Don't You Get It?
As you may know I’ve personally been struggling with Leukemia for over a decade now. The experience has not been exactly pleasant. But it has contained one major blessing: a constant reminder that my days are numbered.
In reality of course my situation is no different than anyone else on this planet—ALL our days are numbered. Nobody gets out of this world alive. So what is so special about my situation? Unlike most of the people we pass in the street every day I KNOW that I have to make the best out of every single day, whether they be many or few.
Most people, it seems, are floating through their lives in denial, pretending that money or experiences or friends or fame or relationships will make them immortal. They rarely have to come face to face with the dark reality of their mortality.
Until COVID. Now when we leave our homes in the morning every mask we see screams at us that our time on this earth is limited. It’s no wonder that mental breakdowns are up. That depression is through the roof. That families are stressed, relationships are stressed. Everything is out of whack. No matter where you look your mortality is now glaring back at you.
So how do we react? All too many of us take that grim reality as a cue to grab for all we can grab before the bell rings. Just look at all the increased crime, thefts, and mob looting. People act as if their hearse has a U-haul trailer behind it.
But as the Prophet Job said “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I’ll return to the womb of the earth. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.”
Why should Job bless the name of the Lord when all had been taken from him? Because Job knew that life and salvation come only from God. In his own way Job was able to see the salvation available to humankind through Jesus Christ even though Christ would not be physically born for hundreds of years.
The entire Bible points the way towards humanity’s salvation from death, tears, and Hell. It all points to one person: The King of Kings and Lord of Lords who was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life and died as a sacrifice so that our own sins might be forgiven. Then He rose from the grave not only as the example of what lies ahead for those who follow him but as a demonstration that all He said and taught is true.
Salvation through Jesus is the only religion of Divine accomplishment. We are all helpless sinners. Only through Christ are our sins forgiven and we are given eternal life with Him. “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me,” Jesus said. (John 14:6) That’s pretty exclusive! Jesus himself flatly denied what we hear so often, that there are "many paths to God".
So if you want to cease worrying about COVID and spit in the face of death you need to repent of your sins and put your faith in the “great Physician.” He alone can not only save you from eternal Hell but bring you to Himself for everlasting joy.
It’s the birth of this King that we celebrate during this season. Millions of people are filled with joy and wonder at the thought of His grace. Won’t you pick up a Bible, turn to the book of Matthew, and begin a relationship with our King?
As you may know I’ve personally been struggling with Leukemia for over a decade now. The experience has not been exactly pleasant. But it has contained one major blessing: a constant reminder that my days are numbered.
In reality of course my situation is no different than anyone else on this planet—ALL our days are numbered. Nobody gets out of this world alive. So what is so special about my situation? Unlike most of the people we pass in the street every day I KNOW that I have to make the best out of every single day, whether they be many or few.
Most people, it seems, are floating through their lives in denial, pretending that money or experiences or friends or fame or relationships will make them immortal. They rarely have to come face to face with the dark reality of their mortality.
Until COVID. Now when we leave our homes in the morning every mask we see screams at us that our time on this earth is limited. It’s no wonder that mental breakdowns are up. That depression is through the roof. That families are stressed, relationships are stressed. Everything is out of whack. No matter where you look your mortality is now glaring back at you.
So how do we react? All too many of us take that grim reality as a cue to grab for all we can grab before the bell rings. Just look at all the increased crime, thefts, and mob looting. People act as if their hearse has a U-haul trailer behind it.
But as the Prophet Job said “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I’ll return to the womb of the earth. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.”
Why should Job bless the name of the Lord when all had been taken from him? Because Job knew that life and salvation come only from God. In his own way Job was able to see the salvation available to humankind through Jesus Christ even though Christ would not be physically born for hundreds of years.
The entire Bible points the way towards humanity’s salvation from death, tears, and Hell. It all points to one person: The King of Kings and Lord of Lords who was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life and died as a sacrifice so that our own sins might be forgiven. Then He rose from the grave not only as the example of what lies ahead for those who follow him but as a demonstration that all He said and taught is true.
Salvation through Jesus is the only religion of Divine accomplishment. We are all helpless sinners. Only through Christ are our sins forgiven and we are given eternal life with Him. “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me,” Jesus said. (John 14:6) That’s pretty exclusive! Jesus himself flatly denied what we hear so often, that there are "many paths to God".
So if you want to cease worrying about COVID and spit in the face of death you need to repent of your sins and put your faith in the “great Physician.” He alone can not only save you from eternal Hell but bring you to Himself for everlasting joy.
It’s the birth of this King that we celebrate during this season. Millions of people are filled with joy and wonder at the thought of His grace. Won’t you pick up a Bible, turn to the book of Matthew, and begin a relationship with our King?
Bonnie and Miguel move to the Valley!
Daughter Bonnie and her hubby sold their home in Los Angeles in the Spring of 2021and moved up in square footage and value to this lovely pad in Van Nuys/Sherman Oaks. It was a fixer-upper, but most of the fixin's done now.
_____________________________
Daughter Bonnie and her hubby sold their home in Los Angeles in the Spring of 2021and moved up in square footage and value to this lovely pad in Van Nuys/Sherman Oaks. It was a fixer-upper, but most of the fixin's done now.
_____________________________
...and a new Job!
As long as Miguel and Bonnie were switching things up, Bonnie took a new position as Assistant Principal at Arcadia High School. It's a step up in some ways but a world of difference from the Glendale school district where she was working last year.
As long as Miguel and Bonnie were switching things up, Bonnie took a new position as Assistant Principal at Arcadia High School. It's a step up in some ways but a world of difference from the Glendale school district where she was working last year.
