Endings can evoke a variety of emotions. For example, when you finish a good book, a good movie, maybe a bad movie, or when someone’s life ends. Sometimes, April will ask after we finish a movie, “Now what?” It’s a good question.
When Jesus died on the cross, his last words as a man were, “It is finished!” His thirty-three-year mission to boldly go where no God had gone before was over. “Now what?”
The very moment he died, here comes my favorite part: the curtain that hung in the temple was ripped from top to bottom. Now, there was no more separation between God and man. It meant that if we accept Jesus and ask him to forgive us of our sins, we now have access to God Himself. We can actually enter the throne room of heaven and have an audience with the Creator of the universe!
When man dies on Earth, it’s over. The end. It is finished. “Then what?” The very next thing he will see is God as he stands before him. God will look in the “Lamb’s Book of Life” to see if his name is written in it. If not, God will have no choice but to send him to hell. By the way, in the beginning, every name was written in the “Lamb’s Book of Life.” The only person that can remove your name – is you!
God wants people to love him freely of their free will. So, He gave man the right to choose to live for Him or to live for Satan. That’s it. There are no other sides to life. You will not be reincarnated. You won’t simply die and wind up in nothingness. You will live for eternity, either in heaven or hell. Choose life in heaven. Accept Jesus. Have your sins forgiven. The reason you must have your sins paid for by Jesus is because God is Holy and cannot be in the presence of sin. The End!
At that moment, the Temple curtain was ripped in two, top to bottom. There was an earthquake, and rocks were split in pieces. Mat. 27:51 (MSG)
Nothing dirty or defiled will get into the City (heaven), and no one who defiles or deceives. Only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life will get in. Rev. 21:27 (MSG) In parentheses mine.
Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, Heb. 9:27 (NIV)
I don’t recall ever getting out of a ticket! Speeding tickets, other kinds of moving violation tickets, nothing! I did manage to get one reduced though. It seems like any time I am out and driving on the road, I witness other drivers being reckless, excessively speeding, and, in general, putting others in danger! Okay, putting me in danger. I know, if I ever drove like them, I would definitely get caught. I don’t seem to get by with anything!
When I see this, I often fantasize about being a cop and pulling them over. I want to be the witness, the jury, and the judge. If that happened, they would pay big time! Honestly, I wonder if the fine would be steep enough to change their behavior.
This makes me think about others who do not violate the laws of man but live in disobedience to God’s commands. If they continue to live their life in such a way and never accept Jesus Christ, who forgives us our sins, they will certainly pay. Unfortunately, the fine will be steep – their life. Will knowing this change their behavior?
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Rom. 3:23 (NIV)
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in[a] Christ Jesus our Lord. Rom. 6:23 (NIV)
27 Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, 28 so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him. Heb. 9:27-28 (NIV)
16 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. 17 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 (NIV)
Two weeks ago, May 11, 2024, Harrison Butker, the placekicker for the Kansas City Chiefs, delivered a commencement speech at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas. His speech was insightful, inspiring, and full of truth. After he spoke, certain people and particular groups of people got mad. They started spreading hate and called for him to be released from the Kansas City Chiefs!
This bothered me a lot! Their words were so mean and ugly, downright hateful. Ironically, they expressed their opinions with their free speech, but they didn’t like it when Mr. Butker did. What makes their views right? Just because they are on TV or are screaming louder than everyone else? Since then, there has been a mighty outpouring of love and support for Mr. Butker. I was so glad to see it.
I started thinking, Why are these people so upset? Why do they care what this man said? It was his opinion! Then it hit me, the real reason why they got so mad. Harrison Butker spoke the truth about men, women, God, and life. Those who got angry are living a lie and don’t want anyone to confront them with the truth! They are engaging in the lies that Satan has sold them, like their identity isn’t the one they were born with, and they will only find happiness with someone of the same sex. Sadly, they have settled for his lies instead of waiting for God’s truth! If they listened to God speak through Harrison Butker, they would be set free. For the Truth will set you free. (John 8:32)
Jesus told him, “I am the Way—yes, and the Truth and the Life. No one can get to the Father except by means of me. John 14:6 (TLB)
The sum of Your word is truth [the total of the full meaning of all Your individual precepts]; and every one of Your righteous decrees endures forever. Ps. 119:160 (AMPC)
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts. Isa. 55:9 (AMPC)
Every good gift and every perfect ([a]free, large, full) gift is from above; it comes down from the Father of all [that gives] light, in [the shining of] Whom there can be no variation [rising or setting] or shadow cast by His turning [as in an eclipse]. Jam. 1:17 (AMPC)
If people aren’t living their life according to God’s word, the Bible, then they are living life their way. God is okay with that because He gives us free will. The reason He gives us that is He desires to have a people who choose to love him back. Of course, God knows that living life his way is better.
