A fascinating and puzzling story has been told many times. No one seems to agree on it however. It is a story with a very pleasant ending, but the pleasantness seems to be up for interpretation and again, there are as many opinions as there seem to be people. Some folks say that we are eternal and when we die, we get to meet up with all our dear friends and relatives and have a big party that goes on..well..forever. Of course, you don’t meet up with ‘those’ relatives, who would want to? The sky palace subway has various fees. Of course, there are varying opinions about that as well. Be a nice person and don’t do too many bad things is a popular thought but that one is actually an invention of the Santa Claus set. You know the contract: Naughty or nice makes you OK but the naughty ones get coal in their hosiery. Fuel for thought.

The religious viewpoints vary quite a bit on eternity. A popular thought is that we get to be ‘one with God as a drop in the ocean of His eternal presence’ Sounds a bit like annihilation. A very interesting viewpoint is a religion that promises eternal worldly pleasures if you kill enough people who don’t believe in such things. So much for the ‘nice person’ clause. There are so many philosophical and theoretical opinions that eternal existence seems up for grabs to the highest bidder, winner take all. The most truthful and authenticated viewpoint is really a breath of fresh air among all the voices.

The stunning viewpoint that tells us in simple language that we are not very nice people, even though at times we think we are. We, of course, get worse as we do what we think is right in our own eyes. Easy enough even for me to understand. I have spent almost a lifetime doing what I wanted and thought was good. The worst was worshiping myself and looking for that platform where everyone knew my name. The talented one, pervading with incredible combinations of music and known by all as a sexy reptile. An easy religion, I knew all the rules and techniques to worship the god that everyone knows well. Myself or yourself are the gods of this age. (small G)

Totally selfish and totally devoted to Baal. Similar to the shelf gods of ancient times. With actual photos and awards of us on literal shelves at home. We all do it, c’mon, admit it! There is even a new name of this worship. Selfies! Who better to show off to the world of the connected than a photo of yourself? “I have changed my portrait!” Again. And incredibly, I think of myself as a nice person’ blinded by my self worship. But the real God saw me there and because He is rich in Mercy and because of His great love, He made me alive when I was dead. The only requirement for us to change all this and become alive is to die. Not a little bit, saving that special slightly off center activity that really harms no one.

All of me. my heart understands what was said to me and now, I am on my way to becoming the man I was made to be. The living God saved my life decades ago with five words.

You have heard that term “born again.” It literally means to be as innocent as a newborn child. Ready with clearing vision to see the world and fellow children the way we were meant to be and to act that way. It is painful as birth but fulfilling as we take our first toddler steps. Steps as we wobble towards our Father who waits for us with open arms and an overwhelming joy as He watches us move to Him. Determination to grow, and grow well under His gaze of Mercy and His gifts. The goal and the prize of an eternity gazing upon our loving father’s beauty. It’s pretty good. (to be continued) Jack