"God, I thank you that I am not like other men…” (Luke 18:11)

This pretty much is the attitude that professional Athletes, Politicians, Philosophers, and Religious people should strive NOT to have, at least in a public forum like news interviews, books they write, or church services.

When we truly come to understand who we are it HUMBLES us. Why? Because we learn to admit our flaws and imperfections.

It is most important for Christians, in my opinion, to understand that a person’s salvation is not the result of deciding to accept an OFFER from God, but a decision BY GOD HIMSELF to save UNRIGHTEOUS sinners. A salvation (from staying dead) based solely on a Father’s Love and Grace…to be done for all mankind. In the moment I came to understand and believe this, any pride left was gone as I realized I was not loved more than any other sinner…we will all be saved by the GRACE of our SAVIOR GOD. Paul expressed this best when he said under inspiration from God….

“The GRACE of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, ALONG with the FAITH and LOVE that are in Christ Jesus. Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to SAVE SINNERS (not offer to save them)—of whom I AM THE WORST. But for that very reason I was shown MERCY so that in me, the WORST of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an EXAMPLE for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, THE ONLY GOD, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.” (1 Timothy 1:14-17)

So what about the phrase “who would believe in him and receive eternal life”? Remember, Paul had already said God saved the WORST sinner as an example to all sinners that Christ Jesus came to SAVE them. So it is obvious to me that what he meant by the phrase “who would believe in him and receive eternal life” was that only those who believe that they have been saved as SINNERS can embrace the JOY and KNOWLEDGE that they will have eternal life. It is NOT because they BELIEVE, as if salvation is their choice, but because GOD SAVES SINNERS…His choice. Paul expressed this when he said in his first letter to Timothy….

“It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance. For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers. Prescribe and teach these things.” (1 Timothy 4:9-11)

Being proud we are not like other sinners because of our wise choice, or our faith, or our concern and love for others, etc. is the problem I see with popular Christian apologists like Joel and Victoria Osteen. Their enthusiasm and positive message and appearance is infectious. However, it is boasting and subtle way of saying “we are not like other men”. That said, however, I do prefer their positive attitude toward life than the opposite extreme…the “turn or burn” negative attitude of some notable Christian fundamentalists.

“…everyone who exalts himself will be abased, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. (Luke 18:14)

Treasured Possession

“Then Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain and said, This is what you are to say to the descendants of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now IF YOU OBEY ME FULLY and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my TREASURED POSSESSION. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.” (Exodus 19:3-6)

There was a CONDITION to Israel becoming a “treasured possession” out of all the other Nations. They had to obey Him fully and keep His covenant. Obviously this did NOT happen. Even before Moses got off the mountain where he received the Commandments Israel had broken them. And the first thing God told Moses to do was to set up the Tabernacle and build the ARK with a MERCY SEAT covering. The Ark contained the broken commandments.

Thus began the requirement for all the animal sacrifices to ATONE for breaking the commandments...UNTIL the final Lamb of God, and sin bearer, came to take away the sin of the world…and he came about 1500 years later.

“The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29)

Israel is still his chosen Nation, but are NOT yet his “treasured possession”. To become God's "TREASURED POSSESSION" requires a sinless existence. Good luck with that in this present evil age...for anyone. However, in the ages to come AFTER the resurrection to immortality the Israelites and all others will become God's treasured possession. God tells Israel….

“This is the covenant I will establish with the people of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people… so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but NOW you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.” (Hebrews 8:10; 1 Peter 2:9-10)

And for the rest of us Gentiles...

“…the grace of God has appeared bringing salvation to ALL MEN, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people FOR HIS OWN POSSESSION, zealous for good deeds. These things speak and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one disregard you.” (Titus 2:11-15)

King Solomon said of God…

”Surely He scorns the scorners: but He gives grace to the humble.” (Proverbs 3:34)

The Apostle Peter said it this way…

"God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." (1 Peter 5:5)

Proud people scorn humble people…they think of them as weak. However, I am not concerned about what proud men think anymore. I prefer to rely on the grace of God rather than the proud accomplishments of men. In his wisdom writer of Ecclesiastes figured this out and said in his old age…

“I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem. And I set my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under heaven; this burdensome task God has given to the sons of man, by which they may be exercised. I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and indeed, ALL IS VANITY AND A GRASPING FOR THE WIND. What is crooked cannot be made straight, and what is lacking cannot be numbered. I communed with my heart, saying, Look, I have attained greatness, and have gained more wisdom than all who were before me in Jerusalem. My heart has understood great wisdom and knowledge. And I set my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that THIS ALSO is grasping for the wind.” (Ecclesiastes 1:12-17)

Humble people are familiar with the GRACE of God in this life. Proud men will have to wait until the Great White Throne where before God...

