sin leads to death. We know that God's children do not make a practice of sinning, for God's Son holds them securely, and the evil one cannot touch them. We know that we are children of God and that the world around us is under control of the evil one. And we know that the Son of God has come, and he has given us understanding so that we can know the true God. And now we live in fellowship with the true God because we live in fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the only true God, and he is eternal life. Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God's place in your hearts." (1 John 5:17-21 NLT)  

"Your Soul Belongs to God!"

 "Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it." (Ecclesiastes 12:7 KJV)

  "And I saw a great white throne and one sitting on it. The earth and sky fled from his presence, but they found no place to hide. I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God's throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books. The sea gave up its dead, and death and the grave gave up their dead. And all were judged according to their deeds. Then death and the grave were thrown into the lake of fire. This lake of fire is the second death. And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire." (Revelation 20:11-15 NLT)

 As we start wrapping up this Book, there are some very important things to be addressed about what we discovered in all of these passages, from start to finish. The main point in this, from whatever angle you might be looking at, is that God is merciful to those who desire mercy! As simple as that might appear to be, it requires the understanding of who God is and why we need mercy! 

 Several of the larger cults in the world have taken hell out of the story, as to try to convince people that it really doesn't exist, as if you just disappear or sink into eternal sleep; if that is, you have not been given eternal life. Well, if you think that is the case, you will end up being awakened by a very horrific truth, one that you most likely never expected, but somehow always have known about: Hell is Real! 

 As I have tried to express in several places during this journey, Solomon has written this book for those who don't truly believe; as well as those who might believe but refuse to allow God to rule and reign in their lives. As Zodhiates says, "This is a book for the secular humanist to read, because it shows how utterly meaningless and unjust life is in a closed system where God does not play an effective part. The author's solution is that happiness is found only when we revere God as the center of our lives." 

 Within this same condition, we have those who are, so called, believers, (those who say that they actually do believe in God,) who do not live as though they will one day answer to God, the One who will judge them on the great day of Judgment! As we should expect, everyone will be judged on that day, as the Book says, every book was open, including the Book of Life. 

 What that actually means, is the Book of Life is there to show that you name is either written in it or not written in it; if it is not, you are judged in the other open books; but if it is, you are not judged by anything that might show up in any other book...

"Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God's way of making us right with himself depends on faith. I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!" (Philippians 3:8-11 NLT) 

 

"Come What May!" - 2

 "Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern." (Ecclesiastes 12:6 KJV)

  "When they arrived he declared, "You know that from the day I set foot in province of Asia until now I have done the Lord's work humbly and with many tears. I have endured trial that came to me from the plots of the Jews. I never shrank back from telling you what you needed to hear, either publicly or in your homes. I have had one message for the Jews and Greeks alike - the necessity of repenting from sin and turning to God, and of having faith in our Lord Jesus. "And now I am bound by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem. I don't know what awaits me, except that the Holy Spirit tells me in city after city that jail and suffering lie ahead. But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned to me by the Lord Jesus - the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God." (Acts 20:18-24 NLT) 

 Having been doing this, whatever it might be, seemingly for decades, I have made up my mind that it is really not that I must do this, but that it just feels right to be stretched and challenged to experience the joy, mystery, and surprises, from whatever it is that is shown to me, it is specifically mine! That doesn't mean that it is not for anyone else, because I know that it is: but God's word has so many layers upon layers of wonderful gifts to bring; some that stay around for years, and some that are meant for the moment. 

 If you don't know what I mean, it is all about timing and power! You can be in a certain place, when you least expect it, and the simplest passage or even just a word, can make you come alive and feel as though God directly spoke. And then you can go back to that specific word or passage, and it will hardly move you at all; almost as if it was all just for that certain time and place. 

 And then again, you get nuggets that will never leave or feel as though they don't matter; because you have been shown something that has fortified your faith and given you hope that is almost tangible. Again, if that doesn't make sense to you, don't let that get you down. Besides, not everyone sees special characters that show up in the clouds. 

