Time Compression; Not Reversion

     Time is the measurement of existence. Time is the currency of life; time spent cannot be unspent. Now is an instant which will be gone immediately. The future never exists because as it is approached, it zips past the present into the past. Thus, existence was only in the past.
     Existence cannot be rewound because the time is gone, never to be reclaimed. Life cannot be repeated and deja vu is a false reality. There is no past because it is gone. There is no future because it can only become the present, fading as quickly as it arrives. Now is the time for everything. Nothing happens in the past nor can it in the future.  Now is reality, the past is only memories, and the future is fantasy.
     Einstein's General Theory of Relativity gave some hope that the past could be relived. Gravity can bend time but the past can never become the present. Even if living matter could exceed the speed of light, time could only be compressed; reversion to the past cannot happen! The time of the past is time already spent. Each moment of the past was lived for the moment, and after each moment is spent it is gone. Time can be slowed but it cannot be reversed. Irreversible transactions are non-isentropic and the energy spent yesterday can never be reclaimed.
     If a person could travel the speed of light, time from instant to instant can be reduced, but cannot return to the instant before. As the future becomes the present, that event can only happen sooner. Time can only be shortened, never lengthened. Thus time is indeed  running out. 
     There is no hope in waiting. Wasting time increases its value but it only gets spent faster as the end of life comes nearer. As a child, time was taken for granted because there was plenty of it! With age, time becomes more valuable than gold because each breath measures life. Gold is always gold but physical life is extinguished. If only one day of life is left, all the gold in the world cannot buy the next as the value of gold diminishes with the extinction of remaining time. Thus, time is more valuable that anything!
    Children don't worry about time because they fail to understand its value. I have always worried about time! I always understood that each moment spent is each moment gone, never to be begotten again. From my youth, the fear of non-existence encompassed me; that time would someday run out and I would cease to be. The acknowledgement of limited time is disparaging. If limited time is dwelt upon it is depressing.
     I know the maximum number of seconds that I have remaining. That time is easily calculated form mortality schedules. The only time available to me is the present. I am not certain of the future because it is merely an assumption. Thus, the time for everything is now, yet people wait for some time later that may never come.

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. (Ecles 3:1-8)

     All the those things must be done now. There is no opportunity to do them yesterday, and waiting until tomorrow just changes the now. Now is always the opportunity. Solomon, it is supposed, was in despair when this was written. He was recognizing the value of time! He had everything else but his time was limited. Kingship didn't shield Solomon from the expenditure of time. He said, a time to every purpose under the heaven. I don't understand how he planned on getting time, except for one way - by God. Any day spent losing time is wasted time, as he rightfully said.
     There is a time to heal. Perhaps that is why he wrote about time! To be healed, requires that something has been killed. Life is the death of time. Adam and Eve killed time the first time they sinned. As God promised, they would surely die (Gen 2:7).
     Death was unknown before the first sin and Adam and Eve were immortal. Sin stole time from the two! Since then, time has been limited for most people, and eternity is compressed into what's now about a maximum of one-hundred twenty-years. I just spent some of that time typing words which many will not read, and correcting typing errors that no one will ever know about. I waste time making corrections but spend my productive time wisely. I am doing my job assignment - dressing and keeping the Tree of Life and those other "trees" surrounding it (Gen 2:15)!
     My life has two purposes, one dependent on the other. I desire to have eternal life (unlimited time) but can only obtain that by denying myself. He is the Tree of Life whom I must worship and to worship any other tree is fruitless. Time spent appeasing myself is for naught because it gains no time. Indeed, time is shortened since unlimited time is available, but appeasing me may compress my time.
     I find it ironic that my god (me) wants to live forever but only God can provide that. In order to extend time, I must diminish myself and elevate God. To preserve me, I must destroy me (Rom 12:1). To gain time, I must pay for it. I am the payment - my little weak "god" for Almighty God. I did that. I must continually do that. Salvation is not in the past. It lies in the future. I was born-again when I diminished me and elevated God. That is in the past. It can be the present for those who have yet to be born-again. That event resets the time available: the clock's hand moves from temporal to eternal when we trust Jesus for our time. He bought time for us with his own blood.
     Time has value. God's own blood was the most valuable asset which He had to give. That is the redemption currency. God bought unlimited time by crucifying Himself. Most scoff at that, and attempt to appease the limited time of their god by pleasure. Examine the last instant in life: What will be your pleasure? Shall it be lusts of the eyes, flesh, or the pride of life, or will your pleasure to be for a longer life? I'm not speaking of mortal death. That is only a sting (1 Cor 15:55) and will shortly be over - an instant on the eternal clock. As anyone dies what they shall want most is eternal life. I suggest that none desires extinction unless they fear judgment! To have hope fear must be dealt with!
    Death is the instant in time when salvation is fulfilled. One moment in time defines how eternity will be spent. Satan cannot hurt those who are dead who trusted Jesus. Salvation is when the Devil can no longer harm:

And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.(Rev 12:10).

    Salvation is in the future because eternal life provides the future. From the day when one first believes until that time is called "hope". Regeneration (rebirth) provides hope that the day of salvation will come (1 Thes 5:8). With each moment, those redeemed by the blood of Christ are nearer the time of their salvation than when they first believed:

And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. (Rom 13:11)

     The time not believing is soul sleep. That is not the waiting period after one dies until in Paradise; it is the period in which we could be doing things to elevate God but just as the apostles on the Mount of Olives, Christians use there time merely wasting it. The apostles slept while Jesus was in agony, ironically his agony was for them!
     Those who do not serve God waste the present. The past is already wasted and the future has yet to arrive. They were with Jesus but were "asleep" to the idea that he would be gone soon. They failed to understand that God would even die!
     You will die a mortal death. Even God did that! Because God was resurrected, you can be too. Now is the day of salvation (2 Cor 6:2) not because you will be saved today but that you can be born-again to be saved when the Devil is destroyed.  That must be done now because tomorrow may never come, at least for you or me!
     Those who have steadfast faith and serve God willingly have the assurance of salvation. Regeneration is as if time has been compressed and the day of our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.

Unprincipled

     Those with high principles stand up for their beliefs. Unprincipled people have beliefs but fail to stand up for them. Like it or not, those who protest and use mob violence are highly principled people. Of course, the tactics they use to "convince" are unconvincing because of hatred, foul language, intimidation, and violence. On the other hand, few Christians have as strong principles as the nearly insane zealots we see on the news.
     God picked at least one zealot. Take a moment to guess which apostle was the zealot. I hope that you said Paul. Before he converted, Paul was Saul the zealot who chased down and killed Christians because his beliefs were so strong that he just had to support his beliefs (Acts 7). Paul was out there: he made the news because we read about him to this day! Paul, as Saul, was principled. Upon his conversion, Saul was renamed Paul because he was humbled. The zealotry in him remained but his zealous methods changed. He went from advocating violence to advocating love.
     Jesus chose Saul because he was a man of principles. Jesus used Saul's zealously for Paul's enthusiasm. Indeed, enthusiasm is the trait of highly principled people. How many Christians do you know who are enthusiastic enough to defend Jesus and the Law of God? Every January there is a life chain in support of pro-life. It lasts one hour but yet few Christians are principled enough to stand for life, even for one hour!
     Jesus told the apostles that he was about to die. He went to the Mount of Olives to pray:

And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him. And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation. And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow, And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. (Luke 22:39-46).