“…EVERY KNEE WILL BOW; by Me every tongue will swear. They will say of Me, In the Lord alone are deliverance and strength…” (Isaiah 45:23-24)

“Thus says the LORD God of Israel—because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before God when you heard His words against this place and against its inhabitants, and you humbled yourself before Me, and you tore your clothes and wept before Me, I also have heard you, says the LORD…your eyes shall not see all the calamity which I will bring on this place and its inhabitants." (2 Chronicles 34:26-27)

Seventeen years ago on October 4 I and several other men from Sayre stood together with over one million other men in Washington DC on the National Mall in an event sponsored by the Promise Keepers organization. It was termed a sacred assembly and labeled “Stand in the Gap”. An aerial picture of that assembly hangs on the wall of my office today. The purpose was for Christians and Messianic Jews to collectively confess the sin of our Nation to God and ask for His Mercy. I was convinced that God would hear our prayer and defer judgment on the USA like He had done for Israel. Whether it made a difference for the USA I do not honestly know…but it had a lasting impact on me.

I have since learned, however, that it is in the loving, righteous JUDGMENT of our heavenly Father that will finally rescue MANKIND from this present evil age to become what God intends for mankind to be. Paul writes….

“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins so that He might RESCUE us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory forevermore. Amen” (Galatians 1:3-5)

I still pray for my family and friends, but I no longer pray for God to withhold his judgment on the world. I trust Him to do whatever is necessary, IN HIS TIME, to bring to a conclusion this present “evil age”, so that in the ages to come God can receive from His creation the sincere and unforced Love that is due.

The JUDGMENT of God on the whole world is coming. Revelation and other portions of Scripture tell us about it in great detail. But His judgment will CLENSE mankind, not eternally condemn them. It will RESCUE mankind from itself, not enslave them to God for all eternity. It will PREPARE mankind for its eternal destiny to be made into the very IMAGE of God…full of love, grace and mercy. Then there will be no more evil or sin for God will make all things new…

“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the former things have passed away. And He who sits on the throne said, Behold, I am making all things new. And He said, Write, for these words are faithful and true. Then He said to me, it is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life WITHOUT COST…” (Revelation 21:4-6)

The Bible closes with the following words which remains the hope of mankind…

“Yes, I am coming swiftly…Come, Lord Jesus. The GRACE of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen” (Revelation 22:20-21)

The Bible in a Nutshell

Here is what the Bible says to me in a nutshell:

The Bible concerning the LAW of God…

“Then Hilkiah answered and said…I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the LORD…Now it happened, when the king heard the words of the Law, that he tore his clothes…and said great is the wrath of the LORD that is poured out on us, because our fathers have not kept the word of the LORD." (2 Chronicles 34:15-21)

Hilkiah the priest gave Josiah the King the Law of the Lord he had found under a pew of the run down Temple. Josiah read it and said "Oh crap we’re toast…that contains 613 laws we have not obeyed for years. I am going to tear off my clothes and beg God for mercy", or words to that effect.

"Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness." ... "all have sinned....the wages of sin is death..." (1 John 3:4; Romans 3:23; 6:23)

The Bible concerning the GRACE of God…

“The grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men…now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known…for ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and ALL are justified freely by his GRACE through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood…so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus...it is by GRACE you are saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the GIFT of God...the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ the Lord.” (Titus 2:11; Romans 3:21-26; Ephesians 2:8-10; Romans 6:23)

In Summary: The Law kills Robert who cannot keep it. But the Bible tells Robert that God loves him anyway and sent Jesus to die on the cross to save him and all sinners by the Grace of God. And sometime after Robert dies, Jesus will return to resurrected him and his family to immortal life. 

Robert believes the good news with joy and simply says “thank you”. In appreciation Robert cleans up his life as best he can and tells his wife, children and grandchildren about it. They all now live in peace with God without the fear of the Law.

The details of the Bible are interesting also but have been pretty much screwed up by Jewish and Christian apologists over the past 2,000 years.