I have a friend who says they love God and have accepted him but fails to attend church services, tithe, or other “religious” activities that would grow their relationship with God. Because of this, I think they do not fully understand how much God loves them! They post a lot about their life on Facebook. It’s usually bad news. Things are happening to them, their children, and other aspects of their lives. They’re a good person, so witnessing this breaks my heart.
This has bothered me for a while. Then, this week, a verse came to my mind that explains at least part of the problem.
10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this,” Says the Lord of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it.
11 “And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, Mal. 3:10-11a (NKJV)
Notice verse 11a. “Rebuke the devourer for your sakes.” It’s as if the devourer, Satan, has his way with my friend’s life. They take a step forward, and he eats away ground they had just gained. In other words, they are getting nowhere! Then, another verse came to my mind.
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10 (NIV)
Jesus taught that Satan comes to hurt you, and one way he does that is hurting your life. His intention is for you to blame God and keep you from accepting Him. Jesus continued his teaching to share that He comes to give you real life and lots of it!
This is what happens when you don’t live life God’s way. You will struggle in life, and most likely, you won’t be happy. Give up and give in. Accept God and His Son, Jesus, and start living life abundantly.
People have claimed that their phones are always listening to their conversations. They know this because after mentioning something, advertisements in their Facebook account start showing up for that item. Kinda creepy! Then there is the police department in California that wanted to subpoena the Alexa unit in a home where a murder had been committed. They know the device had to have heard the conversation before the person was killed. I believe, if I remember right, they were denied access to its records.
So, these devices and our phones are constantly monitoring what we say. So is God. He is always listening to us, whether it is a cry for help, to accept him, or if we are asking for an answer to a question. Also, God delights in blessing his children, being those who believe in him and have accepted his Son, Jesus.
The week before the writing of this post, I mentioned to April that I would like to go to an arena football game here in the city where we live. I enjoy football a lot. I think, since I was seven, I have only missed watching one Super Bowl. That was in 2019. At that time, I was living in the Philippines after marrying April. I looked online, and the cost of tickets wasn’t too bad for seats in the corner of one of the end zones. She agreed to go, but for some reason, I couldn’t pull the trigger to order the tickets. I was okay with that.
Then, at the beginning of this week of this post, April texted me a photo of an arena football game promotion. Free tickets, first come, first serve, to the very Saturday night game I was going to purchase tickets for. I was so excited as I went through the process of getting the tickets. I also felt so loved on by my heavenly Father. After I received my confirmation, I then knew and understood why I felt uneasy about buying tickets the week before. God wanted to provide and bless me.
I don’t have Siri or Alexa, and my phone didn’t have anything to do with me getting free tickets or learning about the promotion. But what I do have is a loving God who delights in blessing me with the desires of my heart from time to time.
4 Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: 6 He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun. Ps. 37:4-6 (NIV)
The other day, I had to fast for twelve hours and then have blood drawn for an upcoming doctor’s appointment. Needless to say, I was hungry by the time I finished getting the lab work done. Fortunately, there is a fast-food establishment that serves breakfast right next door to the lab.
When I walked in, I saw a middle-aged lady bent over the front counter, filling out a report. I started checking out the menu. When she saw me, she apologized. I smiled and told her it wasn’t necessary as I was still pondering what to get. I finally decided, and after taking my order, she asked for my name.
I got my drink and stood near the counter to receive my food. Then, I picked out a place to sit. Several times, when I looked into the kitchen, I would notice her looking at me. I am certainly not used to having women look at me. However, last week, I had a beautiful woman at the health club smile at me. I smiled back and then looked around to see if her warm expression was meant for someone else.
When the morning sun rose above a nearby building, its light flooded the dining area and illuminated my face. I’m sure I looked radiant and angelic and just needed a wind machine to blow my hair back! This undoubtedly added to her infatuation with me!
After I finished my breakfast, I cleaned up my space and used their public bathroom. As I was exiting the door, I heard, “Goodbye, Mark.” Nervously, I looked back and saw her at the counter. I said, “Goodbye. Have a nice day.” She probably did after encountering me. LOL
Here is what I think was really going on in the above true story. The woman appeared to have had a rough life so far. I imagine she had been in and out of several relationships with men. Hoping they would satisfy the longing in her heart for God, but she probably didn’t know that is Who she was actually desperately seeking. The woman was not really attracted to me, but to the love of God she sensed about me. She no doubt felt His presence and His peace. We are reps for God everywhere we go. That is why we need to be open to other’s needs and recognize situations where someone is seeking God. Then, we can share with them and introduce them to Him.