     When Jesus was in agony for mankind, what did the apostles do? They went to sleep! When Christianity is in peril, what do Christians do? They go to sleep!
     The army of Satan never sleeps. They constantly stand up for their "principles". Yes, the children of the Devil are principled and devoted to him. They hit the streets for his causes all the time: racial division, abortion, homosexuality, sexuality, and aberrations of all sorts. Of course, most do not know what they do but are devoted to their behind the scenes leader. Presently, George Soros is the mind behind it all, and most in the mob don't even know who he is or his power. However, he is not the only one because if anyone is for Christ, they are not against him (Luke 9:50).  The flip-side of that is those who are nor for him are against him. Most people are against God, and zealously against Him!
     It stands to reason that since we see little of Christians, they are apathetic to the extent of unprincipledness. For instance, Hollywood is against Christianity and us. Most Christians still go to movies without regard to the actors, message, language, and visual temptations. Christians are to be set apart from the world but because they do not have the moral code of Christ, they do as they wish. Christians are unprincipled for the most part because in wrong places they are there and right places they are not!
     Millions will die spiritually. Christians should be abhorred. They are not. They go about their daily lives as if the world is all okay. It is not! They are not even principled enough to protect life! Christians, in mass, should be hitting the streets, using our corporate voices to testify to the truth that all life is precious. Christians don't care enough for life to protect it, and they don't care enough about eternal death to prevent it! We as a group stand idly by even watching our own children go to Hell!
     Principled people are not afraid of truth. They care little what the world thinks but cherish what God wills. God's will is that none should perish. That is intended to be our will as well. Christians aren't principled enough to do God's will. Christians have turned their children over to the world. That is unprincipled. Rather that raising children according to God, they are educated by the entertainment industry and educators whose motivation is to remold young minds. The educational system teaches their principles to our children and scream like cry-babies when even one principled Christian objects!
    We have the world telling us that God is too weak, or non-existent to create, while Christians stand by and allow that. They have been easily molded themselves, thus allowing their children to be molded in the image the world demands. Christians don't demand anything but allow the world not only to demand, but obtain whatever they desire. Don't you think the world is more principled than most Christians? I do.
    Christians are to go unto the world and tell them about Jesus. That is the Great Commission and our job assignment. Rather than that, we allow the world to come unto the Church and deny God. Unprincipled Christians even applaud those who bring homosexuality and transgenderism into the Church. God help us! We know what they do and yet still allow it!
     Christians are so unprincipled that they still buy the products of those who hate us and God. God cries for our foolishness. Peter denied God thrice. Christians of today deny God continually. Peter died on an upside down cross so as not to be irreverent of Jesus. Christians cannot even hold God's Name in reverence. They think, the Law no longer applies! The Pharisees at least had principles. They kept the Law of God although they thought it efficacious. Today's Christians are not even interested in the Law although that's how we are to show God our love. We are pitifully unprincipled people yet God still loves us. How gracious can God be, and how foolish are we going to get?
   

