Choices

There is a part of me that is struggling with what I need to write about this week in the blog.  So many things have crossed my mind, heart and prayers since we were together last.  Much has and is happening all around us.  It is the world in which we live and there is so much we don’t understand.  Last week we spoke of the evil and hatred that is permeating the world and we see it clearly here in our own communities and country.

Humanity is complex because of all the billions on this earth with their differing thoughts, ideas, knowledge, religions and social upbringing.  We see this in our own country because we are a nation of immigrants.  Although we began as a nation of settlers coming from another place to begin a new life.  Those that came to and found this great nation and to those who come today are immigrants.  Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are something everyone on earth desires.  We are fortunate to be the ones who have it in this country.

It might seem to you, and I know it does to me, that people should be respectful of one another.  That is the starting point because I don’t know, nor do you know what another person believes until you get to know them better.  Now once you know someone you have a better understanding of what they think and believe.

One of the things that I try to do when writing to you each week is to define terms.  Words have meaning and the use of words in the wrong context or in the wrong way communicate the wrong idea.  There is no doubt there are a lot of words being used today that are in the wrong context or in the wrong way communicating the wrong idea. I choose not to provide examples as I do not believe that is the purpose the Lord is leading me today.  I know you are intelligent and can certainly think of words that might fit.

My frame of reference is based upon my thoughts, ideas, knowledge, religion, and social upbringing.  I mentioned this earlier and like you I am an example of that truth.  As we were watching something the other night, I commented to Elaine that I am who I am in regards of what we were discussing because I am Thelma Nasworthy’s son.  It does not mean we automatically are as a parent; we can certainly go our own way.  Yet, the upbringing of a child, regardless of where they are raised, will have been impacted by their parents and the society in which they were born.  We are all the sum total of our own decisions whether prudent or not.  Consequences to our actions are real and if we don’t want to experience the consequences, then don’t take risks which will result in those consequences.

I can remember when I was growing up my mother told me that I should not touch the stove top because it was hot and if I did it would burn me.  Now that was enough for me.  I trusted her and never tested to see if what she told me was true and I can happily report I never burned myself on the stove top.  It would be nice to say I listened to everything my mother said and did what she said, but we all know that would not be true.  Don’t judge me here because you were the same.  Sometimes you listened but there were other times where you didn’t.

So, for the sake of being transparent the thoughts, ideas and knowledge I have are the result of a lifetime of experiences, education and personal study.  The decisions I have made relative to how I have and now live my life, also impacts what I would expect from others because of those experiences, education and personal study.

I mentioned earlier that I like to define terms for example.  The Merriman-Webster Dictionary defines a realist as- 

a person who recognizes what is real or possible in a particular situation: one who accepts and deals with things as they really are

That is who and what I am, a realist.  That doesn’t mean I like being that way all the time because there are times when it doesn’t suit me at all.  I know that people have the right given by God when He created us to make up our own minds. You might remember us talking about that before.  It is called free will and each of us possess it.  We will also reap the consequences of those decisions and thus the actions taken, as I said earlier.

Now I don’t know what you might call that but for me I think it is common sense.  I believe God gave man common sense.  I also believe that it is possible for someone to reject common sense.  To neglect using the abilities God has given to His creation.  I don’t understand why anyone would ever turn away from or reject God’s gift of eternal life.  It makes no sense to me because I know that the alternative is eternity in hell separated from God in torment forever.  I can’t describe what the separation will feel like.  I can’t describe what that torment will be like.  I mean I know what the Bible says hell is like.

In Mark 9:48 NKJV Jesus said that hell is-

⁴⁸ where

‘Their worm does not die And the fire is not quenched.’

So, the worm never dies, and it is a place where there is fire that never quenched.  Relating to a fire it is never extinguished.  In Revelation 20:14 NKVJ describes it this way-

¹⁴ Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 

You probably have been to a lake before, I know I have.  It is a body of water, and we get into it to swim.  We are immersed in a lake.  Hell is described as a lake, but it is a lake of fire. Immersed in a place that is on fire.   Then it continues to tell us who will be that lake in the next verse-

¹⁵ And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

You might be reading this today and ask, “Pastor how do I get my name into the Book of Life?”  Well, it is really very simple to put your faith in Jesus Christ.  We have said this before, and I will say it again because it is a clear statement that you must do this in order to be saved and have your name written in the Book of Life.

Romans 10:9-10 NKJV-

⁹ that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 

¹⁰ For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 

Now that is the gospel, the good news of salvation.  Believe unto righteousness, confess with your mouth and believe in your heart God raised Jesus from the dead and bingo you will be saved.

Don’t take my word for it but use God’s Word as I have just described to you.  Do it today. 

We think about 3 different days, yesterday, today and tomorrow.  Actually, there is only one day but consider it with other dimensions.  One dimension is yesterday; a time passed with a memory of what occurred.  We cannot go back to yesterday or change yesterday.  We can remember it and even learn from it but yesterday is gone, never to come again.  That second dimension is tomorrow which is at best a wish hope.  Yes, we plan for tomorrow and make accommodations for one to come but in and of itself it doesn’t exist.  It is a dimension we may or may not ever experience here.  The important word is here.

Our tomorrow if it is not here on this earth, in this present time, will be in one of two places.  Either heaven or hell.  This is the truth of God’s Word.  It can be accepted or rejected by anyone.  That is their right to exercise their free will which God gave to man.

My hope today as it is each week is that you are a believer and follow God’s Word and the guidance of His Holy Spirit in your life.  It is your choice.  As for me, I made that decision as a child and I am glad I did.  I have been able to have an incredible life here today and I know my tomorrow either here in the present or with the Lord will be a blessing.

In God’s Grace,

Elbert Nasworthy