Preparing for our trip this summer, I have been getting a newsletter from a
little town, less than 5000, in Nebraska. An hours drive from Omaha, the
newsletter actually encompasses the entire county, and is filled with local news
about local people. On the coming events for this weekend is the opening of
their time capsule from 1916, 100 years ago. Of course no one will be around to
enjoy how it was back then first hand, but the locals will get to see first hand
how it really was, and the things they felt were important at the time. I hope
the next newsletter has pictures and memories from what is seen, and their
responses to what is important now, compared to what was then.
Back in 1957, a car dealer in Oklahoma sealed a 1957 Plymouth Belvedere
hardtop in a vault underground, to be opened 50 years later, 2007. Upon opening,
they found the car, but had neglected to account for weather, moisture, and mud
and corrosion had pretty much destroyed the car. After cleaning it up, it still
was a 1957 Plymouth, brand new, but was terribly ruined because of the lack of
preparation. What was hoped to be immaculate, and potentially valuable, turned
out to be so worn that attempts to clean it up were stalled due to its
deteriorating. But still a newsworthy and interesting item. I hope the folks
in Plattsmouth, Nebraska had better foresight in 1916, I am looking forward to
the results.
Much discussion is still prevalent today about the origins of the Bible.
From did God really inspire it, to who wrote it, to how it got passed down can
cause many an argument among church folk, let alone heathens and those trying to
discredit it. But we need to go back to the author, who is God, and how by his
spirit it was originally written, how it was passed down, and the responsibility
of those it was handed to. First all scripture is inspired by God, not all
religious writings. God chose what he wanted in his word, for edification,
knowledge, and to discipline us. The ultimate answer to what the spirit was
telling, it confirms in writing what we believe. The scribes that had this job
were given the mighty responsibility of letter by letter duplication, the Xerox
copiers of the day. Again inspired by God, they knew what they were coping was
holy, and to be used for later generations. Today with so many versions, from
King James to New Living to NIV, NAS, and others, it is important to remember
that God is not stupid. That only those true to him are the truth, while others
who change words for meaning and add on to it are not. The Book of Mormon and
the Jehovah Witness book stand out. They deny Jesus his place as deity,
something God never does. And from Genesis 1 to Revelation 22, the book is all
about Jesus. As the Alpha and the Omega, he was there in the beginning, and
will be into eternity, the last. A forever last with no end.
And so we have been given this time capsule by the spirit to guide us.
Contemporary problems from BC to AD, from 33AD to 1916, to 2016, are all
relevant today. God never changes, we do, but sin never does. And so we always
will need a savior, and Jesus is eternal. His grave is empty, the bones of
Mohammed are in Medina, the bones of Confucius are in Shantung, and the cremated
bones of Buddha are in Nepal. Only an empty grave is found where Jesus was
laid, and without his resurrection, the Bible tells us we would have nothing to
preach on, our words would be hollow, and we would have no hope. No other
religion gives hope but Christianity, as foretold in the Bible, and then
recorded as Jesus did. 1 Corinthians 15:12-19 brings the gospel home to us, and
the importance of Jesus truly being the son of God. And our savior. And only
the Bible faithfully, completely, and lovingly confirms it. From the time the
books were written, and contemporarily read, they were authenticated, and still
are today. An eternal time capsule protected by God for us. Only God could
preserve scrolls 3000 years old kept in a cave by the sea, while man 60 years
ago couldn’t preserve a car. Maybe the scripture bears more witness to that, as
the things seen are temporal, the things not seen eternal. Its all gonna burn,
or rust, but only the spirit lives on. And we can live on in it forever too,
for with the promise of the resurrection of Jesus, because he did, we can too if
we believe. Our testimonies a time capsule to be shared.
So I look forward to seeing what was important on the prairie in Nebraska
100 years ago. It has been said that the more things change, the more they stay
the same, we’ll see. Also this summer it is 100 years since the first women
rode an Indian motorcycle across the US of A. Their trip took a lot of
extensive planning, and flexibility. Riding in pants, they were once arrested
for not wearing skirts as they rode. They prepared and had a safe trip. Are
you prepared for the trip of life? Or are you trusting man made ideas and
things to carry you into the future? The Bible is eternal, so is its author.
Who has given us his spirit to guide us into the future and heaven. Don’t wait
for your time capsule to be opened and find it was too late. Today is the day
of salvation, don’t miss it. In 100 years, and forever, I will look forward to
heaven from there. Prepare now for the trip. You will not be disappointed.
When the story of your life is examined, what will it say about Jesus Christ?
Or will you just be a poorly preserved 1957 Plymouth? Only in Christ can you
see into the future, which is where we will spend eternity. Be prepared, and
hope they find your grave empty. An empty grave tells more about Jesus than a
full one. Absent in the body, present in the spirit....the people in Tulsa
imagined a new car would be removed, what a surprise. Don’t you be, suddenly
it’s not 1957!
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com