If with heart and soul you’re doing good, do you think you can be stopped? Even if you suffer for it, you’re still better off. Don’t give the opposition a second thought. Through thick and thin, keep your hearts at attention, in adoration before Christ, your Master. Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you’re living the way you are, and always with the utmost courtesy. Keep a clear conscience before God so that when people throw mud at you, none of it will stick. They’ll end up realizing that they’re the ones who need a bath. It’s better to suffer for doing good, if that’s what God wants, than to be punished for doing bad. That’s what Christ did definitively: suffered because of others’ sins, the Righteous One for the unrighteous ones. He went through it all—was put to death and then made alive—to bring us to God. 1 Peter 3:15-18 (MSG)
I started writing this blog post after witnessing the solar eclipse on April 8, 2024. I witnessed the celestial event in Tulsa, Oklahoma. We were not in the “Path of Totality,” but the moon blocked 95% of the sun. It was pretty awesome.
The phrase “Path of Totality” resonates seriousness, all-consuming, and is a moving event. Of course, the ones who came up with it meant it as the areas of the country where the moon will totally block out the sun. But it made me think of individuals I know who are struggling with life and, even worse, with accepting God. Needless to say, if they don’t correct their path in life, they may soon find the end of it with total destruction.
It’s sad to witness someone travel such a path. Even an untrained eye can see countless opportunities they have had to accept God and his Son, Jesus, into their life, but for their own reasons, they don’t. They keep fighting it, like Saul did, until the day he was on a path to Damascus. That is when he got an up-close and personal look at Jesus Christ in all his glory. It’s as if their heart is being eclipsed by darkness.
Some may argue that not everyone has the same introduction, but I would say, if that is what it took for someone to believe finally, then perhaps if they took a closer look, they would see that they, too, have had that opportunity. I am saying they have seen Jesus up close and personally through those who are true Christians. The very title means “little Christ ones.” We believers are called to be imitators of Jesus. Jesus himself claimed that he only did what he saw his Father in heaven do.
3 As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. 4 Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” 5 And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” 6 So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Acts 9:3-6
Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. John 5:19 (NIV)
Imitate me, just as I imitate Christ. 1 Cor. 11:1 (AMP)
If you are on such a “Path of Totality,” then stop. Get off of it now, today! Take off the glasses that you think are protecting you but are actually keeping you in total darkness. Step out from behind them, accept Jesus into your life, and start walking in light. Your new life will be pretty awesome!
“I grew up in “nothing” land. I mean, the landscape is sparse! There are no good jobs in the area, and most homes are filled with broken relationships. I don’t know why people choose to live there or stay there, for that matter. There is nothing to look at, nothing to do, and nowhere nice to go.”
Those were the words of a young doctor I met a few months ago. He grew up in a town between Seatle and Spokane, Washington. He was surprised I had driven through there and understood what he meant. (The included photo is the only one I took while driving through.) Then I asked him, “So, how did you get to Tulsa?”
I don’t recall his whole story today, but I do remember that he said several times, “As I was growing up in that wasteland, I kept saying to myself, ‘There has to be more.’” He shared with me that he took note of how bad people had it there. He didn’t want to end up as another empty life dying in Nothingville.
Somehow, we wound up talking about God. His journey of growing up in a wasteland helped him find God because he knew there had to be more to life. It always amazes me the different ways God will reveal himself. I once worked with a guy whom God was pursuing. He wasn’t sure he could believe in God. That was until he visited the Grand Canyon. That is where he invited Jesus into his life.
“When you come looking for me, you’ll find me. “Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I’ll make sure you won’t be disappointed.” God’s Decree. Jer. 29:13 (MSG)
By an act of faith, Enoch skipped death completely. “They looked all over and couldn’t find him because God had taken him.” We know on the basis of reliable testimony that before he was taken “he pleased God.” It’s impossible to please God apart from faith. And why? Because anyone who wants to approach God must believe both that he exists and that he cares enough to respond to those who seek him. Heb. 11:6 (MSG)
Look for God. Find God. Accept God. Don’t keep walking around feeling empty inside. God will fill your heart and your life. He will give you a reason to live. The young doctor is now married, has a baby daughter, and is looking forward to when he can move back to Washington and share God with those walking around on “Empty.”
The day I am writing this post is my wife’s birthday. She has reached that point where she no longer wants to tell her age. I’m not going to tell you either, but it is eighty divided by two. Being such a milestone, I waited for her to fall asleep last night, and then I got up and decorated our dining room. The whole works! Flowers, card, streamers, balloons. In the refrigerator was a cake and some ice cream. I even got those gold mylar number balloons. I gotta say, it looked good.
