Eternity & More...

I've been meaning to get back on here and write, especially as of late I've had so much on my mind, so much that I want to share.. I find it interesting how the following winds up being what I start back writing about.

I used to have a myspace page for a couple years & wrote a similar blog on this topic.. With the events of this week, this topic is on my mind again..

Always on my mind for many reasons as I am a believer and follower of Jesus Christ, but this week, with the loss of Michael Jackson, Farrah Fawcett, Ed McMahon & last week, Bea Arthur & David Carradine, eternity comes to mind..

Its so easy to get wrapped up in my own little world.. work, my family, church, just day to day stuff like anyone else. Not necessarily bad things either. What scares me is how easily I forget that in a twinkling of an eye, someone can pass into eternity.. and to "which place"???? Above or below? Heaven or hell? Some think you go into a nothing-ness/conciousness.. and that's it folks.. yer done.. gee.. so much to look forward to, for an eternity?! BORING...!

I believe in a literal heaven and a literal hell. I don't wish hell on anyone though because according to the Bible, Hell is a place made for the devil and his angels, a place of ETERNAL torment..!

Yikes.... who wants to burn for an eternity?! Not me thank you very much, nor do I want anyone I know going there either!
The Bible does say all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, in other words, we have ALL missed the mark. That "mark" is perfection, nothing less. But how in the world can we even attain such an impossible thing? We can't! Not in our own way, strength or even whatever the most popular opinion on the subject is.

Because of this, there is a penalty, death. Sounds so bleak, dismal, depressing. How can a "loving God" demand such?! But this loving God, is also a "just" God. So man came up with all kinds of ways/thoughts to avoid this "absolute". However, in all of "man's efforts" (aka, "religion"), this still does not appease the penalty.

According to the Bible, the only SOLUTION, is thru one's confession and belief in Jesus Christ, as well as "repentance" (making an about face from the direction you were going, or doing a 180 if you will). Jesus paid the way/took the penalty on his own back, on the cross. That was done when I was at my most vilest moment, with the darkest, murderous thoughts in mind! And He still would've done it if I had chosen to reject him!
So yes, I DESERVE the penalty, death, for my sin.. but Jesus.. who loved me so much, chose to take it all on himself. EVERY stripe on his back, bruise on his body, the nasty spit on his mangled face - he took it all to save us because He LOVED us SO MUCH, even when the people were yelling, "crucify him, crucify him!". Even when all his disciples turned and ran.. these were guys he was close to, you'd think they would've stuck around but they didn't, they also rejected Him.
So this "Loving, but JUST God" really does love us, because HE KNEW we couldn't pay that penalty ourselves. Instead God the Father offered his own son Jesus to pay that penalty, who in turn, because He loved us, VOLUNTEERED to take on the sins of the world! He provided what NO OTHER human being or religion can! THAT is LOVE!
What kind of LOVE IS THIS!? This Love? This love, HIS love, like no other on earth, has power! Power to change a thief into a honest person, power to save one who has literally lost their mind back to being wholly sane. Power that changes hate, to love! Love that tells the truth, but does NOT condemn!! This LOVE, gives purpose and meaning to a meaningless life, and hope! Hope for the future, and best of all? Eternity spent with Him!

This love is like nothing I've ever seen in my life, that is until I chose to believe in who He is, and why He came. I gladly serve him because of this.. not out of obligation, but out of love. His love has changed my heart, forever.

Last night I'd seen some comments made in light of Michael Jackson's death. I was both horrified and livid.
Why did it upset me so much? Well, that I won't go into here, not now.. maybe in a different blog.

Today one of my dear friends made an important point regarding our choices. Made me think. My choices affect where I wind up in eternity.

Our choices affect us as well as others around us. Made me think also about what I post on Facebook, or tweet on Twitter.. I have dear friends and some family who don't necessarily believe like I do, and I respect what they do or don't believe. I love them!
But I also had to realize something else. Those who posted the comments who upset me? I had to think about my "choices" in my response regarding them, as well. But I'm telling you right now, I literally wanted to "rip them a new one", if you know what I mean?

I did share my frustration however. I just wished people would think about what they do and say despite what Michael may have done OR not done in the past and made a plea to please not forget the families who are grieving and how very thoughtless things people say at these times, can be..

I said above, how the Lord's love has changed me.. doesn't sound from my reaction that I was all that loving, does it. I needed His perspective. I realized my attitude towards those whose opinions angered me was becoming outright nasty. I had to make a decision, otherwise I knew if I didn't it would either eat me alive, or I'd wind up making the wrong choice & hurting people. I chose to give up my need to be "right" and feeling "righteously angry". Did I do this out of sheer willpower.. oh no, no, noooo.. dear me.. how I needed His help to do so!!

So it is pretty obvious that "ripping them a new one" could've had some disastrous results.. kind of a "doh", right? Of course in my heart I knew this.. But I'm telling you, UNTIL I made the choice? I wasn't able to have his compassion towards them! Having compassion does not mean, I am "better" than anyone else. Nor am I making excuses for myself. I've embraced the truth of how I felt and where it could've led me, but I am thankful because the choices I DID make, shows me the power of His love, as well it being entirely possible to act like Him.

All of this, has been on my mind: Eternity.. My choices.. How they affect me, how they affect others..

I want my choices to affect people to spend eternity together with the Lord I love, not in Hell..