My granddaughter, Trinity, is 16. She came to live with us a
few months ago. We started bible study and she is very anxious to learn. She
gets giggly about it. We have read Diane Swanson’s book “Forgiveness” and now are
reading John Bevere’s book “Bait of
Satan” together. It is wonderful, actually, because in reading Diane’s book,
Trinity gave herself to the Lord. We broke down and cried together and talked
at length about that. She had an overwhelming sense of peace, love and
happiness at being forgiven. We also discussed how important it is to forgive
others.
Forgiveness is an important process, trust me. Forgiveness
is a hard one to manage in this difficult world. And when you have brokenness,
it is especially hard to see the connection between our brokenness, our
decision making skills, unforgiveness and our relationship, or lack of it, with
Christ. Even now, at my age, I still struggle with it. We are always a work in
progress, not the completed product.
I am also reading the “Left Behind” series (Tim LaHaye,
Jerry B Jenkins) again. For those of you who don’t know, this is a wonderful
series of books about the end times. This is a series of 16 books. I recall only
twelve last time I read it. Now, there are three new ones at the beginning and
one at the end. The series is even better with the three books explaining their
backgrounds. Great decision by the way! Anyway, I digress.
Left Behind brings to life the prophecies about the end
times when Jesus returns again. It takes bible scripture and extrapolates it
across our world using characters in real life situations. It lets us visualize
the order in which the rapture and judgments happen, how it might look to those
left behind, and the emotions and difficulties this might bring.
The characters are believable, to be sure. This is
especially true of those who wear the name badge, ‘Christian’, or those who have
the knowledge, but whose lives and hearts do not have the true salvation or Holy
Spirit to make it true. It is kinda like me working at the hospital and having
to wear scrubs to go into the operating rooms to guide the doctors through the
new computer software. I look like a doctor, I am with other doctors, but I do
not have the knowledge or passion of a doctor. Trust me, God knows the
difference, even if we don’t.
These books help us see what we are missing, what we need to
do and how to view the reality of those we love being left behind. We think ‘we
have time’. We wait for ‘the right moment.’ We let our unforgiveness convince
us that certain people aren’t worthy, right now. But these books will wake you
up! You see yourself in the characters. God can speak to your heart about
people that you love. They make you understand that those left behind may
easily be our family, co-workers and friends if we can’t show them what Christ,
unconditional love, looks like in us!
Can you imagine? There are so many people in just my life,
whom I love, who don’t believe, have never been exposed to it, have only
skimmed the surface and don’t take it seriously, who still live in sin…whatever
their situation. It breaks my heart and it should break yours, too.
We are raising our children and grandchildren without the
true meaning of a personal relationship with Christ. They don’t know how to
include Him in their daily lives, how to talk to Him about their decisions in
life, how to live like Him so that others can see that and want that for
themselves. They may not have ever read the bible, alone or with their family,
outside of church. They don’t understand about sin, forgiveness, salvation…
nothing. We aren’t talking to those who are ill and dying, about salvation and
Christ. We keep thinking they must know or it isn’t time or we don’t want to
scare them. Come on, let’s do this!!! Love yourself enough to live like and be
a true Christian! Know what is coming so that you can teach those you love. Love
others enough to save them from burning in Hell for eternity, will ya?
Listen, if I spent every day in the bible, and singing
worship songs, I still wouldn’t be good enough. I could clothe the poor, give
money to charity and wear the title Christian. THAT isn’t going to make it
true. And thinking we have more time is not going to save those we love from
the same fate. Educate yourself and your families. Pray together, get
salvation, read the bible-especially the New Testament! Get to know Christ on a
personal level and share His love with others. You do not need a mediator to
talk to Christ. The bible and the Holy Spirit are our guides. “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the
Father will send in My name, will teach you all things
and will remind
you of everything I have told you.”
John 14:26
Jesus is the way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to
the Father except through Him. John 14:6
It is by Grace that we have been saved through Faith….. not by works, so no one
can boast. Ephesians 2: 8-9
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