Heaven

Worse Sinners?

By: Denny

It was a long trip from Galilee for those traveling to the temple in Jerusalem. They had come to offer sacrifices unto God. There are several speculations as to why and what happened that day, but the result was that Pontius Pilot sent soldiers into the temple to kill them as they were offering their sacrifices. One commentary said there were about 3,000 men killed. The Galileans were considered to be a lower class of seditious people by those in Jerusalem. They spoke the same language as the Jews in Jerusalem, but they had a definite accent that was easily recognizable. Such was the case of Peter, being himself a Galilean, when he denied He knew Jesus. Mark 14:70 But he denied it again. And a little later those who stood by said to Peter again, “Surely you are one of them for you are a Galilean, and your speech shows it.” Herod was the governor over Galilee in the North, while Pontius Pilot was the governor over Judea in the South. They were in opposition to each other and not on friendly terms. Perhaps Pilot killed the Galileans to send the message to Herod that Galileans weren’t welcomed in Jerusalem. At any rate, the news spread and was told to Jesus. Luke 13:1-2 There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilot had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answered and said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things?

They had said goodbye to their families that morning as they headed off to their jobs working for Leibowitz & Cohen Construction. It was just another ordinary day at work, no different than those before. A few may have walked along together as they headed for the job site discussing and coordinating their particular plans, duties, and actions once they got there. It was a beautiful sunny day and if all went well, they might be able to complete the Siloam Tower today and enjoy the weekend before moving on to the next project on Monday. Nobody knows for sure; maybe it was poorly designed, the footings may not have been deep enough, or perhaps they were using substandard materials. It happened at noon when all the men were sitting eating their lunch in the shade of the tower. There was a cracking sound that got louder. Bricks began to crumble and suddenly without warning the whole tower came crashing down killing all 18 men. Hypothetically, it could have happened that way, but the Bible doesn’t say. It only records that Jesus asked the same rhetorical question that he had asked those same people who came to him with the news about the Galileans being killed. Luke 13:4-5 “Or those 18 on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? There appears to be an almost veiled supposition by those present that the Galileans and the 18 men were worse sinners because of their horrible untimely deaths. In each case Jesus gave the same answer, “I tell you, no; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”

Throughout the centuries there have been tragedies that have snuffed out the lives of people just going about their daily activities, and we are no exception. Plane crashes, terrorist attacks, school shootings, bombings and shootings at events, building collapses, accidents, wars, diseases, and every kind of natural disaster you can name where people have died, are headlines we see in the news on a daily basis. Most recently we  witnessed the video of an out-of-control ship crashing into and bringing down the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, MD. Six workers who were making repairs to it at the time lost their lives. This was absolutely horrific and tragic. Not only for the six men and their families, but the untold hardships and far-reaching secondary impact on jobs and the overall economy. I find myself wondering if Jesus’ statement, “Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish” would be the same today as it was then. The answer without even asking is yes. Granted, that doesn’t fit the one-sided view of the gentle, loving, and kind Jesus that many picture Him to be. Just as many, if not more, become angry at God for not preventing such things, which usually ends up with them becoming bitter and rejecting Him.  Death rarely ever gives an advance warning. The mysteries of the who, what, when, where, and why’s of life and death are only known to God. How would you tell someone that God cares about, loves them, and wants to be involved in every aspect of their lives, when they are suffering and grieving over the sudden tragic loss of a loved one? You certainly wouldn’t say, “Unless you repent, you will likewise perish”. Yet, Jesus did, because His primary and ultimate concern is for every eternal soul. Does Jesus lack compassion for those who have died and those left to grieve? Not at all, but there was a far greater eternal truth he was revealing. The statement, “you will all likewise perish” is worthy of pause and consideration. Jesus wasn’t telling them that unless they repent, they would die in the same manner. In Luke 5:32 Jesus says, “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” The first words Jesus spoke as He began His ministry as recorded in Mark 1:15 were, “The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” Jesus wept at the tomb of Lazarus, but not because Lazarus died. He knew ahead of time that He was going to raise him back to life. He wept because of the unbelief of those gathered there. John 11:25 “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in me shall never (die). (likewise perish) – my emphasis) Do you believe this?”

