I must say I am profoundly startled by the immense lack of thought given to the afterlife.  I am not speaking of Christians, but those who are non-believers.

I cannot comprehend some of the responses, quotes, etc I have received in regards to questions like “What do you think will happen if you die”

Some say “nothingness” - others say “well, i believe that everyone will go to one place.” or other variable responses.

The part that’s startling is that it *seems* so many believe that if they conjure up some form of thought about the afterlife, that it will somehow manifest for them.  They base their philosophies on literally nothing, only things they’ve “thought up” over the course of their lives.  They beg for absolutes in all other areas…won’t invest in STOCK A without the proper evidences of growth potential, blah blah blah.  They won’t vote for a political leader, go to a certain college, even begin a relationship with another person without some form of research or consideration on their part.  If they did, they’d be “illogical, irresponsible, stupid, etc” -
But when it comes to eternity, it becomes “willy-nilly, it’s all relative, anything goes”

Am I the only one that finds that insane?  Are they really that busy to not give a measure of thought to the logic behind that?

I have heard “Well I think this…” or “Well, probably this will happen…” or “I’m not sure, but maybe this…”

Do we settle for maybe, probablies or relative thought when it comes to other areas?

“Yes sir, you’ll probably, maybe get better if you take this medicine, I mean, I think maybe you will…maybe you won’t”

Of course not!  We want to know if we’re going to take the medicine prescribed whether we will recover or die.  We’ll spend money, and invest time and effort to save our lives by finding this assurance.

But the afterlife?  The Bible?  These people get to “re-write” it themselves, with “what if’s, maybes, probablies, i’d hope…etc”

Well…I hope, maybe, that you’ll consider, if you want, that there’s a sad piece of missing logic here…probably…

As a kid, you might have related discipline with “punishment” - but the discipline I’m talking about is more of a “training” than a “consequence”.

Either way…it often isn’t fun…but is never-the-less necessary

I was encouraged by this passage in Hebrews 12, that we somewhat unraveled in Chapel today:

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. ² Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³ Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

⁴ In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. ⁵ And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons:

“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,

and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,

⁶ because the Lord disciplines those he loves,

and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.”^a

⁷ Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? ⁸ If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. ⁹ Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! ¹⁰ Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. ¹¹ No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

¹² Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. ¹³ “Make level paths for your feet,”^b so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.

a Prov. 3:11,12

b Prov. 4:26

The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984 . Zondervan: Grand Rapids

I whine about being disciplined sometimes…because I’m weak, or impatient…or stupid.  But I always rejoice in the results…how both are possible, I don’t know.  But I know i’m learning to find discipline a thing to be desired, not dreaded…

I marvel at the work of your hands my King,
whose work brings me to my knees,
I must revere your handiwork,
for i can finally see,

each day and hour, breath and step,
was framed before my birth,
and each rejoice and suffering,
shall aid me in my search,

for there is but one goal,
there is but one king,
and all the work for all of man,
won’t bring me anything.

Praise the King who builds me - shapes me - strenthens me - sancifies me -

He who gives and takes, may He always be glorified.

have been blessed this past week to get the opportunity to talk openly about God with a couple of people that I am close to, and aren’t believers. God has blown me away, bringing patience, and the right words to say at the right time.

In one discussion, we were fixed on that essential “issue” that humans seem to have an issue on. “How can a loving God not save everyone…” People hear and understand from an outside perspective that “God is Loving” and “God is Forgiving” and that mixes in with their own philosophy into a God that is somehow happy as long as we’re happy. This is truly a sad development.

We were able to discuss this topic a little bit, and I was able to confront it from this angle - “Yes, God is Love, God is Forgiving - but God is also Holy, and Just”

He is no more loving than he is just, no more forgiving than he is Holy. He is infinite in his qualities. People can relate when you ask them “When somebody rapes, murders a child - do they deserve punishment?” - for punishment to them is “right” and “just” when compared to a human situation. OF COURSE that person deserves punishment! Yet when the Bible compares hatred to murder, finds lust adultery, says we are not to lie, blaspheme his name, steal - they find it hard to feel the same towards themselves or others as they felt towards that hypothetical murderer.

Truth is - my God is Holy, Pure, and Just, and he punishes murderers. Sin has no place in Holiness. That is the reason for Christ. God is loving, and forgiving, but not to those who willfully turn there back on him.

What’s funny, is I’ve run across a lot of people who say “Yes - I believe the Bible 100%” and then throw piles of their own ideas, baseless, into the equation.

“Well, Jesus is the kind of guy who would let other Gods in”
“Jesus is the kind of guy who will let everyone in as long as they believed in something”
“Religion evolves, Jesus evolves”

Nope. “The wages of sin is death…” - now, today, and tomarrow. Why? Because my God is holy! My God is just!

BUT - when a frail, human sinner has a fine too big to pay (which we do) and is bound for that JUST punishment, a loving, forgiving savior PAID it. Justice is reconciled - and we are free in his PERFECT sacrifice, PERFECT payment.