Eternity is a Long Time

  In the old Billy Joel song "Vienna Waits for You" there's a line which states that "only fools are satisfied." My initial reaction was that this is incorrect - what's wrong with being satisfied? Then I realized that a Christian should never be satisfied with his life or life on this earth. To be satisfied is to say that we get all we need from our life and do not need God. To be satisfied with what we have is almost saying that Heaven is not needed since we are made whole here. We should be content with what we have but not satisfied. Paul, the most driven of all the Apostles, said he had learned to be content no matter what circumstance he was in. The distinction for Paul was being content never kept him from pressing on for Jesus. " I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.   I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being conte...

  One of the guys I mentor who is in prison is trying to reconcile to the memory of his Dad who did not treat him well. When I responded to him, I felt some others needed to read what I wrote so I am sharing the basic parts of my note with you. ----------------------------------------------------- I wanted to respond to your last note where you talked about reconciliation so eloquently. I'm sure you can appreciate why God takes on the persona of a father throughout the Bible as a way to relate to us. Just look at what you said the similarities are between you and God and you and your earthly Dad. Reconciliation is the key. God reconciled to us by Jesus's death on the cross. We reconcile to Him by dying to ourselves and receiving the free gift of salvation by faith. That's not as easy as it sounds, of course, but it's the essential truth. But what about your earthly Dad? Of course, God is perfect and your earthly Dad, like every earthly Dad, is far from perfect. Often, e...

  "Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28) I have always loved the picture of Jesus casting out a demon from a repentant punk-rocker. However, it's too easy for us to think "Of course the punk-rocker had issues - but I don't need that. I'm doing OK." That's why I added the picture of a line of people. We all need Him. Without Jesus you don't know what true rest and contentment are. Without Jesus you are trying to do it on your own and you will always fail - eventually. I'm not talking about failing in the eyes of the world. You may be extremely successful as far as how others may judge you. I'm talking about peace of mind and a soft heart regardless of your situation. That is the weariness and the burdens Jesus is talking about. Only with Jesus will you find rest for your soul.

  Everlasting faith is the belief Jesus always has you in His hands. Whether it be in good times or bad, faith is knowing He is merely a thought away. There is contentment in this realization. No matter the trial or temptation, no matter the success or victory, Jesus is there to anchor us through the highs and the lows of our life. For He never changes and is our lighthouse wherever we are in our life. You may ask, “Why do we need Jesus as an anchor when things are going well? Is not that a good thing and a blessing from God?” It does seem a bit counter-intuitive to think we need God as an anchor when things are going well. The answer is to remember that we are irrational, illogical, emotional and (basically) depraved beings who tend towards evil rather than good. Like sheep, we wander away from where we are supposed to be. That is why one of the parables of Jesus is about Him going after the one sheep out of 100 who did not stay with the rest ( Luke 15:3-7 ) In the Sayings...