Most of us never imagine our nation will ever become like Germany did under the Nazi rule. I sincerely hope our nation never becomes like that ...but, though it is hard to imagine, it must have been hard to imagine for those in Germany during that time also. And that's the thing I don't like about history ...it repeats itself.

That also brings us to the part about history that fascinates me ...it doesn't have to repeat itself, if we learn from it. And we learn from it by reading it and studying it from that perspective.

There are also times that something new happens ...and that something new could be either something good, or something horrible.

At times, it is something good for some, and something horrible for others.  I typically do not like to have something good at the expense of others ...and I am especially against anything that is horrific to others.

No, I'm not going to mention abortion here ...because I feel it is not good for anyone, even if it may seem beneficial in some respects to those involved at the time.

What I'm talking about is the 'Rapture'.

Whether or not you believe in the rapture, the timing of it, or not at all ...perhaps you just believe in 'End Times' and the judgment.  Or the Book of Revelations, Chapter 21, "...for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea ...the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven ..."  However we visualize it, there is a moment in the future, some believing the near future, where things as we see them today, will be over.

What do I mean by over?  The struggle between good and evil will be over.

Who will go to heaven?  Everyone?  Or do we say only the worst don't go, and who defines the worse?  Some people admire those whom I think would be on the worst list ...and I am so glad that I have nothing to do with the list ...as in, listed in the Book of Life.

Like I said, some things that are good for us ...may be considered horrific to others.  Some of us would say the torturing of Jesus, culminating with His death on the cross ...was horrific.

Who believes in Hell, and who goes there?

Why would Jesus come to earth as man, to go through a horrific death ...if there was no Hell.  What would He be saving us from?

I often look at myself and others desperately trying to tread water in shark infested waters.  If an ocean vessel came by and dropped a rope to save me, I would not say, "Okay, we can go now!"

I would see the other people who need saving, and want them to be rescued also.

The problem is, many people don't believe they are drowning in their sin, and they don't think they need saving. So, again I ask, why then did Jesus leave the comforts of Heaven to come here to die on the cross?

And some say, that Jesus had to die for our sins ...and it has nothing to do with us.  That is somewhat true, in a matter of speaking, but why then did God send an angel to warn Joseph. If Joseph and Mary had not been warned, Jesus would have likely died in Bethlehem before He reached the age of two ...and if only His death is required, then wouldn't that have sufficed?

Or is something also required of us?

I would say there is.  Not much, mind you, but I believe we are required to believe.

But, the Bible says that even the demons believe --- and tremble!


Now, whether people believe the demons are fallen angels or not, it seems that they both have made a decision that has eternal consequences.

I believe that we too have a decision to make ...but our decision seems to grant us much more grace and many more chances.

I believe this to be true because the angels saw God for who He is ...and made their choice.  On the other hand, we have the 'deceivers' giving us a mass of confusion ...and though we have our lifetime to attempt to sort it out, it is not always easy.

It is simple, but not always easy.  At times, complex seems more intriguing and often convincing.

In Winnie the Pooh, a Heffalump is mentioned ...and immediately elicits fear and concern.  The question is asked, "What's a Heffalump?"  And of course, what do they look like and what do they do?

Similarly, when we hear of Jesus, we would ask who He is. And we would ask what He did, and perhaps want to know why. It would be difficult to tell people about Jesus without knowing anything about Him, or repeating things that are inaccurate.

Only saying the Name of Jesus, without representing who He is ...can be seen in the 19th Chapter of the Book of Acts.  "And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are you?"  The men who mentioned the name of Jesus were then beaten by them whom they feared had been overcome by evil spirits.

Jesus said, "Not everyone that says unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of My Father which is in heaven."  Then a couple verses later, "I never knew you."

The next question seems evident.  What about the people in the Old Testament?  The people that lived during the time that Jesus walked the earth may have known Him, and through the testimony of those we read about in the Bible, we can know Him ...but, what about before Jesus came to earth?

The New Testament talks about those in the Old Testament who were righteous.  That certainly does not mean self-righteous, nor does it mean those who think that 'works' need to be achieved.  Those mentioned were sinners too ...but, though they did not often do what was right, they followed He who was righteous.

Jesus spoke of a man who was in hell and lifted up his eyes, being in torments ...asking for one who'd died, but was not in hell, that he could go to his father's house to testify to his five brethren, so they too would not end up in hell.  He pleaded, saying that if one of them from the dead could go to testify, they would repent.  But it was told unto him, "If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rose from the dead."

Now, we have Jesus, who rose from the dead ...who died for our sins, who is the Righteous One we can read about.  He is considered ...The Word.  We can embrace our Bible, as we read about what God has to share with us.  We can believe, and have His Holy spirit indwell us.  Yes, what more could be offered us?

Yet, there is so much we choose not to believe.

Some people suffer an agonizing death from cancer.  Some people die of a heart attack.  Some people die a slow, painful death from a combat wound while defending our country.

Some people die from a volcanic eruption.  Some die from a hurricane. Many drowned during Noah's time.  Many died in a fire during Abraham's time.  There are many agonizing deaths.

Yet, if a thousand people die at once ...or only one person dies per day, for a thousand days ---death is death.  But, eternal death is the most agonizing.

Eternal life is the most amazing!!