The next morning, I hid out in the pantry in the dark and waited for her to enter the dining room. and turn on the light. I had the video camera rolling. Her reaction warmed my heart. She loved it.
I posted on Facebook recently that I get nervous when reacting to someone’s serious post with the correct emoji. The “Care” and “Laughing” ones are right next to each other. I mean, you don’t want to “laugh” when there has been a death in the family or something. A few friends commented that they had indeed accidentally clicked on the wrong one.
The Bible encourages us to laugh with those who laugh and to weep with those who mourn. Rejoice with those who rejoice [sharing others’ joy], and weep with those who weep [sharing others’ grief]. Rom. 12:15 (AMPC) It’s important to take the time to let others know we care about what is happening in their life. Jesus demonstrated this as well.
In John 11:35, we read that when he got to the house where his friend Lazarus had died and saw, heard, and then felt the grief, He wept. I don’t think he did so because his friend was gone for, He knew what was about to happen, but because his friends were sorrowful.
I wrote about Lazarus once, and a friend asked me, “What makes you think Lazurus wanted to come back to life?” The question stumped me for several days. After asking God for wisdom in the situation, I heard in my spirit, “It didn’t matter if he wanted to or not. When he heard the voice of Jesus say, ‘Lazarus, come forth!’ he wanted to be obedient.”
People matter to God. They are more important than the work of the ministry. There will be, and are, times when people interrupt our busy schedules. But I encourage you to stop and take the time to just “be” with them in the moment. Listen to them, and when you do speak, they will know your words are true and from your heart because they will feel you care about them and what they are going through, just as God does.
If you saw God on a social media site, would you swipe left or right? Would you base it solely on looks? Would He appear to you as someone you want to know?
I met my wife, April, on an online dating site. I was opposed to going that route for the longest time to find a potential mate, but after hearing several success stories at my church, I thought, why not try it?
I remember, after I submitted my profile, I was presented on screen 30 postage stamp size photos or so of potential women. April’s face glowed like a neon sign. Her soft smile stuck out compared to all of the rest, so I clicked on hers. The first line in her profile said, “Looking for a man of God…” I recall thinking, I think I qualify. I guess the rest is history, as they say.
What would you expect God to look like? Do you have a predetermined image in your mind? I do. I think of him looking kind of like Charlton Heston as Moses in the movie, “The Ten Commandments.” That’s probably not fair of me to do so, but we tend to place an image in our minds when we have not ever met someone face to face.
What we can know is what God’s “character” looks like based on scriptures.
God Is Infinite – He is self-existing, without origin
“And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” – Colossians 1:17
God Is Immutable – He Never Changes
“I the Lord do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed.” Malachi 3:6
God Is Self-Sufficient – He has no needs
“For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself.” – John 5:26
God is Omnipotent – He Is all powerful
“By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth.” – Psalm 33:6
God Is Omniscient – He Is all-knowing
“Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please” – Isaiah 46:9-10
God Is Omnipresent – He Is always everywhere
“Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend to heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the dawn, If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, even there Your hand will lead me, And Your right hand will lay hold of me.” Psalm 139:7-10
God Is Wise – He Is full of perfect, unchanging wisdom
“Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!” – Romans 11:33
God Is Faithful – He Is infinitely, unchangingly true
“Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands.” – Deut 7:9
God Is Good – He Is infinitely, unchangingly kind and full of good will
“O, taste and see that the Lord is good” – Psalm 34:8
God Is Just – He Is infinitely, unchangeably right and perfect in all He does
“The Rock! His work is perfect, For all His ways are just; A God of faithfulness and without injustice, Righteous and upright is He.” – Duet 32:4
God Is Merciful – He is infinitely, unchangeably compassionate and kind
“I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.” – Romans 9:15-16
God Is Gracious – God Is infinitely inclined to spare the guilty
“The LORD is gracious and merciful; Slow to anger and great in lovingkindness.” – Psalm 145:8
God Is Loving – God infinitely, unchangingly loves us
“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.” – 1 John 4:7-8
God Is Holy – He is infinitely, unchangingly perfect
“Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord Almighty” – Revelation 4:8
God Is Glorious – He is infinitely beautiful and great
“His radiance is like the sunlight; He has rays flashing from His hand, And there is the hiding of His power.” – Habakkuk 3:4
Your image of God affects what you think of Him. My image is of one that is Holy. Of one who is secure and confident. Strong and mighty, but also of one who is loving like a gentle grandfather.
brady, mark a. 