There are many who would and do categorize sins. You have the little white lie sins, the middle of the road sins, and the really bad worse sins. In the eyes of God there are no worse sins or sinners. You either are one or you aren’t, and in case you don’t know, you are one. The playing field is level for everyone. Jesus is the only one who never sinned, which qualified Him alone to be the Savior of all mankind. What comes to mind when you hear the word repent? Perhaps it’s a scene from a movie depicting a preacher as a wild-eyed half-crazed man dressed in black pointing a long finger and shouting, “Repent sinner, or face the fires of Hell!” Leave it to the Hollywood elite to stereotype, misrepresent, demean, and portray Christians and the Gospel in a bad way. Repentance isn’t something you can force people to do out of fear to escape Hell. Think of repentance as if you are walking in one direction, then do a complete 180 turn and go the opposite direction. True repentance is birthed out of a heart realization that you are a lost soul in need of a savior. It is the Holy Spirit that convicts, opens your understanding, and draws you to Jesus the Savior who is calling you to come to Him. Believing is more than a general acknowledging that Jesus died for the sins of the world. It must become personal and that happens when you confess that you are a sinner, ask for forgiveness, and invite Jesus Christ to save you and be the Lord of your life. Jesus Himself said, “You must be born again”, and that’s what happens. The Holy spirit takes up residence in your heart and helps you to repent. Your old sinful nature was crucified with Christ, and you have a new nature according to His righteousness and now have everlasting life. John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” We don’t often hear or use the word perish. It means to die a violent sudden death. The “should not perish” that the above scripture references is immediately followed by, “but have everlasting life”. It’s like a two-sided coin: repent or perish. We all will die someday, but there is coming a time when everyone will stand before God and be asked what we did about Jesus. Those who have repented in this life and accepted His sacrifice as payment for their sins, already possess everlasting life here and now. For us, death is just a door we pass through to enter Heaven. However, those who have not repented and turned to Jesus in this life will not be given that opportunity after death. Heaven’s door will be closed to them. Sin demands payment, and they will pay for their own sins by being sentenced to an everlasting death away from the presence of God, perishing in Hell. That is what Jesus meant when He said, “Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish”. Those aren’t my words or opinion, and you can read it for yourself. (John 3:17-20)

Where do you stand with God right now? Have you truly repented, or are you still listed among the condemned and the “likewise perishing”? If your life was taken from you today, can you say with confidence that you have everlasting life and no fear of death? You may think you are a  worse sinner, but there is no sin that the blood of Jesus that He shed on the cross for you cannot cover. Don’t wait, make your choice today, so that whatever happens you can face each day with confidence and peace and say along with King David.

Psalm 31:14-15a But as for me, I trust in You, O Lord; I say, “You are my God.” My times are in Your hand.

Lost or Misplaced

By: Denny

The conversation goes something like this: “I lost my ______, have you seen it?” The reply usually comes in the very helpful and deeply thought-out answer, “Where did you have it last?” or “It’s probably right where you left it.” You then replay the video in your mind trying to retrace your steps and deduce where it could be. If that fails, then you end up tearing the house apart frantically searching everywhere. It’s ironically amusing when you discover things that were previously lost, and you couldn’t find before. You think, “Now how did that get here.” Even more frustrating is when you can’t find something you were just using. It could be a tool, a pen, kitchen utensil, or anything you had in your hand a minute ago. Those things aren’t lost, they are simply misplaced and usually end up being in plain sight. My wife gets mildly aggravated when I empty the dishwasher and put stuff away. I’m getting better, but sometimes I put something in the wrong place not knowing where it’s supposed to go, so I think like a man and guess. Not a good idea. Inevitably she will be in the middle of cooking and needing a certain item and can’t find it. If I remember where I put it, I retrieve it, then she shows me where it belongs. Not lost, just misplaced.

“A place for everything and everything in its place.” Many of life’s problems could and would be solved or made a whole lot easier by following that simple rule. That applies not only to physical objects, but equally and possibly more importantly to other things, such as trust. Trust: assured reliance on the character, strength, or truth of someone or something: to place confidence, depend on, hope in, to commit or place in one’s care or keeping. Nearly every commercial you see on TV is designed to gain your trust in their product or service. You put your money in a bank or trust fund because you trust it will be safe. Take a moment to reflect on the physical objects that you put your trust in on a daily basis. What do you do when you no longer trust them, or they have lost their integrity to fulfill their intended purpose? That thing you purchased trusting it would do what you expected was a piece of junk that you ended up returning or discarding. The size, value, and importance of the item determines if it’s a big deal or not. You’re probably not likely to buy another car from a dealer who sold you a lemon, or rehire a contractor who did poor work. You wouldn’t let someone borrow your things if they have a history of not returning them. Simply put, you no longer trust them, but they are the ones who lost your trust, not you. It’s very difficult to recover trust once it is lost. As the saying goes, “Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me.” To trust someone after that trust has been lost is misplaced trust on your part. However, lost trust can be redeemed, but trust has a high price to regain it. The flip side of that coin is that you never give the other person a chance to regain that trust, it’s easier to just write them off and discard them like a bad product.

