What would we say if this were the last words we were ever to speak to each other? Would it be, “I love you”? Or, “take care of your mother?” “Try to get along”? “I’m sorry” or “I never meant to be that way.” “It will be OK.” Or even, “Forgive me”? Some die before they are able to speak the words they long to say, or should have said. Some of us worry about what our friends may think. They don’t want to be laughed at or scorned, or even cancelled, so they keep quiet. And no, I’m not talking politics. I’m talking about deeper things. Matters of the soul and of the heart. None of us want to die. But we all will. Every day is a gift for me so I don’t want to be one of those that did not get a chance to say what I wanted to say. So here it goes.
1: Please don’t be short-sighted.
We all are heading somewhere. If you are in the camp that believes that we all just go away into nothingness when we die then none of us have anything to worry about. No morality, no rules. It’s survival of the fittest. But if you believe in an afterlife like I do then we need to start thinking about where that will be and how to get there. If you are in the “I don’t exist after I die camp” there is no reason for you to read on. But before you go consider these words: “For God so loved (insert your name here) that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” This is a GIFT!! Why would you reject a God that wanted to give you eternal life and you need not do anything other than to believe He is who He said He is. It doesn’t make sense to me for you to reject such an incredible gift. You cannot earn it.
If you are questioning where you are in this thought process please read on. I pray you have not rejected Him yet.
2: Please don’t be fooled:
You and I are not God. Everyone does not decide their own truth. You cannot decide that 2+2 =6 and that is your truth. 2+2=4 and it always will. There is a truth and it can be found. For me and others (maybe you as well), Jesus is the truth (and the way to heaven). Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6. Notice He didn’t say He is a way or an alternate way, He said He is THE way. Everything else is just noise to keep you from hearing the truth – that is, Jesus Christ. We either believe He is who He said He was or we don’t. We all need to answer this question that Jesus asked Peter and asks all of us: ““But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Mark 8:29. To deny He is who He said He was is to reject him and that decision has eternal consequences.
3: Please don’t judge:
Many say Christians are judgemental. If this is you, please see #2. EVERY legitimate Christian I have met is a humble sinner who knows they are broken and need a savior. They are the LAST people to judge anyone. You have been lied to. There are people who profess to be Christian and who are not. This is what Christ says about them. “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ Mat: 7:21. Let’s all commit to knowing where we really stand with Jesus and our relationship with him. BTW, this is about a relationship. You can know who Jesus is without a relationship. “You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder” James 2:19. The demons are not heading for heaven. A relationship with Jesus means He knows us.
4: Objectivity, science and reason can coexist while believing in Jesus:
To believe in Jesus does not make you deny science. Actually the complete opposite. My father, who was a gifted scientist, once told me he believed in God because he had studied microorganisms. He told me there was too much organization and complexity and that a creator had to have put life together. It was irrational to think it all could have just happened, he said. I dug deep into these topics and it is actually science that deepened my faith. Don’t let naysayers and people who think they are smarter than you keep you from finding the beauty in creation. They want to be God or keep you from Him. To believe there is a God is the most rational explanation for our existence. See the book: “The Problem of God: Answering a Skeptic’s Challenges to Christianity” by Mark Clark. This is an amazing read for those of us who subscribe to reason. https://www.amazon.ca/Problem-God-Answering-Challenges-Christianity/dp/0310535220
5: Please deny the standard objections.
“Why does God allow ‘X’ ?” A finite mind cannot understand an infinite being. Are we all foolish enough to think we should and can understand every little thing that happens on this earth. And if we don’t understand everything God doesn’t exist? Or, worse, if we don’t like the answer we get He doesn’t exist either. To deny something just because it doesn’t fit in our box of understanding does not mean it is not real. Why doesn’t God do something about “x’” Substitute “x” with “suffering”, “injustice”, “evil”, “wrong-doing” etc. His promise is that there is a world to come that will be replacing all of this. He will bring everything (and some people) under his judgement. “He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” Rev 21:5. This is a broken world and it is not our home. But our home is coming.
“If God is real why doesn’t He show himself”? He did. Jesus Christ. Some may have missed it or your eyes are being kept from it. “If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” John 14:7 (emphasis mine). God came to live as a man and suffered the most horrible death on our behalf. To study his life is to learn about his character and who God really is. When I was on the table heading into my bypass surgery I prayed to God because I was scared. The answer in my heart came back “I am with you, always. Consider what I went through for you and how deeply I suffered. Everything will be fine Richard”. And so it was.
6: Seek Him: Your soul is at stake. Seriously.
We need to look up and around for evidence of His existence. BTW, if you don’t believe He exists why are you so mad at Him? He makes himself known by revealing himself in his creation. “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse”. Rom 1:20 (emphasis mine). I found God by observing the enormity of constellations and how incredibly complex and organized the universe is. I also began my journey as a Christian by telling God I did not understand and please make me understand. It has been a river of information ever since I asked him this while driving down Interstate 95 in 1991. I gave my life to Jesus shortly thereafter.
7: You can make a private decision right now:
You don’t need to be in a church, in front of a pastor or priest. You can ask Jesus in to your life right now while reading this. We don’t have to be perfect and nothing we can do will help us get to heaven. We must believe Jesus is who he said he was and we must believe in his resurrection and the work he did for you and me. He took our sins to the cross and willingly paid the price for you and me. You don’t need anything. You just need to tell him in your own words right now, “I believe in you Jesus, thank you for what you did for me. Come into my life and change me. I give all of who I am and my brokenness to you.”
If you said these words in your heart welcome to the kingdom of God!