Lesson from the “Hotel California”: You can check out any time you want, but you can never leave.

Luke chapter 16 tells of a man who died and found himself in a world much worse than the one he’d left.

Luke 16:26

… between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.

Luke 16:23

In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.

Don’t get yourself in this kind of fix. Embrace the great exchange Christ offered us when He took the penalty for all our sin.

2 Corinthians 5:21

God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.

Give it some thought.

Gary

How many books have we spent time in? I’ll name a few: history books, science books, math books, spelling books, reading books, English books, algebra 1 books, algebra 2 books, geometry books, physics books, chemistry books, botany books, French1 books, world history books, American history books. Phew, glad that’s all behind me.

But the Book that never gets old is called the Word of God. We should always be researching and meditating on it.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Hebrews 4:12 

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

The knowledge that lasts for eternity will be found between the covers of the Bible.

Give it some thought.

Gary

What did the duck say when they brought her lipstick? Put it on my bill.

Some things are so straight-forward and obvious, like the message of salvation found in the New Testament.

Ephesians 2:8-9 

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Titus 3:5 

He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,

Acts 4:12 

And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

If you trust Christ, you will never have a bill. He’s paid the price for man’s salvation.

Give it some thought.

Gary

Standing in front of my uncle’s coffin, my grandmother turned to me and asked, “Whom does he look like?”

I don’t remember how I responded to that, but I was thinking, “He looks like he’s dead.” I don’t want anyone saying of me after I die, “Doesn’t he look good?”

What I want said of me after I die is what we find said of Abel in the Book of Hebrews.

Hebrews 11:4

By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.

Even though I’m dead, I’d like to have something to say to the ones coming after me. Think I’ll start praying for that now. May God make a message of my life.

Give it some thought.

Gary

Herbicides used on lawns to kill dandelions take a terrible toll on wildlife. More than seven million wild birds are estimated to die annually due to the use of lawn pesticides. Think of what you’re doing by trying to rid yourself of something created by God and of benefit to man.

John 15:18 

“If the world hates you, know that it has hated Me before it hated you.

1 Peter 2:4

As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious,

Give it some thought.

Gary

Dandelions are among the most expensive items in the grocery store. Shops sell dried roots as a no-caffeine coffee substitute. Dandelions out-price prime rib, swordfish and lobster.

What value can we put on the gospel message? Christ is of far more value than the 30 pieces of silver Judas sold Him out with.

1 Peter 1:18-19

knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. 

Give it some thought.

Gary

Dandelions are masters of survival. They can take root in places that seem little-short of miraculous, and then are impossible to get rid of, as homeowners have found.

Ten different Roman Emperors couldn’t destroy the gospel and it is still having a tremendous effect on our world today.

Romans 1:16 

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

1 Thessalonians 1:8 

For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything.

Give it some thought.

Gary