Speaking of coins, the words IN GOD WE TRUST are stamped or printed on all of our currency, but do we really trust God, or has it simply become a cliche. Many people say they trust God, but write Him off when trials come, or He doesn’t do what they think He should or give them what they want when they want it. The very Word of God itself separates those who trust Him from those who don’t, when it becomes hard for them to accept and obey. So if you don’t trust God, who do you trust? Many have misplaced their trust in themselves, other people, material possessions, political and social causes, or other  things that are unreliable and will eventually fail. The Bible has much to say about who and what we should trust in. Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. Proverbs 28: 25b-26a He who trusts in the Lord will be prospered. He who trusts in his own heart is a fool. Proverbs 11:28 He who trusts in his riches will fall. Psalm 118:8 It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. This year of 2024 is an election year. We will be electing leaders who we trust will honor and defend the Constitution and uphold our laws, not pandering to special interest groups. Our nation is a mess because we have misplaced our trust in many past leaders with their own agendas. They have lost any integrity they ever had, and now, we are reaping the consequences. We have thumbed our noses at God, and resorted to electing officials expecting them to solve our problems, but they have continued to mislead and lie for their own benefit, profit, and power. Yet in ignorance, codependent people are stuck in the cycle of voting for them time after time expecting things to get better, but they haven’t, and they won’t. So, before you enter the voting booth ask yourself: Based on past performance, do I have assured reliance on the character, strength, or truth of this person? Can I be confident, depend on, hope in, commit, or place into the care and keeping, my trust in the person I am voting for. The choices we make and the people we trust is going to determine what kind of future we and our posterity will have, and the future will tell if trust will be lost or has been misplaced.

Speaking of the future, where will you spend eternity? There are only two options: Heaven or Hell. Guess which one requires trust to enter and which one doesn’t. Very good, you all said Heaven. Hell requires no effort to enter, but requires trust to avoid or escape from. The Bible says that all of mankind past, present, and future fell out of fellowship with God the moment sin entered the world through Adam. Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Sin displaced mankind from God’s presence sentencing us to spend an eternal condemnation in Hell. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death. Sin demands payment, but sinful man cannot redeem himself, he needs a savior. Enter God’s wonderful plan to save us Himself through His perfect Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus took our sin to the cross where He died in our place, and God wiped out our debt marking it paid in full. This is the love of God. John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life. We love that part and can quote it verbatim, but how many know what verse 18 says; He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. The key word is believed. The Bible records several instances where Jesus was casting out demons and they cried out, “We know who you are, you are the Christ, the Holy Son of God!” Likewise in Acts 19:14-15 there were seven sons of a chief priest who presumed to cast out a demon using the name of Jesus, whereupon the demon answered, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?” The man with the demon then beat the tar out of them. So you see, believing involves more than just reciting His name or a mental acknowledging that Jesus is the Son of God, because even the demons know that. To escape the path of Hell and condemnation a person must put their total trust (as defined earlier) in Jesus Christ to save them. Anything less than that is misplaced trust and won’t get you into God’s heaven. Jesus came down hard on the religious Pharisees because of their hypocrisies and self-serving religious traditions. They appeared so pious externally, but Jesus called them a brood of vipers saying, “How can you escape the condemnation of hell?” The key ingredient to believing is trust, and trust must be based upon truth, and truth is the Word of God, not your misguided opinions, religious ceremonies, or even good works.

