Remembering and Forgetting

Is it not strange that we are able to remember that we forgot something? Recently I came across an article about memory in The Dallas Morning News that made me think about things I wish I could remember. For example, sometimes I forget I am getting older. But we all know that every one of us is getting older. As we are getting older, our forgetting some things and events increases, but our remembering ability is likely to decrease.

The News article listed three things about memory: (1) Common behavioral symptoms may include loss of appetite, (2) Tasks like handling money and paying bills are troublesome and (3) Processing thoughts and communication become more difficult.

Like it or not, the truth is that death for all of us is certain. That fact should remind us to think about where we will spend eternity. There are only two places where all of us will spend eternity–either heaven or hell. That is sobering, is it not? The only way to be sure of heaven is to accept the Lord Jesus Christ as our personal Savior. Nothing else will equip us for heaven. That's my thought for you today.

Questions

"Some things are hard to understand. One could make a long list in answer to the questions of the Why? and How? of so many things in life. Here are a few common questions we ask and have been asked about God, ourselves, and many other issues. Here are a few of them. There are many more that could be asked. This is a sampling.

1. Why do the righteous suffer but the wicked often prosper?
2. Why does God permit evil?
3. How about the doctrine of the Trinity–God being one in three and three in one?
4. Why does God allow wicked things to happen all around us?

The above list could be much longer and almost unending.

I believe there is still a more important question. Do I know beyond every shadow of doubt that I am prepared to die? Am I sure I will go to heaven? All of us at some time will go either to heaven or to hell. There are only two eternal places to spend eternity for all of mankind. They are either heaven or hell.

God loved the world of mankind so much that He gave His Son to die in our place. It is my strong desire and I trust that you will acknowledge your need of Christ and accept Him as your personal Redeemer. The good news of the gospel is found in John 3:16-17. Please read it and accept God's offer of salvation."

Some Contemporary News

Lately our newspapers and much of contemporary news media are filled with articles about shootings, killing innocent victims. Schools, churches and homes, etc. are no exception where these crimes are committed. Recently the Dallas Morning News published this article "Unthinkable Tragedy." The killer launched an assault on the high school where he was a student, killing ten people. This is an example of horrible killings that are happening these days. You may be asking, "What is going on in these days?" Be sure also to think about how we need to respond by helping those who have been affected by such crimes.

In times like these we all need divine help. My question to you is, "Is Christ your Savior?" We need Him every moment of every day. The following is a phrase from one of my favorite hymns "Softly and Tenderly": "Time is now fleeting, the moments are passing, passing from you and from me." Physical life is certainly uncertain and death is sure. None of us has any assurance of another breath. Think about that for a moment. The question before us all is, "Where will we spend eternity?" Only trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ can we be sure of heaven as our eternal home. He died on the cross. He bore our sin on the cross.

"Trip to the Holy Land"

                Try to imagine you won a trip to the Holy Land. Your guide takes you to a lot of places to see in the cities and the Judean hills. You see a shepherd out there. He is wearing a turban on his head and the customary long wool-like garment. He is carrying a shepherd's crook, a cane-like object and he is moving it across the brush and short grass to be sure there is nothing there that would injure one of his sheep. The sheep are all following behind him He does not drive them but leads them to keep them safe. There goes one of the small sheep and it is caught in a thicket. Carefully, the shepherd goes to the edge of the rocky cliff. He needs to get as close as possible so he does not fall over the edge. He puts his long crook under the sheep's neck and gently pulls it up to safety.

                Born-again Christians are pictured in the Bible as sheep and God is like a shepherd caring for His sheep. Are you one of the Lord's sheep? If you are, He cares for you through every trial, heartache, burden, and defeat and also through all the victories and blessings as well.

                If you are not yet a child of God, I strongly encourage you to accept the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Savior. See John 3:16-18. Put your name where it says "whosoever."

The Cross

Webster's dictionary tells us a cross is an upright post with a bar across it near the top, on which the ancient Romans and criminals put people to death; it is the figure of the cross that is a symbol of the crucifixion of Jesus and the Christian religion. We often use the word "cross" to describe the trouble we have to bear or crossing something out of written material, etc.

The cross on which Christ died is for Christians a reminder of the basis of our salvation. We do not worship the cross, however; but we worship the One who paid for our salvation on Calvary's cross. Christ made salvation for mankind possible. We do not worship the cross but we worship the Christ of the cross.

