The Bible Message In 217 Words
God said, “I created everything from nothing, order from disorder, life from lifelessness.” His children said, “No, the universe created itself and life came about by random chance.” God said, “I made mankind to be male and female.” His children said, “No, we’ll decide how many genders there are and which one we want to be.” God said, “I knew you in the womb, you have been fearfully and wonderfully made.” His children said, “No, the unborn are just fetal tissue with no right to live until WE grant it.” God said, “the marriage bond is to be between a man and a woman.” His children said, “No, we will have sexual relations whenever and with whomever we please.” God said, “Despite your rebellion, I love you with an everlasting love, so I sent my only Son to die for the sins of the whole world. Whoever believes in Him will gain eternal life!” His children said, “No, we reject the bigotry of such a narrow point of view.” God said, “One day I will return to redeem my Creation from corruption.” His children said, “No, we will save the planet ourselves.” And while God patiently waited for mankind to come to their senses and repent, His children mockingly asked, “Where is the promise of His coming?”
"Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, 'Where is this "coming" he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation' ... The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:3-4, 9, NIV).
God Loves Us First, We Love Him Last
In the blockbuster movie Forest Gump, there’s a beautiful picture of God's love. It’s seen in the relationship between Forest and Jenny. From childhood, Forest loves Jenny. But Jenny is too enamored by worldly things and looks past Forest in her search for fulfillment. Jenny strikes out in search of fame and success but finds disappointment and heartache instead. All the while, Forest waits for her to come home to him.
Forest loved Jenny first, before everything else. But Jenny failed to appreciate his devotion until the very end of her life. Although Forest picked Jenny first, she picked him last.
Fortunately, Forest's love for Jenny was so selfless that he did not resent her for doing so.
In the same way, our first choice in life isn’t God. Enamored by the world, we look past Him to all of the things that we are sure will bring us lasting happiness.
But while we're doing all of that, God waits patiently for us. We pursue everything that life has to offer before we were willing to look to the One who gave us life. And even though He gave His life for us, we hold our life back from Him.
But after the idols we preferred fail us, God is still there, patiently waiting and willing to be picked last.
And that's what we do. At the end of ourselves, and despite ourselves, we reluctantly turn to the One who loved us from the beginning.
"This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins" (1 John 4:10, NIV).
"But God has shown us how much he loves us--it was while we were still sinners that Christ died for us!" (Romans 5:8, GNT).
The Lost Cause
A Palm City man has been arrested for the 34th time! Scott Sutto, with ABC ACTION NEWS, reports:
On Sunday, Martin County deputies said they caught Sammy Luciano, 39, driving a vehicle that had been reported stolen in Okeechobee County.
Just after 4 a.m., deputies spotted the vehicle with Luciano driving recklessly at speeds of more than 110 mph.
... Luciano has an extensive criminal history for crimes such as burglary, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, robbery, fleeing and eluding, battery on a law enforcement officer, violation of probation, possession of drugs, driving with a suspended license, reckless driving, and causing serious injury or death by failing to stop. This time he was charged with felony drunk driving, grand theft of a motor vehicle, and resisting arrest.
He has now posed for a mug shoot 34 times!
What do you do with a man who has posed for his mug shoot 34 times, and counting? Is it time for the system to give up on Mr. Lucianio, to consider him a lost cause, to lock him up and throw away the key? Before you register your “Amen,” reflect on how many times you’ve broken God’s moral laws. Are you a repeat offender? Has God ever given up on you?
“Then Peter came to him and asked, "Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times? "No, not seven times," Jesus replied, "but seventy times seven!” (Matthew 18:21-22, NLT).