Jeremiah was a prophet who was sent by God to deliver His message of judgment upon and to a rebellious nation who had turned away from God, much like the United States has today. The corruption has even infiltrated the church and religious leaders. Jeremiah 7:8-11 (The Amplified Bible) Behold, you trust in lying words that cannot benefit – so that you do not profit. Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, burn incense to Baal, and walk after other gods whom you do not know, and then dare to come and stand before Me in this house, which is called by My name, and say, [by the discharge of this religious formality] we are set free! – only to go on with this wickedness and these abominations? Has this house which is called by My name become a den of robbers in your eyes [a place of retreat for you between acts of violence]? Behold, I Myself have seen it, says the Lord. We may not literally burn incense to Baal, but that doesn’t excuse us, because we have sacrificed millions of babies on the altar of abortion. As far as other gods, it can be any object, cause, job, relationship, hobby, social media, political agenda, or anything else that becomes an idol and consumes all our time and takes the place of God.

I often wonder how much further down the slippery slope of moral depravity and self-destruction we have to go before God says it is enough and comes back for His church; those who truly trust and believe. On the other hand, I know there are so many who have yet to come to faith in Christ and trust Him as their Savior. We, as believers, have the wonderful privilege and responsibility to proclaim the good news of the gospel to them. God has placed His trust in us to do our part. He never misplaces anything, so let us not lose it for Him either.

The Dash Between the Dates

By: Denny

My intention for this posting was to write my thoughts out as in previous times. I knew what I wanted to say, but nothing came together. I put my ideas on the shelf for a week mulling it over in my mind. Finally, I decided to give it another go. As I began to write, it seemed more like a poem, so I continued in that format and the following is the result. The subject matter is often avoided, but sooner or later it’s a reality we all will face someday.

I walk the ground among the graves of those beneath their stone,

Surrounded by so many, and yet I am alone.

Pretty flowers everywhere, a deaf-like silence fills the air.

Name upon name that I do not know, but wait . . . . why isn’t that old Joe?

Placed to lie there in the shade, while the memory of him begins to fade.

A common fate the dead all share, generations pass and there’s none left to care.

To place some flowers on the ground above, and recall memories of those once loved.

Father, mother, daughter, son, grandpa, and grandma too,

Aunt, uncle, cousin, and a friend to name just a few,

Their voices now silent as they lay ‘neath the morning dew.

Oh, the stories that could be told by those within these gates,

If only there was a key to unlock the Dash Between the Dates.

That little dash would tell it all, of everything they’ve done,

With the life God gave to each of them to live beneath the sun.

Did they accomplish much, acquiring great wealth, status, and fame,

Does their legacy live on as history records their name.

Many fought for our country, defending the red, white, and blue,

Laying down their lives for those they never knew.

Most were probably just content to be, living a simple life like you and me.

Of all the pursuits that mankind can make, tis sure in the end nothing they will take.

Vanities of vanities the wisest man said, for all are made equal when listed with the dead.

Another dash I look to see but it’s hidden from my sight,

It belongs beside the second date adjacent on the right.

I know it’s there, . . . . though I can’t see it plainly,

The dash that I’m referring to is called eternity.

Many doubt, others shout and say there is no God,

But I wonder what the answer would be from those beneath the sod.

Would they speak of the joys of Heaven above, or the torments of hell below,

If they could, . . . . I’m sure they would, . . . .  inform us about what they know.

Would they replace their epitaph with a very urgent plea,

“Don’t come here!” or “It’s better than I imagined it would be!”

I once was young as you now are with dreams that filled my head,

I’m older now and life is sobering as I walk among the dead.

I’m so blessed to have lived this long, and I’m thankful for all I’ve got,

My heart turns sad as I see the grave of a child whose dash was merely a dot.

God only knows the time we have and what this life will bring,

But peace of mind belongs to those who’ve made Jesus Christ their king.

He’s the one who long ago died for sinners you and me,

Death was defeated, sin was atoned for, the grave couldn’t hold Him,

and new life is offered so abundantly and free.

I know my walk will come to an end, it may be near or far,

I’ll say goodbye to those I love and be placed in a big black car.

Some will weep as they plant me deep and say a eulogy,

A song a prayer as they linger there, then put the dirt over me.

My dash will be done, my dates now complete, forever set in stone,

Perhaps someday you’ll see it there as you walk by the graves alone.

(By the way, I really like gladiolas and forget-me-nots)

So, if by chance you notice that something is out of place,

A second dash beside the date filling in that empty space,

Don’t think it queer,  . . . . .  because I’m not here,

For I’ve gone to be with Jesus, and I now see Him face to face.

So, seek the Lord while He may be found, ere they lay you in the ground,

Because then, . . . . . it will be too late, to change the Dash Between the Dates.