Eternity is a Long Time

  I just learned my internet friend Jackie , who I first knew on Gather back in 2006, passed away in July. She told me she had 3 near death experiences. It was not too long after the third one that she wrote what you see pictured here. I can't say with certainty, but it sure looks like the Lord kept Jackie here on earth so she could finally come to the realization of what He did for all of us on the cross and, most importantly, for Jackie to invite Him into her heart. You see, just knowing about God is NOT enough. Even acknowledging God as Creator is NOT enough. We must humble ourselves and give our hearts to Him. We must love Him to be saved from the justice we all deserve. If we love Him, then He will forgive our sins and we will be with Him for eternity. For Jesus loved all of us first - even when we did not love Him - and He showed that by dying on the cross for us. This is what Jackie ultimately did, but it took a while and she had the time. You may not. We do not know what to...

  [Some years ago, I heard a sermon with this story in it. This is my best recollection of the telling of that story. Dale Coparanis] Just outside the fence which enclosed some of the best apple trees in the county, grew a crabapple tree. This crabapple tree was a very prolific tree and produced much fruit. When some local kids came by they tried the crabapples and spit them out of their mouths. One of the kids said: “How can such a big tree with so much fruit have apples that taste so bitter?” So one day soon after, when the farmer was tending the irrigation around some of the apple trees, the crabapple tree started to cry. The farmer went over and said to the tree, “Are you crying?” “Yes,” said the crabapple tree. “I just want to have nice apples like your other trees. Perhaps if you were to let me share in some of the irrigated water then I could produce nice apples for the kids to eat.” “If that’s what you want,” the farmer replied. So the farmer dug a ditch to bring some o...

  There are so many things that we do that are known but to God. There are some good things and some real bad things that we have done that absolutely no one knows anything about – except God. God will judge you for all those things you did wrong, each and every one, unless you put on the righteousness of Jesus. There is nothing you can do, on your own, that can save you from this judgment. The great thing is, once you open your heart to Jesus and trust Him, you can deal with all the stuff life throws at you so much better. Jesus is your absolute best friend and comforter.

Oh, for a peak into eternity. To see the heavenly hosts who are around us yet not visible. My late mother-in-law told my wife about the angels just before she died. She said they were very nice angels and she wasn't afraid of them at all. My wife regrets not asking more questions about what they looked like and what they were doing. She just wanted to make sure her Mom was comforted - which she was. Angels are around us all the time - both good ones and evil. The more we lean on Jesus, the more the evil angels (devils or demons) are forced to stay away. However, if we indulge in sin, they are right there encouraging us.

When a separated husband and wife get back together; when a father and son start speaking to each other after years of silence; when old pals who fought over a long forgotten issue renew their bonds of friendship it is a beautiful thing indeed. It is reconciliation — and it is exactly what Jesus wants with each of you. You have ignored Him, fought Him and insulted Him by doing what is wrong and not doing what is right in your life — and there are no amount of good deeds that you can do to make up for the sins you have committed. Yet Jesus loves you so much that He took all those bad and terrible things that you have done and paid the ultimate price for them. By dying on that cross for you He took your punishment — for the wages of sin is death; eternal death. By whole-hearted faith in the Son of God you can partake in His sacrifice for you and in His triumph of defeating death with His resurrection. You can be reconciled to God and, ultimately, be with Jesus forever. Without that faith...

  You're born. You live. Then you die. It's the circle of life - at least here on earth in its current state. But there will be a time when there will be no more death. Where there will be no more night. That day is coming for those who have chosen wisely.

  My daughter is taking care of a stray cat who's on the last of his 9 lives. He will soon be going to his eternity. Of course, cats and other animals don't have the same choice we do regarding God. Their nature is aligned with God's plan for them. They are incapable of doing anything else. We humans, on the other hand, have the ability to reason, to think and to make choices. Our biggest choice is whether we choose eternity with our Creator by aligning ourselves and our heart with His plan for us. The alternative is a second death far worse and horrific than your worst fears since you'll experience the deserved punishment for every sin you have ever committed. Choose wisely.

  You're born. You live. Then you die. It's the circle of life - at least here on earth in its current state. But there will be a time when there will be no more death. Where there will be no more night. That day is coming for those who have chosen wisely.