“Of all tyrannies a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive….those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience.” C.S. Lewis (1898-1963)

I rarely quote men, however this quote seems appropriate this morning for some reason. I am thinking about advice we receive from politicians, news editorials, philosophers, or just random advice from anyone we consider wise. They all have certain “talking points” and seem to be sincerely concerned for our welfare and often appear to know how to fix what is wrong with the world.

For me, however, I listen closer to the words of a book I have determined to trust in all situations. Here is what I heard this morning.

“Jesus wept…” (John 11:35)

The Son of God through whom all creation was made wept over the death of his friend Lazarus because he LOVED him….and then raised him from the dead!

So what you may ask? How does that relate to us? Will anyone weep for us who has the power to raise us from the dead?

“For God so LOVED the world that he gave His only begotten son…God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.… I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself, that where I am, there you may be also…see the Son coming in a cloud with power and great glory, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near…death has been swallowed up in Victory! ” (John 3:16…Romans 5:8…John 14:3-4… Luke 21:17-18…1 Corinthians 15:54)

Makes me weep….for JOY!

“In his distress he sought the favor of the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his ancestors. And when he prayed to him, the Lord was moved by his entreaty and listened to his plea; so he brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord is God.” (2 Chronicles 33:12-13)

The only way mankind will finally KNOW that the LORD is GOD is when the situation is such that they humble themselves before God and realize they are in trouble. Not many do so in this life. But there is coming an event when ALL mankind, collectively, will humble themselves before the LORD their GOD and wonder…are we in trouble?

“Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it…And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne…the sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and the graves gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done.” (Revelation 20:11-13)

Imagine if you can such an event. All of the dead throughout history raised from the dead and are standing before the resurrected Jesus to account for what they have done…whether good or bad. Can you imagine even one person NOT being humbled by such an event and distressed? I can’t.

So what happens? Isaiah put it this way…

“By Myself I have sworn, My mouth has uttered in all integrity, a word that will not be revoked: Before Me EVERY KNEE WILL BOW; by Me every tongue will swear. They will say of Me, In the Lord alone are deliverance and strength…” (Isaiah 45:23-24)

And Paul added some additional information concerning the role of Jesus in the deliverance of mankind…

“Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:8-11)

Every man humbled, every man bowing, every man confessing Christ Jesus is Lord. Some say it is too late but that is NOT what the Bible says. That is religious men wanting God to treat them better than everyone else. However God says…

“Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you…” (Psalm 50:15)

“We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away….THIS SALVATION, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to His will. It is NOT to angels that he has subjected the WORLD TO COME, about which we are speaking. But there is a place where someone has testified: What is MANKIND that you are mindful of them, a son of man that you care for him? You made them a little lower than the angels; you crowned them with glory and honor and put everything under their feet. In putting everything under them (mankind), God left nothing that is not subject to them. YET AT PRESENT we do not see everything subject to them (mankind). But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, NOW crowned with glory and honor BECAUSE HE SUFFERED DEATH, so that by the grace of God he might taste death FOR EVERYONE.” (Hebrews 2:1-9)

God’s plan to save all of mankind is pretty simple…religious men just do not believe Him. Nevertheless, MANKIND is to have “everything under his feet” IN THE WORLD TO COME. Not yet but AFTER the resurrection.  Just as everything was put under the feet of Jesus AFTER his resurrection, so will it be for the rest of mankind. Christ Jesus was the firstfruits…it is God’s plan. You cannot change it so enjoy the knowledge of it and don’t let religious dogma rob you of the joy of knowing what IS TO COME.

“…in Christ ALL shall be made alive, but each in their own order, Christ the firstfruits…I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made FOR ALL PEOPLE…This is good, and pleases GOD OUR SAVIOR, who WILLS all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth…There is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, THE MAN Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom FOR ALL MANKIND to be witnessed at the proper time. And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle—I am telling the truth, I am not lying…” (1 Corinthians 15:22; 1 Timothy 2:1-7)

“I have also called you by your name; I have given you a title of honor though you have not known Me. I am the LORD, and there is no other; Besides Me there is no God. I will gird you, though you have not known Me; that men may know from the rising to the setting of the sun that there is no one besides Me. I am the LORD, and there is no other. The One forming light and creating darkness, causing well-being and creating evil; I am the LORD who does all these. Drip down, O heavens, from above, and let the clouds pour down righteousness; Let the earth open up and salvation bear fruit, and righteousness spring up with it. I, the LORD, have created it.” (Isaiah 45:4-9)

It appears to me that Christianity is in danger of becoming an enterprise whose activity, organized work, and people are called upon to grow and become like any other big successful company. Christians are trained in churches and seminaries to become a part of the enterprise. Its product is salvation, it price is the tithe of time and money, and its employee benefits include eternal bliss in heaven and escape from eternal torture in hell.

