Friday, December 05, 2008

The Great Divide

"If thou wilt be perfect, sell all that thou hast".
At these words the world turns away "sorrowful, for it is very rich; rich in money which it cannot keep; rich in fears which it cannot let go; rich in selfish loves to which it greedily clings; rich in seeking enjoyment; rich in pain and sorrow; rich in strife and suffering; rich in excitement and woe; rich in all things which are not riches, but poor in riches themselves which are not to be found outside the Kingdom; rich in all things that pertain to darkness and death, but poor in those things which are Light and Life."

starting over is NEVER easy. I think a lot of people are willing to sacrifice a lot of things to hang on to what they have or who they are. Why believe that what you posses is so important that you can't sell it all, or give it all away, and make a change.

WHAT IS IT WORTH?


There's a dividing line between life and death, between light and dark, between good and evil, and between God and the devil. And there's NO THING in this earth that you can cling to to save you from the drop off of that edge. There's no possession, no personality.
Don't be afraid to look beyond the horizon. Don't cling so tightly to the dust.

There is life beyond that edge. There is a new beginning, an arrival, a triumph. Something this world doesn't offer to us. There is peace, and joy, and love, and all of it beyond measure. And there is but one decision that can lead you there. And that is how simple it truly is. The God that loves us doesn't ask us to give up anything, and all He desires as a trade is your guilt, your shame, your sorrow, your burdens. I think a lot of people don't get that...a lot of people try to make it harder. Or try to make God some kind of ancient painting that hangs in a museum too far off to understand us. And too pristine to be touched by us. Too good for us to look upon.

One thought that keeps resounding in my head the last week is "God is not the author of death, but the perfecter of Life". As my friend left the troubles of this earth, he arrived at the feet of a life that we cannot begin to imagine. God never intended death to enter the world, death entered through sin, OUR free will chose death. He made a way for us to enter into the gates of eternity. eternal LIFE. A free gift. A God of love that we cannot begin to understand. One that doesn't desire our works, doesn't judge us for what we lack, instead He will fill up in us what is lacking.

there it is. I make room for my friends beliefs, because I know we are all searching for Truth. I know that God works in ways we cannot understand, I know from my own life that you can't force it. That it comes. I know that He makes room for everyone....at His table. I know that He loves us no matter what. I know that, when my friends let me down or judge me, He loves me, He sees me, and He sees my beginning and my end, and He has the best in store for me, for YOU. I know that there is only one way to get there.
The bible says "He sets eternity in the hearts of men". So you may not know it yet, but if you would quiet yourself, still your spirit, you'll feel it. Eternity. You will feel it.

He doesn't ask anyone to give up anything, just believe.