Crucifixion is believed to have been invented first by Barbarians and then by Greeks and Romans, and it is without doubt the most cruel method of execution. It delayed death so the victim would endure torture. Sometimes the victim on the cross could suffer for days before death occurred. Those who put Jesus to death on the cross apparently thought they would now be rid of Him. But they were terribly mistaken. He arose from the grave victoriously over death. That is what Easter is all about.

Have you accepted Christ as your personal Savior? If you have not, you need to do it if you want to go to heaven after your death (cf. John 3:16).

Jelly Beans and Eggs

                Neither one of these, "Jelly Beans" or "Eggs" has anything to do with Easter which is celebrated April 1 in our churches. There is, of course, every reason to celebrate Christ's resurrection from the grave. But what do jelly beans and eggs have to do with it?

                The fact is, neither one of these edibles has anything to do with Christ's resurrection. They certainly do not illustrate the resurrection. I personally see nothing wrong with either of these but what do they have to do with Christ's resurrection? Certainly, we should celebrate the Savior's absence from the grave, but how do beans and eggs do this?

                Here are a few events from Scripture that prove the actual tomb in which the body of Christ was placed was completely empty on the third day (Matthew 28:6). He appeared to a large number of people at one time after His death (John 20:14-17); Luke 24:36-43). Also, on the Day of Pentecost, fifty days after the resurrection, Peter preached to thousands who had access to the empty grave. We can rejoice with confidence that Christ arose from the grave.

                To conclude this "Thought for the Day" I could not help but wonder whether you have accepted the Christ of Calvary and the empty tomb as your own personal Savior. If not, do so before it is too late.

Fact, Faith, Feeling

All of us know what each of these words mean. We all sometimes have different responses to these realities. Actually, we know these are realities of life. Certain things are true in our lives. We know what faith means–trusting, believing. What about feeling? We like some of the things we face but not all of them. Sometimes we have faith and other times we have doubts about situations.

One cannot help but ask how facts, faith, and feeling relate to life after death. Every one of us will experience death at some time. That is a fact of life. The Bible teaches clearly that after we depart from this world, we do not cease to exist. The question is, Where will we spend eternity? There is eternal life in both heaven and hell. No matter what we might think about realities of life and death, both are certain. There are only two places where all humans will exist after death–heaven or hell.

Our feelings about these realities do not matter. The Bible tells all of us clearly that to be sure of heaven, we must accept God's great gift of salvation for all who accept Him as Savior. There is only one way of salvation that God offers and that way is, whosoever accepts the Lord Jesus Christ as his Sin-bearer has eternal life and will never perish (see John 3:16-17).

What About Eternity?

Recently the Dallas Morning News highlighted two women who had life-threatening health issues. They were both told they had an incurable illness. They did not know each other but both of them knew they did not have much longer to live. One of them was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. The other one had cystic fibrosis.

Of course, I was very saddened when I read about these two women. And I was also very disappointed because neither one gave any evidence, at least in the news account, of any concern about life after death. I did not get the impression from the articles that they thought or even cared about life after death.

How about you, the reader of this article? Where do you think you will spend eternity? I, of course, do not know you, but I do have very good news for you. The Bible tells us that we can be absolutely sure we are going to heaven after death. I'm sure you no doubt know about John 3:16. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." If you are not a child of God, I pray you will become one today. When you do, you will spend eternity in heaven.

Sheep and Shepherds

               Most of us don't think much about sheep, these lowly animals, and their caregivers. However, they are referred to often in the Bible. Perhaps you are wondering why they are our "thought for today." Maybe you even have thought or said, "So what?"

                Too often all of us get so busy that we forget the important things in life. We are all stressed and pressured with what's going on in this world and forget how important it is to be ready to give more attention to the hereafter. Here's a word to help us think about eternal matters so that we don't get so bogged down with all our temporal concerns. I have recently been reminded about David, the shepherd, and what he said in Psalm 23. This is probably the one account many people think about in the Bible when they think about the after-life.

                Sheep are helpless without a shepherd. They are easily scared by the slightest noise. Their sense of direction is almost nil. Someone has said, "They are utterly dependent on a shepherd." Those who have trusted in Christ alone are the sheep referred to in the Bible. And the Lord God is the believer's Shepherd. Are you one who has accepted Christ alone by faith alone as your Savior?