God has no such enterprise in my opinion. His business is to create, educate and save mankind…making us into His image. He needs no help, he asks for none, and His end result will be accomplished. What Christianity needs is a change of attitude. Instead of thinking it is the Church who is called to accomplish God’s purpose, it needs to simply JOIN HIM and rejoice and share the good news that He WILL complete His purpose because He is GOD.

King Manasseh "caused his sons to pass through the fire in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom; he practiced soothsaying, used witchcraft and sorcery, and consulted mediums and spiritists…Manasseh seduced Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to do more evil than the nations whom the LORD had destroyed before the children of Israel" (2 Chronicles 33:6-9)

Surely this sorry excuse for a King will not end up saved, but will dwell eternally in the hell of Christianity…right? Well no, actually he was saved after his captivity by the Babylonians by the same Gracious and Merciful God who has promised to save all mankind. By the GRACE of God all mankind will be saved, and become aware of their salvation when they are given Faith to believe Him and trust Him.

“For by Grace are you saved through Faith, and that not of yourselves, it is a gift of God…” (Ephesians 2:8-10)

Successful Men

During my 67 years I have encountered two general types of individuals who are considered successful.  One I refer to as King Nebuchadnezzar types and the other I refer to as King David types.

The King Nebuchadnezzar types are proud men who exalt what they perceive to be the magnificent works of men, and the potential of mankind apart from Divine intervention.

“All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar… The king spoke, saying, "Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty?" (Daniel 4:28-31)

The King David types are those who simply and humbly exalt the LORD and give Him the glory for it all.

"Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, the power and the glory, the victory and the majesty; for all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, and You are exalted as head over all. Both riches and honor come from You, and You reign over all. In Your hand is power and might; in Your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. Now therefore, our God, we thank You and praise Your glorious name" (1 Chronicles 29:11-13).

Both types are the objects and beneficiaries of the eventual salvation of all mankind. The David types recognize their savior in this life and the others, like Nebuchadnezzar, will be humbled and give glory to God eventually - if not in this life, then in the next….

“King Nebuchadnezzar, to the nations and peoples of every language, who live in all the earth: May you prosper greatly! It is my pleasure to tell you about the miraculous signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me. How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders! His kingdom is an eternal kingdom; His dominion endures from generation to generation...the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind, and bestows it on whom He wishes and sets over it the lowliest of men."  (Daniel 4:1-3, 17)

The Ash Heap

“He raises the poor out of the dust, and lifts the needy out of the ash heap." (Psalm 113:7)

Well when does He do this? I think many people miss the importance of how short this life is in relation to the eternal life we are promised after the resurrection. Jesus told his followers that “the poor you will always have with you”. Some never rise above poverty in this life and remain in need all of their lives. I cringe at the poverty in Bangladesh and other places in the world and some people live all their lives trapped by it. Some deal with pain all their lives...our hearts break for those who bear these burdens.

But God has promised to “raise” the poor and “lift” the needy so He will do it, if not in this life, then in the next.  HE MUST if He is God and can be trusted to do what He says.

“But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive… But someone will say, how are the dead raised? And with what kind of body do they come?... it is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body…Just as we have borne the image of the earthy, we will also bear the image of the heavenly” (1 Corinthians 15:22-49)

Isaiah said God will do this for the poor...

"...to give them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, festive oil instead of mourning, and splendid clothes instead of despair. And they will be called righteous trees, planted by the Lord to glorify Him." (Isaiah 61:3)

"He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it. And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation." (Isaiah 25:8-9)

What or whom is your hope in? Mankind has generally depended on the wisdom of men and women. Solomon was the wisest man who had ever lived in his day...yet he found that the wisdom and reason of men cannot change the fact that both good and wicked men have the same fate...death. Utopian ideas of wise men have all been failures. Whether it has been based on democracy or autocracy...philosophy or theology...capitalism or statism.

So what is the alternative to trusting in the reason and wisdom of mankind?

FAITH in God it seems to me.

Faith that there is a good God is a sure foundation for hope. I find in the Bible that He loves mankind and that because of this love, and His Grace, mankind cannot miss His goal of eventual perfection in an age to come, regardless of how much we fail in this age. And this faith in God can sustain us in the midst of a faithless world.