Shiny Objects

     Admittedly, I may be watching too much television. However, I do spend about two hours each day with Bible study and commentary. I really don't care that much for T.V. but I do want to spend time with my family. I do find some of the "entertainment" entertaining but more of it borrriiinnnngg.
     Most people go stark-raving crazy over contemporary music. At best, I find some of it mildly entertaining but much of it pathetic. For instance, when I watch kids or young adults dancing in hip-hop fashion, I think of all the time it takes to learn and do that. Surely they are skillful at fancy moves. I also question whether using that much time to dance is efficacious. How many hip-hop dancers make it to fame? I would think not many. Being an engineer, I continue to ruminate: What could they have been if they had put that much effort into a productive vocation? In short, I think the typical young person puts too much emphasis on their "artistic" abilities. (That is in quotes because it doesn't seem to artful to me. Why not? Because I don't enjoy the rap nor the moves.)
    Not to pick oon rap, I have the same notions about many things. I enjoy good sleight of hand. However, if the typical teenager spent all his time on magic tricks, there is a great chance that he or she would not excel and could end up without a profession.
     One of my young students in Sunday school said that he was going to be a professional football player. Was that a reasonable goal? No. He wasn't even going to go to college. Not many recruiters select their star players from dirty sofas! Unless he was willing to give up a career, he would never be a professional football player. Time indicates he wasn't motivated to do much of anything!
     Why all these words about entertainment? I believe that almost everyone places too much emphasis on entertainers and entertainment. The amount of entertainment available today is excessive to the extent that people forget their priorities. Their attention is on the "shiny objects" of which entertainment is the shiniest!
     Last evening I watched a rock group perform. Their act was at best mediocre but their set and flashing lights were overwhelming. Because the audience saw the shiny objects they missed the lackluster performance. With all the bells and whistles, this mediocre group received a standing ovation, screaming cheers, and adulation. The crowd was hypnotized with the shiny objects. Some technician made ordinary men as gods. The crowd roared approval and praise as if these ordinary men were gods. People, even Christians, don't do that at church although many do at concerts. They see the shiny objects in deference to reality.
    God is reality. He is without Name because he doesn't need one except in special circumstances. God is Existence. There are no bells or whistles or shiny objects. God is what He claims to be: Creator, Miracle-worker, Savior, and Comforter. In the quiet of one's mind, God reveals Himself as He is. If people accept the death of the God of Truth as justification for their own sins, they are born-again. That's straightforward and non-enhanced. Eternal life should be a time for elation but we hear little adulation when it happens. For a short time some are adoring. Satan squelches that by taking peoples' eyes off Jesus and onto other things. Satan provides all types of shiny objects, the most effective which is entertainment. While people are entertained, the Titanic is so slowly sinks that no one is aware until it's too late!
     The world is the "Titanic". It is sinking, and as people are entertained, the world is heading toward destruction. That's Bible (Rev 21). Of course, some entertainment is fine as long as it's clean and not disrespectful to the Law of God. What that means is that Christians must be peculiar people. We must select our entertainment using God's Word. What would God think about the entertainer, the entertainment, and the amount of time and importance one places on entertainment?
     Admittedly, I like the sleight of hand and quick-change acts. I admire them for their talents. However, I merely enjoy the acts; I do not adore nor idolize the performers. I can appreciate their skills but I like to think, they poop too! They are not gods and I waste my time if I adore them when I could be adoring God. I can, with little effort, turn off the television at any time. I am not devoted to entertainment although I do enjoy some entertainment. Being a Christian does not mean being a fruit-cake but good stewards of our time. Each second is given to men by God's grace and He expects people to tithe of their time.
     We should make time for God but shiny objects always interfere. Scripture confirms: people do what they want to do! People have lusts of the eyes, lust of the flesh, and the pride of life (1 John 2:16). Those desires are the "shiny objects" which hypnotize people. I say aloud, "Great shot!" at basketball games. Do I say that in church for Jesus? On occasion I do say great shot when I say Amen! If we get excited in the world we should be excited more to be not of the world. Others consider me boring but I'm just short of the brown side of the sod. God is so much important to me than are the shiny objects because He is the Light of Life! My eyes are focused on Him but Satan keeps trying to dim God's Light. He uses shiny objects to do that and pleasure is his foremost tool. I refuse to fall for his hypnotic suggestions or even look too long at his shiny objects. That indeed is peculiar, but peculiar people are not to look at shiny objects to long.

Does Love Mean Acceptance?

     As I watch Angel City Chorale on America's Got Talent, it makes me wonder: Don't those people understand God? The choir director, Sue Finch, explained their acceptance of everyone: "Take a look around our choir: We are old and young, gay and straight, rich and poor, a mix of ethnicities. We have Republicans sitting next to Democrats, atheists next to ministers, immigrants and native-born, skilled musicians and neophytes."
     That attitude sounds ameliorating. Indeed we are to love everyone. On the other hand love does not mean acceptance. For instance, ministers sitting next to atheists without a desire to convert them, is not God's idea of love. God so loved the world that he wanted that none should perish. If those ministers are sitting there next to atheists without converting them, they have not love. If straight people sit next to homosexuals, who are far from "gay" by the way, they are condoning sin unless they tell them about eternal punishment.
     The quote by Ms. Finch above does not transmit the emotion she emitted on AGT. Her comment was inclined toward belittling Republicans when she said that. It was as if Republicans normally would not fit in with this group because many are evangelicals. Indeed, most would not because diversity of lifestyles is not the Way of God. Although Scripture teaches unity, it is unity under Christ. To unify in any other way is certainly not angelic but more demonic. Of course, in typical fashion what Ms. Finch said sounds right but is it?

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? (2 Cor 6:14 KJV)

     Ms. Finch was bragging about the yoke between righteousness and unrighteousness when she commented about ministers and atheists and abnormal and normal people.  Her lovingkindness is noble but for her own cause.

Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals." (1 Cor 15:33 ESV)

I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. (1 Cor 5:11 ESV)

     I am the messenger. Ms. Finch may label me a "hater". I am not; I so love them that I do not want them to perish. Acceptance is more than accepting behaviors and false beliefs. It is accepting that those persons perish forever! I refuse to accept that.
     Some will respond that Jesus ate with sinners. He did (Luke 15:2). We must look at why he ate with sinners? Do you suppose it was to harmonize under their director? Jesus explained with a parable and made his point:

Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost  Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. (Luke 15:6-7).