 What we have been talking about is the things that might seem unfixable, such as the things that might cause death or destruction; things that cause change. That doesn't mean that those things are bad, nor does it mean that they are good. But! That is totally and completely dependent upon your relationship with the Lord! 

 If you have put your faith and trust in Christ Jesus, broken or destroyed, doesn't really matter! Having the promise of eternal life with Him, is really all that matters, no matter what, you are always on the good path and will never be totally broken or destroyed...

"For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes - the Jew first and also the Gentile. This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, "It is through faith that a righteous person has life." (Romans 1:16-17 NLT)

 

"Come What May!"

 "Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern." (Ecclesiastes 12:6 KJV)

  "The LORD is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along the right paths, bringing honor to my name. Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. Surely goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the LORD forever." (PSALM 23 NLT)

 Just so happens that I heard this message yesterday, based upon a fact: Everyone dies! Think you know everything? Well, that is surely something we should all agree on; but what about those who might be taken up in the Rapture? What death do they pass through on their way to glory? 

 Here is what I believe, if you are the least bit interested in what I have to say. When we accepted Jesus Christ into our hearts, we became a new creation, the old you had passed away, the new you began the Sanctification process in your new life. Technically, you have died already, your eternal life has already begun. 

 Jesus specifically said, "I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die." 'Do you believe this, Rich?' You can feel free to add your own name there if you like, as we all should agree that it is true! 

 This is why Paul said that we should reckon the old man dead; nailed to the cross with Christ! What in this life could ever harm you, if you are have already died? There is something very powerful in that thought, because we cherish this life way too much sometimes; when we should be looking towards something which is much more special...

"Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it? Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death? For we died and were buried with Christ in baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives. Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was. We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with him. We are sure of this because Christ was raised from the dead, and he will never die again. Death no longer has any power over him. When he died, he died once to break the power of sin. But now that he lives, he lives for the glory of God. So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus." (Romans 6:1-11 NLT) 

"Won and Done!" - Too

 "And when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets:" (Ecclesiastes 12:5 KJV)

  "So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God's will. Then you will receive all that he has promised. "For in just a little while, the coming One will come and not delay. And my righteous ones will live by faith. But I take no pleasure in anyone who turns away." But we are not like those who turn away from God to their own destruction. We are the faithful ones, whose souls will be saved." (Hebrews 10:35-39 NLT)

 As the issues spoken of in the last verse were things that were flipped from bad to good; these are the things which cause us to feel afraid of God's judgment, fearful of the path we are on, when fear is taking over and there is an allusion of being on your own, as you watch your material things get eaten up, and you feel like giving up; feeling this life is all there is, as you imagine what death might be, and who might actually mourn for you, once you are gone. 

 Each and every one of these are things that have attachment to the world; this life we live out, sometimes with the fear of life itself, sometimes with the right fear, the fear of the LORD! We are all pretty much the same when it comes to the relationship we have with God: we all have good days and bad days; days when we completely trust in the Lord with all of hearts, and days when we fall short, feeling as though we don't have the grip we once had; feeling out of sorts. 

 I have the "Footprints in the Sand" thing on my wall by the coffee makers, as it sometimes gets looked at early in the morning. We must never forget, the Lord has a hold on us; we are His special treasure, and He paid a very costly price for our souls. He is not letting go of us, ever! We have been given new life that cannot be taken away; we have already won the battle, now we wait, patiently, to go home...

"I am writing to you who are God's children because your sins have been forgiven through Jesus. I am writing to you who are mature in the faith because you know Christ, who existed from the beginning. I am writing to you who are young in the faith because you have won your battle with the evil one. I have written to you who are God's children because you know the Father. I have written to you who are mature in the faith because you know Christ, who has existed from the beginning. I have written to you who are young in the faith because you are strong. God's word lives in your hearts, and you have won your battle with the evil one." (1 John 2:12-14 NLT)