Thursday, December 8, 2011

life in death




You don't have to go very far anymore to have someone tell you how to live your life. From Oprah, to Gandhi, to Sesame Street, to various blogs, to the rude woman in front of you at the grocery store on her cell reading the National Inquirer, everyone has advice on how you should handle your own life. Problem is, so many times this is all based on theory, and incorrectly passed down from someone who previously may have been guessing also. "I hear this works," is often heard from them. Fortunately never tried. We are all guilty of it, and when you find a system that works, how refreshing it can be. But does it work 100% of the time for 100% of the people?
When Stu was on his 3 1/2 month odyssey, we kept in touch. I was able to send him on some awesome roads, and he took the time to explore and expand them even more. I had been there, so I wasn't basing it upon glossy pictures from the chamber of commerce, or someone else's favorite road article. And since we both like the same type of roads, I knew my advice would be sound. And it was, and when he returned we had more fun comparing trip notes. It is always more fun when you share with someone who has been there. Who has seen the scenery, eaten the food, smelled the forests, and ridden the road. But so often we settle for second best-opinions.
"Have you ridden 55 in West Virginia?" "No, but I 've ridden the interstate by it." "Have you taken old 219 or the new by pass?" "I didn't know there was a difference" tells me you took the wrong one. And this is just roads to travel. How about food, places to stay, places to visit? How about which bike shops to stop at? And when in doubt, stick with national chains, familiar names-just to be safe. Web sites like Tripadvisor.com only reflect input from people who have been there. It tells highs-"I loved it," or lows, "the clerk was rude to me." Only from extreme experiences do they offer an opinion. Which makes it sometimes hard to make a decision based on the input. It takes a person who has been there-or better yet lived or lives there. Who is more than a fellow traveler like us to give us correct insight. Opinions may be like Hondas, as the old saying goes, I have been let down by both.
So when it comes to questions of how to live your life, who do you trust? Do you trust truths, or do you seek THE truth? There is a difference. And life can be too short to keep opening doors and finding the tiger instead of the lady. You need someone who was there, is there, and will be there in the future. Who tells the truth-and that man is Jesus.
Who not only can advise on life, but has the ability to bring death to life. No one else can. You see, He was there at the beginning. He was resurrected, leaving behind an empty tomb. And He continues to sit at the right hand of God today-and forever. So ask a native resident of heaven about how to get there. It is only through Jesus you will escape hell.
Eye has not seen, ear has not heard, or mind imagined the things of heaven. No one can be creative enough to define perfection except for one who is. And no one is good enough to make it on their own merits. Did you ever get an 89 on a test-a B+, almost an A but not quite. Be glad God doesn't mark us on what we do. And we could never be so good as to attain the grade it takes to get into heaven, so Jesus took the test for us-and passed-100%! Can your religious beliefs guarantee the same?
So look to the one who is trustworthy. And trust Him. Trust God! Life is temporary, afterlife is eternal. Where you spend it is your choice. Choose Jesus. Let Him guide you to heaven. And bless you along way while still here on earth. Many roads promise you the way, only Jesus is THE way. Many roads, with only one destination. One set of directions.
So trust God to give you life in death. And also life in life. Abundantly, He says. And He gives, not charges for it. Need a Bible, I can get you one for free. Try that one at Barnes and Noble! Jesus-a gift from God to a lost world. Who could never place a value on Him, so He offers Him to us free. And offers us eternity-the best value ever!
Heaven-learn from someone who lives there. Now you were saying...
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com