     Why did Jesus eat with sinners? Because he loved them so that he wanted that none should perish. He didn't eat with them in acceptance of their sin but in spite of their sins. He wasn't condoning sin but providing a way out of it! What do you suppose Jesus was saying when he was eating with sinners? Was it: Your own lifestyle is your own business. Or was it: Your unbelief is okay. I'm okay... you're okay.
     My bet is that Jesus was convicting them that they were sinners and needed his salvation. That is the good and only reason to unite with sinners. Of course, those who did not repent, Jesus still loved them but it was under his terms, not theirs. His will was that they become new creatures - righteous ones. That entails change. Those who continue in their sins are rebellious. That's what sin is all about: people doing their own will, and not God's.
     My wish is that those ministers sitting next to atheists would reprove those atheists. My wish is that those "straight" people tell others they aren't really "gay" but could be joyful. My wish is that the Republicans would tell the Democrats that taking innocent life is not God's will; that murder is hatred. My wish is that immigrants of other faiths accept the true faith. My wish that those of different ethnicities all become peculiar people of faith. My wish is that skilled musicians play their songs for God. My wish is that neophytes become theists who know God inside and out! Is that hatred? It certainly is to the world. Scripture is all about hating sin and loving the sinner. If anyone teaches otherwise, it is a different doctrine they teach!

Memories of 9/11

     Many of us have memories of that awful day. It was a time when our world changed - all of ours. I have a young friend who was born on 9/11/2001. Her life will be forever changed, and I'm sure it will always affect the celebration of her birthday.
     I have my own memories of that day which I will soon share. However, it struck me just a moment ago, I wish others would share their memories! With that thought, I now provide a forum for doing just that.
     If I have enough participation, my plan is to write a book called appropriately Memories of Nine-Eleven. However, I won't be the author; you will be! In the comments section below, write your memories of that day. Don't worry about punctuation or correct grammar. I will mildly edit if it is required, but the goal is to have your memories the way in which you wish to express them.
     By commenting, you are giving permission for publication. You will be an author! You may elect to tell how 9/11 has changed your life, the lives of those you know, or even American life in general. As an example, here is my story:

     My name is Larry Herrin, I lived in Bowling Green Kentucky on 9/11/01. I was 51 years old when it happened.     

     I was at work at the Bowling Green Corvette Plant. It was just another routine day. My problem-solver, Michael Burton, approached me in the uniframe area and said, "There has been a bombing in New York City. It's on TV." I casually walked toward the Cartrac area of the body shop to watch on the television there. As we watched, a second airplane, not a bombing, tore at the second twin tower. In utter disbelief, because this is America, and our attitude was that this cannot happen in America, changed at that moment! Reality hit us.  

      Michael asked, "Larry, how are they going to get out?" Michael seemed to look at me for answers because Americans always get out! I answered solemnly, "Michael, they are not getting out." Michael's face revealed his thoughts. It suddenly hit him that thousands of people would die in that inferno. We all changed that day; no longer was America safe from harm. It took time for that change to soak in, but since that hour, life has changed for all of us. 

      Never before had I thought about even owning one, but I now carry a concealed weapon. My hope is to never fire my gun at another person, but with the new world, I must be prepared.

     Note the format. (1) Who you are and who those around you were,  (2) your experience and reaction, and (3) what has changed about the way you think or live.

     Now it's your time to share. People want to hear your story. People in the next generations can never compare the life before America's personality changed. It can be lengthy or short. It's your experience and emotions; you can write them. Please comment below. (Oh, one more thing: PLEASE SHARE THIS by using the social media icons below.)

