Perspectives

Titis 3:3-7 At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. 4) But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5) he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6) whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7) that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. (NIV)

As we age, we will or have been in contact with people who are nearing the end of their life here on earth. But how we deal with that most crucial time in life is quite another matter. And the reason I say this is because I have witnessed sad unusual ways of dying.

Having the assurance from the Holy Spirit about our future as we face eternity is beyond the human heart’s coaching… Thus, we die in peace. Sad to say, however; there is another side. There are those who will approach death with rage, and they lash out at those who are trying to help. Few want to blame death on a God in whom they have never believed; crying out… Help me! I am afraid to die!

But for people who fear death believing the world is a place where all things fade and decay, there is nothing beyond the grave but endless darkness. Now the Christian does not and should not think that way. For us there is a promise, and that assurance comes from God Himself. The Christian is a person who has experienced a new birth, been reborn; changed again by God to a new kind of life. Whatever else others might say, it means that when a person becomes a Christian, there comes into that life a change so radical that the only thing we can say is that life has begun all over again for them.

There is another thought; Christian folks – born again believers have what we might say the very nature of God in our heart. It is part of us that time or eternity cannot destroy. It came from the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It does not mean that a person who accepts Jesus Christ into their life will never sin again; but it is to say that every time we sin, we have the power the grace to rise again, given to us by the life of the Holy Spirit living in our heart to live the victorious life.

Nobody in their right mind expects to go through life without various forms of testing. We expect trials to occur, and we expect them to hurt, but with hope, we do not expect to be devastated by them. We can develop a spirit of determination in which we can stand anything because we know the future that is coming is better than anything we have known before. When Christ enters a person’s life, for the first time they really begin to live.

The Christian is a person for whom the best is always still to be – we know that, however wonderful life on earth is with Christ, the life in heaven will be greater yet. The Christian is the person who knows the wonder of past sin forgiven, the thrill of present life with Christ, and the hope of the greater life which is yet to be.

Scripture educates – teaches us that God has uses trails to imprint in our minds and heart to do His Will. If we are honest with ourselves, we may even be thankful someday for how the trail has transformed us… yes, there will be trials, but there is the Holy Spirit to watch over us… To God Be the Glory Great Things He Has Done!

Would you pray this prayer with me?… “Lord Jesus, come into my heart. Forgive my sins. I want my life to change. My thoughts and my attitude need to change. I do not have peace in my heart, I really want that peace, joy, and happiness that I long for. Please let the Holy Spirit help me be the kind of Christian that will bring honour to Your Name.” Amen