One day, while sitting in one of the front row seats of the train making its way along its track, I observed how the railway would appear to rush at me, and yet at the distance, there seemed to be no end to the track. It seemed to be like one of those screensavers of stars rushing past by you at warp speed.
As I watched, I understood my life to be as the train rushing along the rail of my life. From all perceptions, life does seem to be endless whether one is happy or sad. When one is happy, he wants that moment to never end; we want the train to slow down to prolong the happiness. But when one is sad, his sadness seems to take forever and would not end, and he’s like the train to speed up and leave that point of pain or despondence. Unfortunately, we have no control over the train’s speed. It slows down and speeds up at the the opposite moments! Because of these incongruous episodes, many people have been led to believe that life is unfair. But they are really meaning to say that God is unfair – they just don’t want to sound irreligious. Of course God hears the softest utterance of our hearts. Our problem is that we can’t see the purpose in all that. This is why we grumble and complain. Many Christians even think that God is against them, or wants to harm them. Nothing is farther from the truth because He is a good God. How do I know that? Taking a few things from the Old Testament, we find the following:
- He made all things and described them as “good” (Genesis 1:25). After He made man, He looked at the whole of creation and declared everything as “very good” (Genesis 1:31). One might object saying such words are also uttered by evil men reviewing their scheme of robbing a bank and convinced that they will be successful. That is not the case with God because in Genesis 2:9 He makes provisions for food to sustain the life of man. Not only that, God even provided man a wife in Genesis 2:18 because it is not good for man to be alone.
- He orchestrates events so they result to good. The life of Joseph is a perfect example of this. He was hated by his brothers, nearly murdered by them, but eventually sold as a slave in Egypt. His life would have turned for the better except that his master’s wife accused him of attempted rape which landed him in jail. But God was still with Joseph in all this, and in an amazing turn of events he was freed from jail and became the second most important person in the land next to Pharaoh. When he eventually met his brothers, they were terrified of him, but instead of avenging his hurt on them, he forgave them and this is what we read in Genesis 50:19-21, “And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God? But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.”
- He gave Israel statutes for their good. This is what we see in Deuteronomy 6:24, “And the LORD commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as it is at this day.” Any nation without rules is a chaotic people. It is to each his own, and rulership belongs to the mighty. Yet such rulership is always under contest by whosoever things is strong enough to defeat the current ruler. Life in such a nation is one that is characterized by unending fear and suspicion. So God’s rulership is good. His statutes have become the standard of many nations to this day as can be gleaned from their laws. Whether they be Christian or heathen nations whatever good law they have will have some basis from the Bible.
Back to our train ride.
Eventually, every passenger on that train will get off at their desired station. And just like life, everyone bids goodbye to his existence at some point. The only difference being that some go suddenly, some after a long time. On the metro, you know exactly where you need to get off. But in life, your disembarkation point is an unknown. In the metro, as your stop approaches, you are informed what station is coming up next, signaling you to prepare to get off the train and to not forget to take with you your belongings. In life, there is no signal, and there is nothing to take with you.
“And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.” (Job 1:21)
The apostle Paul echoes this same thought, saying, “For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.” (1Timothy 6:7)
In the metro, once you get off the train, you know where to go. In life, once your spirit leaves your body, you have no control over where you will go! *THAT* is a frightful experience, don’t you think? Your eyes are wide open and you are aware you are moving somewhere, you can struggle all you like, but you can’t stop it! Not unless you’ve prepared yourself for this eventuality.
“There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath he power in the day of death:…” (Ecclesiastes 8:8)
“Every human being is appointed to die once, and then to face God’s judgment.” So says the writer of Hebrews 9:27.
“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep His commandments. For this is the whole man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, concerning every secret thing, whether it is good, or whether it is evil.” Said Solomon in Ecclesiastes 12:13-14.
Reader, do you know how to prepare for disembarking from Earth?
Let me help you with that. According to the Bible there are only three things you need to do right now:
- Admit that you are a sinner because you are. Even if all the sins you’ve committed were petty theft, small white lies, secret lustful ogles at those of the opposite sex, that makes you a thieving, liar, and adulterer according to the Bible. You need God’s forgiveness;
- Believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God Who came to earth to die on behalf of the sins of humanity. He rose again the third day to prove that He is Who He claimed to be, and He will return again to take all those who believe Him to heaven. He paid the penalty for YOUR SINS.
- Confess Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Call out to Him, asking for His forgiveness, and receive Him into your heart so He can rule and reign in your life. “For all who call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13)
In the metro, after you get off, you know what you will do. In life, only those who are ready know what they will be doing. “Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:” (Matthew 25:34)
God sent Jesus to earth on a rescue mission! That’s what it says in John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
All who turn to God in humble repentance, coming back to The Creator and ask for forgiveness, believing that Jesus Christ is the Son of God who gave His life on the cross as payment for sin, Who rose again the third day, ascended to heaven and is coming back to take all His believers with Him to heaven, you can receive forgiveness for your sins and be restored into a relationship with God!
All you need to do is repent, ask Him to forgive you, and entrust your present and future to Jesus Christ. If you are sincere, the Bible says you are SAVED and made as new again! “that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, “WHOEVER BELIEVES ON HIM WILL NOT BE PUT TO SHAME.” (Romans 10:9-11). That “whoever” includes you, my friend!
You can stop being ashamed of what you’ve made out of your life. Guilt does not have to haunt you until your dying day. Accept the offer from Jesus and the receipt His Gift of eternal life today. Hurry! This offer is good only until the day of Jesus’ return!
If you’ve made a decision to believe in Jesus, let me know! I wish to help you grow in your new faith in the God of the Bible Whose promises never fail.
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Until then, God bless you!
Musings of Anax Jos 