Dispositions

      I first met my three-month old great-grandson a few weeks ago. He smiled broadly at me. I thought I was special but my granddaughter said that he smiles at everyone. That young man has a positive disposition! He will go a long way in life provided that drugs never hamper that trait.
     Others are often inclined toward negativity or may have mood swings. "Dispositions" are moods or how people are predisposed to behave. My little Samuel was predisposed toward joviality. He will be a joy to be around! People avoid those negatively predisposed because they have a tendency to induce stress in those surrounding them. The serenity prayer was written because people have bad dispositions.
     Dispositions are defense mechanisms. Some have no reason to defend themselves, feeling quite comfortable with their knowledge, wisdom, and existence. People who feel inferior have a need to defend their perceived inadequacies by intimidation. The tactics of those defense mechanisms manifest themselves as negative dispositions. How does a balanced individual appear? Having mercifulness, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering, forbearance, and forgiving of  one another (Col 3:12-13). Not only are meek people normal in the sense God designed them that way, but those characteristics or temperaments are also spiritual dispositions! They are how God desires His children to behave.
     Those who have negative dispositions are attacking, mean, proud, haughty, and quick to be argumentative. They can't handle different ideas and are intolerant. Of course, people with negative dispositions aren't always that way. They have a false pretense of lovingkindness with those they wish to befriend, but are mean-spirited to those who are an intimidation to them.
     Just yesterday, I sought to make a trade with a stranger. His defense mechanism was to promote himself and what he had, and belittle me. That was not a great bargaining tool because immediately I lost the desire to make the trade with him. His negative disposition alienated me. I wished to escape, and since it was an online transaction, I escaped quickly but not as fast as I should!
     I gave the man too much opportunity to show his disposition. I did not flee fast enough. In his third sentence he called me an idiot. Name-calling is a handy defense anyone has in trying to win an argument. He was not forbearing, and was prideful. He seemed to hate me without ever knowing me. He was predisposed toward hatred because I was a threat to his "god" which is himself. Thus, world's collided. The collision made me angry. Without ever meeting the man, I disliked him. That is not a good feeling for a Christian. I do not enjoy conflict; it is of the Devil. Conflict is the way iniquitous people express hatred.
     When people are negative toward those they "love", they are expressing some degree of hatred or at least resentment. My response to negative attitudes is to seek shelter. Being a Christian, I would rather not defend myself in things of little consequence, so I isolate myself from the source of stress. That reaction is forbearance. My love for the other person is such that I forbear their shortcomings.
     Sheltering oneself from a person on the attack is hard work. It is an act of love, and indeed, love is hard work! Our nature, with the exception of little Samuel (smile), is to have little forbearance for one another. Think on that: God forbears us but we seem to not be able to forbear others. People "shoot" others with the fiery darts from their negative dispositions. Negative dispositions are the quiver for our fiery darts. People just grab the "darts" and hurl them without realizing whose will they are doing!
     Th Devil uses peoples' flesh in his war. I call that flesh "our worlds" which contain our flesh and the things which appease our flesh. People protect their worlds in different manners. Those with inadequate defense mechanisms use negative tactics. Those who are secure use lovingkindness. How does that work?

Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. (Rom 12:19-21).

     The method Christians are to use against other "worlds" is to love them! The nature of real Christians is lovingkindness which are positive dispositions. Shooting fiery darts of vengeance to protect our little, maybe false, worlds is not Christ's Way but Satan's. We are to kill those who attack us with kindness. Last night I sought revenge. I defended the insult with another insult. Christians can't feel good when they shoot fiery darts back. That's not the nature of God's children!
     What am I to do? I feel badly. That is a start. However, Christians have a responsibility to change. I have a "Christian" acquaintance whose nickname is Grumpy. I avoid him at all costs. I have tried humoring his little "god" but to no avail. No Christian should ever have a grumpy disposition. He needs to do something for three reasons: (1) to please God, (2) to avoid alienating other people, and (3) to improve his own confidence. Note that one is for him and two are for others, but when Christians walk the Way of Jesus, they gain!

See What I See

     What persuades me of truth is the internal consistency of Holy Scripture. God showed the prophets of old what would happen to Jesus. Even more astounding is that God showed the prophets what would happen on the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord. I am speaking of the apocalypse. John saw the earth destroyed at the end of time (Rev 21). Isaiah, eight-hundred years before, saw the same vision which John saw. Furthermore, Peter wrote of that day long before John:

Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:  But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. (2 Pet 3:3-7)

