Christian Perspective
Although I love fall rides, all the colorful foliage, its also a sign that bike season for 2018 is drawing to a close. It has been a good spring and summer and I have enjoyed many rides both solo and with friends, and we have had some good turn-outs for our Servants of Christ mm bike nites that were held at the Beacon Fall Fire Dept.. I offer my heartfelt thanks to the city of Beach Falls, the Beacon Falls Fire Dept., and all those who ride that supported us by attending our events. I am also looking forward to next May 2019 when our bike nites again resume. Even though the season is ending, I am optomistically looking forward to next spring, a new beginning, a time to start again.
I believe the same logic applies to life itself. At 66 years of age, I have indeed entered the fall of my life. I’m not suggesting that I am going to be leaving this life soon, I hope to be around for many years yet to come, but I am forced to admit that I probably don’t have another 66 years of riding ahead me.
Proverbs 27:1 says “ Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.” Or in other words, don’t brag about tomorrow when you don’t even know what is going to happen today. In Hebrews 9:27 we read “… it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgement:”
As I said, I have indeed entered the fall of my life, but I also realize that I have no guarantees that I will be alive tomorrow.
The Old Testament prophet Jeremiah wrote in the book of Lamentations chapter 3 verses 22 to 26 “ It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The Lord is my portion saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.The Lord is good unto them that wait for him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord.”
Hebrews 9:27 quoted above looks like a doomsday prediction, but the thought is completed in verse 28 and reads as follows:
“And as is is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgement: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.”
I do not believe that death is an ending but rather a new beginning. I believe that death is the doorway between mortality and immortality. I believe that as we pass through that doorway, there is a judgement, God’s judgement that determines our eternal destination. I believe that one destination “eternal life" is eternal joy “heaven”, and the other destination “eternal death" is eternal suffering “hell”. I also believe that we can make a choice in this life that determines our eternal destiny.
Proverbs 14:12 says “ There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death”
John 3:16 says “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Romans 3:23, 24 says “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that’s in Christ Jesus”
John 3:36 says “ He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”
A drowning man needs a life raft not words of encouragement. A sinner needs a Savior not a feel good philosophy.
I believe that the Bible is objective truth, truth that does not change with circumstances. There is always evidence to support objective truth if you are willing to look for it.
What do you believe? More importantly, why do you believe it?
I am placing my faith, my trust, in Christ my Savior who shed his blood in payment for my sins on a cross at Calvary.
Where are you placing yours?
Patiently awaiting my “new beginning”,
George E. Onze
Servants of Christ mm