Mark Twain became morose and weary of life. Shortly before his death, he wrote, “A myriad of men are born; they labor and sweat and struggle; they squabble and scold and fight; they scramble for little mean advantages over each other; age creeps upon them; infirmities follow; those they love are taken from them, and the joy of life is turned to aching grief. It (the release) comes at last–the only unpoisoned gift earth ever had for them–and they vanish from a world where they were of no consequence, a world which will lament them a day and forget them forever.”

 … Mark Twain.

I think Mark ended the way a vast majority of folks do. Seems like it just wasn’t worth the drive. If you add up all that you possess here, and don’t have anything of spiritual value stored up for the hereafter, it will always come out to zero. Don’t be a zero, put heaven into the equation. Give it some thought.

Revelation 21:4 

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.

1 Corinthians 2:9 

But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”

Figure it out.

Gary

I remember changing the surgical dressing on my brother’s back in 1968. The wound was still leaking from the hole caused by shrapnel he’d been hit with during an explosion at the DMZ. I remember his saying to me, “Fool, (It was a term of endearment between brothers.) don’t go into the military, because they tried to kill me over there.”

I’m not sure what he was thinking when he joined at seventeen. He probably wasn’t considering the fact that Marines have been recognized for their wounds and deaths in service to their country for over two centuries. The reality of that decision landed him in a Naval hospital in the summer of ‘68.

It reminds me of the Christian experience. When we enter in by the new birth, the reality of the fight that will follow is completely unknown, but will present itself in time.

A hymn puts it like this:

I AM A WOUNDED SOLDIER
BUT I WILL NOT LEAVE THE FIGHT
BECAUSE THE GREAT PHYSICIAN IS HEALING ME
SO I’M STANDING IN THE BATTLE
IN THE ARMOR OF HIS LIGHT
BECAUSE HIS MIGHTY POWER IS REAL IN ME

Ephesians 6:12 

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

2 Timothy 2:3

Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.

Give it some thought and be there for your brother and sister in arms.

Gary

It was January and she said to her friend, “My new year’s resolution was to not put my foot in my mouth all the time. I’ll bet yours was losing weight, huh?”

Yes, that tongue is something else. Does the Bible address this phenomenon? Glad you asked.

James 1:26 

If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.

Proverbs 18:21 

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.

I’ll bet this one really hit home with you.  Sorry about that, but it hurt me too.

Gary

Besides the noble art of getting things done, there is the noble art of leaving things undone. The wisdom of life consists in the elimination of non-essentials.                                                 – Lin Yutang

Lin had that one nailed. Some things need our attention and some things don’t. Life consists of a good handle on knowing the difference. Does the Bible address it? Glad you asked.

Ephesians 5:15-17

see then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Give it some thought and get the important things done, things that have eternal value.

Gary

Isaiah 1:11

“To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me?”
Says the Lord.
“I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams
And the fat of fed cattle.
I do not delight in the blood of bulls,
Or of lambs or goats.

Over 2,700 years ago, God put the hammer down on empty religion. God abhors formal ritual when His presence is missing. Bringing it from their town to ours, we examine what the Holy Spirit had Paul write in the following:

Titus 1:16

They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.

If your religion is a ritual, like those to whom Noah preached, you’re going to miss the boat.

Give it some thought.

Gary

Use what talents you possess: The woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best. 

–       Henry Van Dyke

No offense, but the truth is this: We are all flawed. Moses expressed that to God way back in the Book of Exodus. God wasn’t looking for a perfect man because none exist. He just wanted an imperfect man to trust Him.

Exodus 3:11

But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?”

No, Moses, it is not who are you, but who God is.

Exodus 3:14

And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ”

Are you ready to go when God calls?  God didn’t go to the higher seats of learning to get His apostles. Give it some thought and apply. You never know what God can do with a man who admits he comes short of God’s glory.

Gary

In a democracy, everyone has two cows, then a vote is taken, and whatever the majority decides to do, you do, and that’s no bull!   You see, being in the majority doesn’t mean you’re right. Does the Bible address this? Glad you asked.

Matthew 7:13-14 

“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”

In Numbers 13 Moses sent twelve men to check out the land of Canaan. Two believed God and ten didn’t. The people went with the majority and were wrong. They lost a whole generation. Don’t make the same mistake.

Give it some thought.

Gary