     I shall be saved before that time comes! What am I saved from? Not only Hell but that Terrible Day! The day the earth is baptized by fire is when the meek shall inherit the earth (Psalm 37:11; Mat 5:5). Be clear: meek men don't scoff at God! Meek men don't walk after their own lusts. Regeneration (born-again) should introduce a meek man to a scoffing world. As loving others is hard work, humbling oneself is as well. The knowledge of the end-of-days is humbling.
     Those who have not already will be begging for mercy: every knee shall bow to God - the kings of the nations included (Isa 45:23; Rom 14:11; Phil 2:10). You see, Paul knew about the end of days as well when he wrote what Isaiah saw. Thanks to Isaiah, Paul, Peter, and John; I see what they saw. They all provided me the same glimpse of that Terrible Day.
     I learned one specific and crucial thing early on: I don't want that terrible day before Christ comes for his one-thousand-years reign, and I neither do I want it for eternity. The fear of the Lord is essential, albeit it does not fit well with positive Christianity. Apparently some televangelists who preach the prosperity gospel have not seen what they saw, and have not seen what I see!
     Now, if you have been wise and read Revelation 21 and what Peter wrote, you will take the time to read the lengthy dissertation on what Isaiah saw. To reduce your reading, I have removed the positive things which happen to righteous people, but left in the broad path to destruction:

1 Behold, the Lord maketh the earth empty, and maketh it waste, and turneth it upside down, and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof. 

2 And it shall be, as with the people, so with the priest; as with the servant, so with his master; as with the maid, so with her mistress; as with the buyer, so with the seller; as with the lender, so with the borrower; as with the taker of usury, so with the giver of usury to him.

3 The land shall be utterly emptied, and utterly spoiled: for the Lord hath spoken this word.

4 The earth mourneth and fadeth away, the world languisheth and fadeth away, the haughty people of the earth do languish.

5 The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant.

6 Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left.

12 In the city is left desolation, and the gate is smitten with destruction.

13 When thus it shall be in the midst of the land among the people, there shall be as the shaking of an olive tree, and as the gleaning grapes when the vintage is done.

18 And it shall come to pass, that he who fleeth from the noise of the fear shall fall into the pit; and he that cometh up out of the midst of the pit shall be taken in the snare: for the windows from on high are open, and the foundations of the earth do shake.

19 The earth is utterly broken down, the earth is clean dissolved, the earth is moved exceedingly.

20 The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it; and it shall fall, and not rise again.

21 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall punish the host of the high ones that are on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth.

22 And they shall be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison, and after many days shall they be visited.

23 Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the Lord of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously. (Isa 24)  

     If I was there, it would be a great day for me in spite of the terrible day for most. However, I have planned well: I won't be there! Likely, I will have died, been brought out of my grave, and my body glorified as I take on new flesh! That will be my Great Day!
     That is what salvation is all about - refusing to have a Terrible Day! I believe in Hell. Mankind will get a taste of Hell on earth in the final days but it won't be Hell. The fear of Hell will humble everyone, even the rulers of the nations. Their pride on that day will dissipate. Fear will encompass them as they finally come to realize, although too late, that they will indeed die just as the Serpent forewarned!
     Mankind all love themselves since nobody hates their own flesh, and because of that, all mankind seeks to preserve their bodies forever (Ephes 5:2). I am no different: I turned to Jesus because I can't save me! My weakness is humbling. Because I am meek, the earth on this day, if I was alive, would be mine. Since not, Heaven will be!
     People are "as gods" (Gen 3:5) as the Serpent taunted Adam and Eve with the new knowledge from God. As assumed gods, all men desire that they never perish. The purpose of the life of Jesus was that he, not us, fulfill our heart's desire. So that we not perish God perished for mankind because He loves us so (John 3:16)! With a bit of irony, our gods can't save us but the One True God can. That's why God came in the Flesh: to save our wretched bodies and our souls with it. Salvation is discarding the old flesh and putting on new incorruptible flesh - glorification. Those who are born-again have the hope to be like God!
     Isaiah, Peter, Paul, and John were a great part of the foundation of the Church which was built in reference to Jesus Christ - the Cornerstone or Datum for building the Church. The Church will someday be glorified and inhabitants of New Jerusalem. I want to be there, and anyone but a fool should as well! Isaiah saw the precursor to Heaven. He saw the people, as Noah did, in anguish and despair, yet that is just a small dose of what Hell will be like! Coming to realize that no one can save themselves from this peril but God can is when people are born-again. Jesus said you must be (John 3:7)!