Power to the People!

"He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall...

At the age of 68 I am beginning to relate to the weak and those who have no might.  In this life even young people eventually grow weak with age and eventually go the way of all men....death.  But according to God, that is not the end for we shall renew our strength and fly like eagles and never get old and tired again!  

Amen, When?

"But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint." (Isaiah 40:29-31)

When? Obviously not in this life. Our "hope" is in the "mystery" of the next.

"Listen, I am telling you a mystery. We will not all fall asleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the blink of an eye, at the the last trumpet.  For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed...death has been swallowed up in victory." (1 Corinthians 15:51-54)

For now we have to "wait on the LORD" to renew our strength. When we trust God with our death we can enjoy what life we have left.  Solomon gave some me some good advice...

"The living at least know they will die, but the dead know nothing. They have no further reward, nor are they remembered. Whatever they did in their lifetime—loving, hating, envying—is all long gone. They no longer play a part in anything here on earth. So go ahead. Eat your food with joy, and drink your wine with a happy heart, for God approves of this! Wear fine clothes, with a splash of cologne! Live happily with the woman you love through all the meaningless days of life that God has given you under the sun. The wife God gives you is your reward for all your earthly toil. Whatever you dodo well. For when you go to the grave, there will be no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom." (Ecclesiastes 9:5-10 NLT)

Don't allow religion to rob you of the joy of life.  Realize that your hope after death is in the hands of a gracious God, who is going to change you from a corruptible pile of dust into an incorruptible spiritual being swallowed up in Victory - at the last Trump! It will no longer be a "mystery".

"For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people." (Titus 2:11)

Yep, Power to the People!

Common Sense: Life Without Hope is Meaningless and Fearful

"Whatever you do, do well. For when you go to the grave, there will be no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom." (Ecclesiastes 9:10)

King Solomon, the most likely writer of Ecclesiastes, was the master of common sense. He set his mind and spent his life seeking common sense answers to all of life's experiences and every nation came to listen to his wisdom.

"He composed some 3,000 proverbs and wrote 1,005 songs. He could speak with authority...And kings from every nation sent their ambassadors to listen to the wisdom of Solomon." (1 Kings 4:32-34)

With all that wisdom, He had no knowledge that there was anything for mankind after death. So, common sense told him "everything is meaningless". 

"I observed everything going on under the sun, and really, it is all meaningless--like chasing the wind...There is nothing ahead but death anyway. There is hope only for the living...the dead know nothing...Everything is meaningless, says the teacher, completely meaningless..." (Ecclesiastes 1:14;9:3-4; 12:8)

His final advice was to...

"Fear God and obey His commandments, for this is everyone's duty. God will judge us for everything we do..." (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14)

This fear and judging was not of a fear of judgment after death. For he had concluded that "the dead know nothing".  The "fear" of God he referred to is the consequences for bad behavior in this life.

He had earlier declared what God "approves" in this life...

"Eat your food with joy, and drink your wine with a happy heart, for God approves of this! Wear fine clothes, with a splash of cologne! Live happily with the woman you love through all the meaningless days of life that God has given you under the sun." (Ecclesiastes 9: 8-9)

The wisest man of the time, Solomon, had no hope in the hereafter and it made him "most miserable". People without hope are still miserable as they approach death.

"If in this life only we have hope...we are of all men most miserable." (1 Corinthians 15:9)

But we who live after the birth of Christ Jesus and believe what He said about life after death have a "blessed hope".

"...looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed." (Titus 2:13-14)

It still makes common sense to fear God and obey His commandments but unlike Solomon, we know life is not "meaningless".  We have three things that will last forever - faith, hope and love.

"Three things will last forever - faith, hope, and love - the greatest of these is love...God is love." (1 Corinthians 13:13; 1 John 4:8)

“…this one thing I do: forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead…” (Philippians 3:13)

Get it? Forget those things in the past and the things that will be in the past after today is over, and set your mind on the things God has promised. Not the things of this world, but on those things to come in the next world.

We live in this world and we should act as best we can to make it a better place, however, griping and complaining and bashing those with whom we disagree is a waste of time. Control what you can control….YOUR thoughts and actions today…and forget the rest as best you can knowing that we have a promise from God that the best is yet to come, not in this life, but in that world to come.

