Reflections 2015

Reflections 2015

When I took some time to reflect on this past year (2015) I first took a moment to review God blessings. I then remembered those family and friends that are no longer with us. This past year one of my best friends growing up in the town of Roslyn, NY passed away. Yet, I continue to celebrate all the great memories of our time together. His life greatly impacted mine and that is something we all can do for each other. But, due to his passing I have taken some time to contemplate and ask the big questions that relate to human existence. 

• Who am I? 
• Why am I here?  
• Where did here come from? 
• Why is life so messed up? 
• Is there a fix for the mess? 

Yet, this year, what strikes me the most, are not these big questions but the fact that so many of my family, friends and co-workers of mine differ from me politically, philosophically and spiritually. But even with that fact, what remains most important to me is that I love them and they love me. Love transcends the bounds of the philosophical mind and reveals itself in the heart. The mind says we are different but the heart tells us we are all the same. Here is the truth: we were all created/formed by the same God. A God who reveals Himself to us in a supernatural way and tells us the most important thing is love. This love is ultimately is what connects us all together. God's desire is for us all to love and be connected to Him for all eternity. Unfortunately many will choose to go their own way and live a life apart from God.

If you believe there is life beyond the grave then you may have already considered what that life is going to look like after physical death. If you are not thinking about that now, one day you may ponder it. The Bible tells us that there is Heaven, an eternal place where people exist in an immortal state once they have passed on from this world. In Heaven people are constantly rejoicing in the presence of God. The Bible also tells us there is a Hell, a place where people exist separated from God. Actually, many people believe Hell is on earth right now because of all the evil, disease, death an destruction they see around them. They say, how can there be a loving God that allows all of this to take place? Because of their lack of understanding of who God truly is, they rebel. They don't take into consideration God's rescue plan from evil. 

God sent Jesus to rescue His people. But people reject that out right cause they find the whole concept of a sacrificial Savior to be a fairy tale bordering on the ridiculous. Funny, I used to think that way too. In fact, I also had a rebellious mind and heart, yet I eventually submitted my life to God because only under His authority and mindset could I experience real truth, incredible love, joy and purpose. Notice, I did not say happiness. Happiness is a temporary state. On the other hand, joy can exist even when our circumstances fall well below our expectations, even to the point of grief and a deep sense of loss. So how can joy and sorrow exist together at the same time? 

Here is the truth in a nut shell:
 
I figured out that joy is a supernatural condition that can only be attained through a relationship with a supernatural God. Jesus tells us that in Him there is real life, sustenance and abundance. The real life He gives is the living water that flows through us. That living water is the Holy Spirit who supernaturally is connected to those who are Jesus’ followers.  The people who have the gift of the Holy Spirit also have the gift eternal life. The existence of the Holy Spirit in one’s life is the assurance they have been rescued from spiritual death.

The thief (Satan) does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I (Jesus) have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly  

(John 10:10)

Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them." (John 7:38)

Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. (John 6:35)

God is the One Who makes our faith and your faith strong in Christ. He has set us apart for Himself. He has put His mark on us to show we belong to Him. His Spirit is in our hearts to prove this.  (2 Corinthians 1:21-22)

"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord," (Romans 6:23).

So why would people refuse to enter into a relationship with a supernatural God?

Let’s first define the term Supernatural:

Definition of supernatural

1.     of or relating to an order of existence beyond the visible observable universe; especially of or relating to God or a god, demigod, spirit, or devil

2.     departing from what is usual or normal especially so as to appear to transcend the laws of nature:  attributed to an invisible agent (as a ghost or spirit)

Actually many people believe in the Supernatural. So it surprises me that they have such a difficult time believing that there is a God who created all we know. If they were to examine the world around them they would discover in the laws of nature and in nature itself an incredible design that remains constant yet breaks down over time due to the corruption from the original sin (Adam & Eve). This entropy or breaking down that is taking place is based on the 2^nd law of thermodynamics:

The universe is constantly losing usable energy and never gaining. 

Theologically speaking, from the point the universe was created, we see in humanity itself a limit to a physical existence due to the body going through transitional changes that are breaking down also due to the fall of man. But it is interesting that this entropy is physical and does not mean the death of the spiritual part of who we are. The spiritual part, the one that God breathed into us, continues to exist. We are all created/formed by God in a physical as well as spiritual state. The spiritual state does not perish when the physical body can no longer function. So what happens to the spirit when the body dies?  The Spirit according to the Bible will either enter into heaven with God or proceed to the gates of hell without Him.  So we are all faced with a choice when it comes to eternity. God clearly states He does not want anyone to perish.

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

 (2 Peter 3:9)

In fact, God sent Jesus to rescue us from the bad and destructive choices we make as fallen and sinful human beings. Now that to me suggests that God loves us despite the fact that many hate and reject Him.

Here is the greatest act of love that I know of:

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

So if you think that God does not love you due to the fact you are sinful and imperfect you are being deceived. Jesus came to rescue sinners!

You see God created man for a special purpose. He created people for relationship with Him and and to experience the joy and wonder of His amazing love and creation. It is God's desire that we all share in His gift love and personal fellowship for all eternity. Talk about a great gift to give someone. Why wouldn’t we want to have every moment to be filled with that kind of special love from the Creator of all things? Yet, due to the fallen state of man and limited perspective, many are deceived into thinking that God and His principles are evil and that Satan and His schemes are a far better choice for right now. They do not take into account separation from God has eternal implications. That is why so many people have exchanged the good of God for their own sinful desires; they believe that self-satisfaction, self-centered, self-gratifying living is far better than what God offers. But that is just horizontal thinking. Thinking vertically or looking toward God and His revealed wisdom tells us that man’s thinking is futile and limited.

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. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. (Romans 1:20-21)

God desires for us all to see that a worldview apart from His reality is actually a deception. God’s truth is 180 degrees from what the world has taught us to believe.

So why am I telling you about all this? What is my motivation? What do I gain? Out of love for my family, friends and co-workers, I want to tell you that a saving relationship with God is the better way. So when you come to that point in life when you are contemplating your eternity and you need to make a choice, my prayer is that you would choose God and the spiritual life He desires for us all to have, and not a life of destruction and spiritual death at the hands of the enemy.

Every time around the New Year many people say they are looking to get a fresh start. But with a relationship with the living God we can get a fresh start every day. In fact, a new life in Christ is a fresh new start that has everlasting implications. Even if it is hard to fathom why a perfect God would love someone who is flawed should know this, God loves His people perfectly and has a perfect purposeful plan for those who love Him. 

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)

For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. (Philippians 4:13)

 

Here is the hope that comes from God's love:

 But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) (Ephesians 2:4-5)


For "Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved." 
(Romans 10:13) 

 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

(John 3:16-17)

I am thankful for all my family, friends and co-workers. I am grateful for what God has done to rescue His people. My prayer is that 2016 that people would ask God to show them His truth that will set them free from sin and spiritual death. That way someday we all can be together again in paradise. 

Happy New Year………………….Dave