Here Today…Gone Tomorrow

Hibiscus flowers might be the most dramatic in the garden and can bloom as large as a child’s head in gorgeous colors. The hibiscus plant itself is large and dramatic, and it needs plenty of space to show off. Although the huge funnel-shape flowers seldom last more than a day, they are abundant and the plant blooms over several weeks. I never owned a hibiscus plant until this year.  One of my daughters gave it to me for Mother’s Day.  This photo is the first bloom.  I was awe-struck at the beauty and intricate design of each petal. The next morning, the bloom was wilted and falling off.

This beautiful flower reminds me just how short our life here on earth actually is.  The old saying “the undertaker will never be out of work” is true.  The day we are born our bodies begin to die!   Yet we have a soul, I call it that part of us that no one sees except our own selves and God.  You know the part of every human that thinks, feels and causes actions.  Well, the soul NEVER dies!  Even if I lived to be 125 years old,  that’s nothing compared to ETERNITY.   Merriam Webster Dictionary defines eternity: time without an end, a state that comes after death and never ends or time that seems to be without an end.  No boundaries-no limits.  Use your imagination for just a moment and try to fathom eternity.  You can’t, can you?  No days, weeks, months, years, decades, centuries… just on and on and on.   No matter how many years we live here on this earth, it’s like comparing a grain of sand with the expanse of all the universes.  Christian brothers and sisters: What are we to do with these days we live here on this planet?   Share the Gospel!!  The one, true Gospel according to God’s Word.

The Gospel in a Nutshell

If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. (1 John 5:9)  Many folk have reached a credibility gap between themselves and the news media, the politicians, and all who are on television today. There are certain news commentators whom I won’t listen to any longer. I know that they are doing nothing in the world but giving out propaganda. And I have come to the place where it does not matter who they are or to what party they belong, but I have no confidence in politicians.  Therefore, we are in a place today where it is difficult to receive the witness of men. But the interesting thing is that John Q. Public swallows it hook, line, and sinker. If it is said over television or put into print, they will believe it. There are many people who believe whatever they read or hear, but they will not receive the witness of God! Oh, my friend, the witness of God is greater!  God today is not giving out news on every subject. His news is good news, and it is about His Son who died for us on the cross. That is His message.

He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself…. (1 John 5:10)  If you have trusted Christ as your Savior, the Holy Spirit indwells you, and He testifies that these things are true. This is one of the great encouragements in teaching the Word of God by radio. Many people who listen have never seen me (I guess that may be a good thing!), but they have the Holy Spirit indwelling them, and when they hear the Word of God, they accept it because the Spirit bears witness that they are hearing the God’s Word.

And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. (1 John 5:11)  Eternal life is to have Christ. It boils down to this one point. This is the gospel in a nut-shell. This is the simplest test that can be made:

He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. (1 John 5:12)  The question is: Do you have Christ? Is He your Savior? Are you trusting Him in such a way that no one on earth or in heaven can shake your confidence in Him? To be saved means you trust Christ and have Him as your Savior. He’s our lifeboat. He’s our lifeline. He’s our only hope. We are lost without Him, but if we have Him, we have life.  Let’s forget about religion. Let’s forget about all this churchianity. Forget about it, my friend! The important thing is: Do you have Christ? Is He your Savior?

Taken from Dr. J. Vernon McGee’s Edited Messages on 1 John ©1994

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It is my prayer for all who know Christ as their Savior and are walking with Him as their Lord, share with boldness the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Our sin-filled world is growing more evil with each passing day!  There are many people deluded by a false gospel and even more have never heard the Truth.  As blood bought adopted children of the Father through the precious blood of the Lamb of God– make sure you’re armored-up and sharing the Truth.  ♥ Streim