Exloring Life Eternal

Today I had a short chat with some folks on a bus. A fellow begged for money & if I had had something that he would have received, I would have given it. He boasted of taking pesos, dinars, etc. He was particularly fond of some Egyptian dinars.

He wished to boast of his tongue, speaking a word or two in various languages, & I shared just a little from the scriptures from Him and was going to discuss the meaning, but he was more interested in $$ & silly rhymes.

He challenged me with a question: After asserting the possibility that he might be god. He asked, "Do you believe that God is undefeated?" To him this was a rather astounding question. He seemed impatient for a reply. Another fellow, who claimed rather adamantly to be baptist, & seemed to place this above faith in Christ Jesus as Lord. They chattered on about me being an atheist. Oddly, this was the same accusation that was hurled at early Christians.

I asked, "Do you believe in the resurrection? If you answer that correctly, you have the answer to your question."

In a brief internet search on "God is undefeated" the following results were found:

It seems that Shaun Alexander uses this as a way of testifying to the grace of God & why he committed to Christ "His team is undefeated:"
http://bama.ua.edu/~bamafca/docs/Shaun5TDNight9-30-02.htm

Also, this song came up, talking about God's glory. On the whole, it is an excellent song. Perhaps the main weakness is that "money & power" are listed as more important reasons to pray than the salvation of souls. There are many who are rich & powerful who know nothing of God's grace:
http://www.tradebit.com/filedetail.php/741329

I think in both instances, there is a fundamental weakness in how they understand the grace of God: GOD's power is perfected through -weakness- (2 Corinthians 12:9). This most basic truth is contrary to all human understanding. Indeed, the only way we are able to be saved was accomplished through Jesus who embraced "defeat" in order to win the victory for us. It was really only a temporary setback.

Indeed, the way of the cross was revealed early, very early in the history of the human race: the seed of the serpent & the Seed of woman would be in conflict. The serpentine seed would bruise the heel of the woman's Seed; and HE would crush satan's head. (Genesis 3:16). In other words, the Lord Jesus became poor that many might be made rich. The riches of heaven have much less to do with wealth, and much more to do with the stores which are waiting on high to those who have faith.

I wonder, how many Christians, so called, in the USA today, would continue as Christians if we faced the same persecution & oppression that Christians in the Middle East face? How many are Christians because their parents were, but not because they are fully persuaded.

God's victory may not always look like what we want it to look like. He may be victorious by humiliating us. His undefeated record seems to be marred with "defeats." Why?? Because his people prefer secondary divisions over our primary unity in Christ Jesus. May God save us from ourselves!!

Peace, In Christ,
Mert Hershberger

Over the past week, I have chatted 3 times with a fellow whose office is in the Social Work Building. He is among the least kind people I have ever met:

Once he said, "Young man, if this is a conversion attempt. You can leave, because it will not work." He not only does not want to be converted, he does not want to converse with people who care.

Once he said, "If you persist, I will have to report you to the authorities."

I asked him, "For what?? Talking?"

Once he was talking about how he looked forward to someone joining in a hate group.

The man is running from God's grace. He avoids reality. He is an arrogant man, to all appearances & despises people, by his own words. May God save the guy who seems to have some degree of authority at u.mich.

He is of South Asian descent seems to prefer hate speech & effots to make conversions illegal to true freedom. May God save him & open his eyes to see the truth!!

I have known few people to so adamantly opposed to the Gospel.

Although such people delight in ruining the lives of others & I had a bad attitude, I sincerely believe that one day the fellow will bow his knee to Jesus. Perhaps unwillingly just before he is cast into outer darkness. But I would prefer to see him cheerful at the Father's throne.

Mert Hershberger

SOMETHING TO REPENT

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.
Psalm 51:1-2

The Christian teaching tells people to REPENT (turn from their sins and go back to God) and promises to them forgiveness when they repent. So you see the Christian teaching cannot say ANYTHING to the people who think they have no sins! God cannot talk to the people who think that they do not need forgiveness!

It is AFTER you understand
1) that there is real EVIL in the world, SIN, and
2) that there is a Great God Who has ALL power, and
3) that YOU have broken God¹s LAWS, and
4) YOU are now WRONG in the eyes of God
(YOU have sinned!) --
Do you understand this about YOURSELF?
ONLY NOW, when you understand all this, can GOD talk to you!
Look inside yourself. Do you see a sinful person who needs HELP?
If you do, then you are ready to hear the Christian teaching, but NOT BEFORE!

Lord Jesus, help me to recognize my sins and to ask forgiveness.

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(No, I did not receive this email from C.S. Lewis. & No, I do not agree with all that C.S. Lewis wrote or believed. However, this basic intro is a basic core about why I believe in Jesus: He never sinned. I have. He came to save me & He shall! The sender of the email abbreviated some words.)