*I’m sharing this for two reasons. First, to give you ideas of ways you may reach out to your neighbors, but secondly to remind you of how important it is to know we’re right with the Lord. Blessings, Ed 😊
Dear Neighbor,
Do you think anyone boarding the Titanic had a clue it would sink, that it would be the last day of more than half their lives? The ship had only 20 lifeboats with a capacity of 1,178 people for the more than 2,200 on board. At the time the ship sank, they had only lowered 18 of the 20 lifeboats, many of which weren’t even filled to capacity. We’re saddened that so many had to lose their lives in such a senseless way, yet every day we leave our houses to go who knows where, without a thought that it could well be our last day on earth.
Our sadness is compounded by the fact they didn’t need to die! On the night before the Titanic sailed, the SS Mesaba radioed the Titanic describing “much heavy pack ice and great number large icebergs also field ice” directly in Titanic’s path. The message was confirmed received by wireless operator Jack Phillips, but he was too busy with other things to pass it on to the officers on the bridge. How like us to busy ourselves with trivial things and ignore eternity.
For those waiting to know if their loved ones lived or died, there were only two categories of people: LOST and FOUND! Not rich or poor, nice or mean, woman or man, boy or girl, crew or passenger. None of that mattered. All that mattered was they were either alive or dead. One day that’s all that’s going to matter for me and you!
We’re all going to stand before a holy God who will judge us, not based on whether we’re good or bad, nice or unkind, male for female, rich or poor, religious or non-religious, irrespective of our nationality, race, color, or creed, we’ll be judged based on only one thing: What did we do with Jesus, who is God’s only provision for overcoming sin, death, hell, and the grave and giving us a home in heaven? Did we receive Him or ignore His grace? That’s the issue.
Pastor Rick Warren wrote: “You were made by God and for God and until you understand that, life will never make sense.” You may not believe in God, or think He’s a tyrant and out to get you, or any range of notions, but here’s the truth: Jesus is a real person whose identity can be verified through non-Biblical sources, who lived and died a tortuous death at the hands of the Romans who thought they were doing the world a favor by killing Him, but they were actually helping to fulfill one of many Biblical prophecies that outlined all that happened on that fateful day hundreds of years before it occurred. His death on the Cross paid the penalty for sin and allows for our forgiveness.
The Romans, and many today, misjudged who Jesus was…AND IS! He’s the Lord of Creation who didn’t succumb to death but rose from the dead on the third day to overcome sin, death and the grave for us. He was seen after His Resurrection by more than 500 people and His resurrected life is the only answer for us to be able to survive life on this planet and live forever in heaven with Him. He paid the penalty for our sin, standing ready to forgive us if we ask.
Imagine you were one of those floating in that freezing water on that fateful night in April 1912 and someone reached out a hand and said: “Grab hold!” Would you question their integrity, nationality, motive, or anything else! Of course not, you’d grab that hand like your life depended on it, because it would, and you’d fight for all you’re worth to get safely out of that water. It’s not our religion or our good behavior that saves us, only the blood of Jesus shed for us.
Jesus is extending to you His hand and inviting you into eternal life with Him in heaven that you or I don’t deserve or have the capacity to understand how good it is. You can question His motives, why He’d even offer you a place in heaven after how you’ve lived your life, but here’s the truth – His only motive is love! He created you, has known you since before you were a twinkle in your daddy’s eye, and He has plans for you that are good, enjoyable, and satisfying beyond the world’s ability to explain or understand, but you need to place your trust in Him and believe Him.
All you have to do is say “yes”, grab His hand by faith and allow Him to walk with you through the rest of your life and into the next. My name is Ed, I’m your neighbor and I’ve walked with the Lord for more than 60 years. I will guide you based on the authority of the Bible, God’s Word, and will seek to answer your questions as best I can. Faith isn’t “blind”, quite to the contrary, it’s informed, intelligent and very credible when we understand the predicament we’re in and what’s going to happen when we die. Our choice is simple: our way or His; life or death. Please choose life!
Please don’t blindly walk to your death like those folks who boarded the Titanic, believing they would safely arrive at their port. For human beings, because we’re eternal beings, we have a choice of destinations – heaven or hell, but the choice must be made before our eyes close in death. Please let me help you know for sure your sins are forgiven and your eternal home is heaven. You’ll be eternally grateful you did. I have no agenda but to see you in heaven with me.
Blessings, Ed (I included my phone number) Text or call me today and let’s get this settled while there’s still time.
Walking With Jesus 