Some Additional Thoughts

In my previous entry I wrote of a friend’s recent heart attack and how that might help to put our daily lives into perspective. My thoughts, at the time, were more general in nature. However, upon reflection, I thought it might be appropriate to make some additional comments. Last time I glanced over the more difficult spiritual aspects of that subject, but today I wish to explore them a little further. This event serves as a reminder of just how frail our lives can be. We tend to think of life in terms of years, thinking statistically and actuarially. That’s fine for general purposes, but we must always remember that statistics are based upon averages, which by nature tend to mask the figures at each end of the scale that balance out in the averaging process. Some people live to 102 and others only live until 30. The averages we tend to rely upon emotionally help us to forget that life isn’t actually fair and offers no guarantees. That’s a lovely thought, but mark my words: life is not fair and there are no guarantees.

We tend to dwell on what we’ve got planned tonight, this weekend, next summer or during our retirement. Yet I am compelled to ask the burning question, “What are your plans for forever?” Ouch, that’s certainly politically incorrect, but it needs to be asked because it’s really the most important question of all. Perhaps it’s most important to anyone whom I may just have offended with that very question. Now before you hit the delete button and continue surfing I beg you to hear me out. It’s certainly easy to glance over the big religious questions. You wouldn’t dream of going away for the weekend or on a vacation, even camping, without making a reservation first. Most people purchase health insurance in case they get sick, auto insurance in case of an accident and they buy life insurance to protect their family in the event of an untimely death. Yet, they think very little about heaven and eternity. Yet in the event of an untimely death, spiritual life insurance might come mighty handy. After all forever, simply by definition, is really a long time. Ok, that’s my cute insurance metaphor, but please continue reading.

The fact is that this life doesn’t last forever and often times it turns out to be much shorter than we might have anticipated. It’s also filled with statistical anomalies so forever could technically begin at any time. We don’t like to think about the “bad stuff” but it happens. Let’s face it, as soon as you slip in the bath tub or choke on the odd chicken bone you basically skip all the second chances and advance straight to the end of the bible. I like to call it spontaneous revelation because the hereafter, whatever it holds, begins at that moment. I believe that there is a heaven and that the only way to get there is to acknowledge Jesus Christ as the son of God and accept His sacrificial death and resurrection as payment for our personal sins. He is the bridge to God and to a heavenly eternity with our Creator. I don’t believe that God grades on a curve or that “all good people go to heaven” because there is no clear delineation of where that good/bad line is to be drawn. The New Testament clearly and repeatedly makes the case that Jesus is the only path to salvation and He said so himself on multiple occasions. Old Testament prophecy also points directly towards both Him and His message. Jesus is the undeniable link between our temporary lives here on earth and the eternal promise of a better life beyond this one. And if I’m right then the alternative, the one without Jesus, starts to look really ugly.

I’ve shared my personal beliefs with you and I’m sure that there are other people in your own life who would tell you the same if you seek them out. The main point is that we need to deal with these questions now instead of sometime in a hazy future someday which may never come. If you wish to converse with me directly, my email can be found at the top of this site. Just be sure to include your own contact information so that I can get back to you. In the mean time I offer the following poem, which takes a more humorous approach to this serious subject. Perhaps it even offers a light hearted introduction for some of you to begin discussing this subject with others whom you care about. Have a blessed day, but take time to consider your plans for the future as well.

Brimstones & Chicken Bones
(The Doctrine of Spontaneous Revelation)
We all have business to do with God
but we’re young and in our prime
So we put Him off year after year
assuming there’s plenty of time
We know Jesus is coming back someday
but who knows when that will be
People keep saying end times are near
but no one’s sure about prophecy
In fact, it’s so darn confusing
we don’t like to think about it at all
Since folks have been worried for centuries
and have yet to hear the trumpet call
So we kind of make this deal with God
that we’ll be good or better than most
Then we set the spiritual cruise control
so we can just kick back and coast
Figuring we’ve got a lifetime ahead
to sacrifice, give and serve
And if the Lord comes back just bad folks
will get what they deserve
However, the flaw in our reasoning
which so many of us fail to see
Is that if we should die unexpectedly
we advance from here to eternity
We have merely to slip in the bathtub
or choke on the odd chicken bone
And suddenly, all the choices we’ve made
shall be etched in eternity’s stone
In that realm beyond second chances
where each man answers to God at last
For all that he did, and didn’t do
in the irrevocable past
Let’s call it spontaneous revelation
that day when you go to the head of the class
To discover that God doesn’t grade on a curve
it’s strictly fail or pass
When your backup chute fails to open
whether or not your doctrine is sound
You better have your affairs in order
long before you reach the ground
Because the next stop is forever
so your fire insurance better be paid
You won’t get to choose between smoking or non
unless a reservation was made
Your cholesterol count doesn’t matter
nor how much dough you have socked away
Once you step onto the railroad tracks
you’ll be meeting God straight away
Don’t be lulled into complacency
for no matter how safe you feel
You may have one foot on solid ground
but the other is on a banana peel
So never put off until tomorrow
what the Lord requires of you today
Lest spontaneous revelation
should steal your second chances away
By Frank Carpenter ©