“…keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God." (Colossians 3:2-3)

Jesus said:  “Here I am. I have come to give my life" and Paul explains that "…Under this new plan we have been forgiven and made clean by Christ’s dying for us once and for ALL…Christ gave himself to God for our sins as one SACRIFICE for all time and then sat down in the place of highest honor at God’s right hand…For by that one offering he made forever perfect in the sight of God all those whom he is making holy.” (Hebrews 10:9-14)

The closest approximation of the Hebrew word translated “sacrifice” in English is “korban”. The word “korban” refers to something one does to draw near to God. In order to draw near to God, that which separates from God needs to be dealt with…sin. The word “sin” has no moral connotation, it simply means “missing the mark” or “falling short”. In other words it means failure…which happens to all men no matter what their station in this age – they fail to stay alive by DYING.

“And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.” (1 Corinthians 15:17-19)

So, in order to take away what keeps men from drawing close to God death has to be dealt with. And that is the essence of what the “sacrifice” of Jesus portrayed.  What followed his death is the heart of the “gospel”. Jesus died, was buried, and ROSE AGAIN…the first fruits of mankind who will all be eternally NEAR TO GOD after they die, are buried and resurrected to immortality.

“But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive…The last enemy to be destroyed is death…that God may be all in ALL." (1 Corinthians 15:20-28)

“You have magnified your WORD above…your NAME.” (Psalm 138:2)

Like King David, it has been my observation over the years that sometimes we magnify God in name only. We are distressed when we hear someone take God's Name is vain…yet do not seem to care whether we know what God has actually said in His WORD. Is it possible that we often go to God’s house, pray to God, and worship God…in “Name” only?

David tells us in the above Psalm that God magnifies His WORD over his NAME and that His “…WORD is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105)

Take this clear statement in God’s WORD and ask whether you believe God on the subject…or men:

”It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance. For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers. Prescribe and teach these things.” (1 Timothy 4:9-11)

“In a beginning God…” (Genesis 1:1)

When we become sufficiently deficient and competently incompetent in our experiences in this life…THEN people acknowledge God our Creator. For many that moment will only come after death at the resurrection of the dead.

I read where well known physicist Stephen Hawking announced “how grateful” he was to have discovered a scientific theory which explained in his mind the creation of the universe without the need for God. To whom is he grateful? 

There is deeply seeded in all mankind an awareness of God it seems to me, even a man whose IQ is off the charts.

“As surely as I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.” (Romans 14:11)

Mercy On Them All

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:1-2)

There is a great difference between “renewing” our minds based on the Mercy of God and having our minds “brainwashed” by the opinions of a religious system. Most all of what Christians and Muslims are taught is the opinion of their respective leaders.

Paul above urges us to offer ourselves as a living sacrifice in view of God’s MERCY (as opposed to some religious idea of JUSTICE), and to not be "conformed" (brainwashed) to the pattern of the world which in his day was dominated by the views of Jewish religious leaders and Greek Philosophers.

When we focus on God’s MERCY, we can clearly see and understand what God "WILLS", which is to save mankind and reconcile all creation to Himself…and then we can undo the brainwashing by the religious, philosophical and politically dominated world system.

“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning…For God has bound everyone over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all...this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who WILLS all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for ALL.” (Lamentations 3:22; 2 Corinthians 5:10; 1 Timothy 2:3-6)

“For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost… All have sinned…the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord…For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us…was not Yes and No, but in Him was Yes. For all the promises of God in Him are YES, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God...” (Luke 19:10; Romans 3:23; Romans 6:23; 2 Corinthians 1:19-20)

My understanding of the Scripture is that God will save sinners as a "free gift" through Christ Jesus from the penalty of sin, which is death. It is not a Yes I believe or No I don’t believe question as to salvation. God reserved for Himself the eventual eternal destiny of all mankind. He did not make it a matter of choice. God has chosen to freely give mankind “eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord”. 

The choice God has left for mankind during this age is to believe this, not in order to be saved, but in order to enjoy the peace and hope it gives. When people do not believe this, they worry all the time about whether God will save them or condemn them. Or they decide there is no God at all for various reasons. But the PROMISES of God are always YES in regard to the eventual salvation of mankind…as I have come to understand the Scripture.

When God speaks, it comes to pass…whether religious doctrine agrees with Him or not!

"For I am the LORD. I speak, and the word which I speak will come to pass…the word which I speak will be done." (Ezekiel 12:25, 28).