" Do You Ever Catch A Glimpse Of Eternity?" - (With Videos, One with Chuck Smith as Narrator) - Inspirational Weekend

[Seattle Botanical Gardens]

My photograph above has an elderly couple and their dog walking down one of many paths at the botanical gardens in Seattle, Washington.  This photo rather fits the subject of this article, and the title above (Do you ever catch a glimpse of eternity?).  The elderly couple in the above image are soon to see eternity literally, and the path they are walking reminds one of the paths of life that we take, to determine our destiny -  where we will spend eternity - in heaven or hell.

The inspiration for the title of this post is from the song:  "You Raise Me Up" by Selah, which is my favorite version of it.  Here is that moving and beautiful song:

Many people today, as a rule, do not think very often about eternity or what happens when they die.  That includes some Christians who, for the most part, do not read their Bibles.  It is so very important, as this blog has stressed over and over again, to read your Bible daily and to pray daily, even several times daily.  If you are not acquainted with Scripture and you have no relationship with the Heavenly Father through His Son, Jesus Christ, something is terribly wrong !  

"There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God."  -     Romans 3:11

The above verse is disturbing because it is typical of this godless society (for the most part), where people are lovers of themselves and of pleasures, and caught up in the frenzy of the world's carnal appetites.  

"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.  If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever."  -  1 John 2:15-17

Thank the good Lord that there are still many true and devout followers of Jesus today, as well as many pastors who guide their flock properly with sound Biblical truths and especially stress the Gospel - salvation by belief in Jesus and that His shed blood at Calvary can wash our sins away if we sincerely believe He is the Savior and the only way to heaven!

Following is a 4 minute devotional by In Touch Ministries (Dr. Charles Stanley's site)  which is titled "How do we seek God?"

Many Christians are aware that we are today, in a sense, the modern day Church of Laodicea.  In Revelation 3, Jesus addresses that lukewarm church of ancient times, and gives them warning !  A warning that is applicable for us today!  

Following is an excellent 12 minute video on the subject titled:  "The Book of Revelation is Unfolding Before Our Eyes ( The Revelation of the Church of Laodicea) :

With the coronavirus, and losses of jobs and businesses, and just the general craziness of today's chaotic world, many people are just plain weary and some are filled with the sense of hopelessness. The following short video tells us to fight the good fight of faith.  One  narrator in this video is Pastor Chuck Smith, the founder of the Calvary Chapel Churches.  

Christian videos and sermons are wonderful and I am grateful to be able to view them on the Web.   They can be very inspiring and encouraging.  But the most important thing we can do is to develop a close, loving, personal, and living relationship with God through His Son Jesus Christ, our Savior.  How do we do this?  By daily Bible reading and much daily prayer !  The Bible will teach us about God's/Jesus' love and attributes and character, and the more we read, the more we will come to appreciate all the good Lord has done for us, especially our salvation by faith and belief in Jesus as the Savior, the only way to heaven.  We will come to love Him more and more through Scripture as well as by much prayer.  God wants to fellowship with us, as has been stated often on this blog.  When we pray to Him and pour out our hearts and concerns to Him, He will listen; and when He answers our prayers,  WOW!...  It is wonderful to have your prayers answered and to know that your relationship with Him is growing stronger day by day!

[Poinciana Blossoms]

Time is short and running out!

Jesus will return soon to take His Bride (the Church, true followers) to be with Him in heaven.

Are you rapture ready?

If you are not saved, if you have not put your faith and belief in Jesus the Savior, following are some Scriptures for you to take seriously:

"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me."  -         John 14:6

"He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that  believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him."  -    John 3:36

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."    -  John 3:16

Have a blessed and Christ centered weekend -  and life !!

"Are The Things You Are Living For Worth Christ Dying For?" (Sermon Video by Leonard Ravenhill; And Video on Unshakable Faith) - Inspirational Weekend

[Sunrise, Kauai, Hawaii]

The above title of this post ("Are the things you are living for worth Christ dying for?") is a direct quote by Leonard Ravenhill. It is on his tombstone  !  Ravenhill lived from 1907 to 1994 and was one of England's foremost outdoor evangelists of his time. You may, of course, find out more about him on the Internet; this post wants to focus on his quotes and share an important 13 minute sermon clip by him.  The sermon is blunt - he tells it like is - and to the point (which is what we need more of today from our pulpits).  Ravenhill does not sugar-coat anything when it comes to the Gospel. Brace yourself for some very convicting comments (convicting to a Christian's heart if he is guilty of sin) in his sermon titled : "John the baptist: the spirit of a prophet". The sermon below speaks very little of John the baptist, and dwells mostly on addressing Christians and what they need to focus on - and more - and chock full of gems spoken by Ravenhill like, for instance, "The greatest sin in the world [is to say and believe] "I can manage my life without God."

It seems fitting to quote here, 2 Timothy 3:1-5:  

"This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful,  unholy, without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God.  Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away."

Wow!  Talk about telling it like is !  The above verse clearly describes these last days we are currently experiencing.

Some of the other signs of the end times are spoken of by Jesus at Luke 21:25-28 as follows:

And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And when these begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh."

I encourage you to please read all of Luke 21, as well as Matthew 24, and Mark 13 which also speak of the signs of the last days.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer wisely said, " Silence in the face of evil is itself evil:  God will not hold us guiltless.  Not to speak is to speak.  Not to act is to act."

"Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?"  -  The Apostle Paul at Galatians 4:16

We are all imperfect and make mistakes;  I am no different. But I endeavor to tell the truth. Sometimes a resource used and quoted on this blog may be in error, unfortunately, and when I discover it to be so, I correct the error or delete it.  Since we are all imperfect, we should not judge others when they mess up at times. (Unless it is out and out heresy, of course.)  We should endeavor to show them their error, and teach them more accurately -- do not judge them unless, that is, it is a deliberate and stubborn heresy, which is repeated often, and which purposely intends to deceive others.

Our time on this earth is short, especially now the way Bible prophecy of the last days is being fulfilled at a tremendously fast pace.  And very many are being fulfilled all at once right now - a convergence.  Jesus will soon return to take his followers in the Rapture to be with Him in heaven.  Our blessed hope!

"Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ." -   Titus 2:13

We should focus on things above and on pleasing the good Lord as best we can.  He is our Judge.  Jesus is our Redeemer.  Our love and gratitude to the Lord should be expressed to Him always.  Spend much time in prayer and in reading the Bible.  That will enable us to know God and Jesus better, and we will find that our love for Him will grow stronger and stronger as we read about His love and character and attributes in His Holy Word. That, and as we pray several times daily , will enable us to develop a strong, close, intimate, personal relationship with God through His Son Jesus. That is what it is all about, folks!  You cannot come to actually know a person unless you spend time with Him and communicate with Him; it is the same way with God.  He wants to fellowship with us!  God/Jesus is the best friend we will ever have!

Ephesians 5:15-17 tells us:  "Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.  Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is."

Below is a 3 minute devotional by In Touch Ministries.  It dwells on the topic "Unshakable Faith".

Two wonderful comments especially stand out in the above video.  "When we abide in the Spirit, we have the power to endure hardship and suffering."   And, "Getting to know God is easier when we approach Him with a humble and genuine spirit."

"And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.  For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.  But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God." - Jesus at John 3:19-21

 What if you are not saved, not born again?  Following are some Scriptures for you:

About asking Jesus to come into your heart.... that is good.  However, you must truly repent of your sins, and believe with all of your mind, soul, and all of your very being that Jesus is the Savior and the only way to heaven.  Believe that He, as the sacrificial Lamb of God, shed His precious Blood on the Cross, and that by doing so, He paid our sin debt in full .  He took our place at Calvary and made a way as the Redeemer for us to be saved and for us to have the hope (a sure hope) of eternal life. There will be a change in you and what you focus on if you are truly saved.  When a person is truly saved, the Holy Spirit will reside within him, to guide and teach him, and so much more !  

"In Whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in Whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise." -   Ephesians 1:13

Jesus, at Luke 13:3-5 tells us: "I tell you, Nay: but except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.  Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower of Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?  I tell you, Nay: but except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish."

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God."  -   Romans 12:1-2

Have a blessed and Christ centered weekend - and life !!

"The Anchor Of The Soul" - Inspirational Weekend

As many of you may know, the Lord has many names.  One of them is found at Jeremiah 17:7 which tells us :"Blessed is the man that trusted in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is."

In a round about way you could say, from the above verse that God (Jesus) is our hope.   I mean, He is our hope most definitely, but Jeremiah 17:7 doesn't say it directly, just that our hope in the Lord will give us blessings.


"Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost."  -    Romans 15:13

For believers in Jesus Christ as the Savior, our ultimate hope is to be with Him in heaven.

Titus 2:13 says " Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious  appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ."

Speaking of when Jesus returns soon for the Rapture of His true believers,  1 Thessalonians 4:17 tells us : "Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord."      What a wonderful and glorious hope!

Following is a moving song about the anchor of hope:

Hebrews 6:19  tells us: "Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast and which entereth into that within the veil."

Hope is an anchor; Jesus is hope and is also an anchor. 

Following is a partial quote from Adam Clarke's Commentary on Hebrews 6:19 :

"The hope of eternal life is here represented as the soul's anchor; the world is the boisterous, dangerous sea; the Christian course , the Voyage; the port is everlasting felicity; and the veil or inner road, the royal dock in which that anchor was cast......  the soul may be strongly tossed ....but the anchor is in sure ground, and itself is steadfast; it does not drag, and it does not break; faith, like the cable,.... is the connecting medium between the ship and the anchor, or the soul and its hope of heaven; faith sees the haven, hope desires and anticipates the rest;  faith, works, and hope holds fast; and shortly the soul enters into the haven of eternal repose."

A wonderful explanation of the part of Hebrews 6:19 that tells us :  "And which entereth into that within the veil"    follows by Albert Barnes' Notes :

"The illusion to the "anchor" here is dropped, and the apostle speaks simply of hope.  The "veil" here refers to what in the temple divided the holy from the most holy place.  The place "within the veil" - the most holy place- was regarded as God's Special Abode -  where He dwelt by the visible symbol of His presence.  That Holy place was emblematic of heaven; and the idea here is that the hope of the Christian enters into heaven itself; it takes hold on the throne of God; it is made firm by being fastened there.   It is not the hope of future riches etc., for such a hope would not keep the soul steady; it is the hope of immortal blessedness and purity in the world beyond."

For some believers, they may not feel for sure that they are truly saved; sometimes the devil makes us doubt our salvation.  I would like to give a link here to an article written by me last year.  It has a  brief sermon by Pastor Adrian Rogers about not being a doubting Christian. The sermon is titled: "How to be saved and know it."  Other information with Scriptures is also on that post.  Here is the  link :

https://inspiringnaturephotography.blogspot.com/2019/02/how-to-know-if-you-are-truly-saved-with.html

Have you put your trust and faith in Jesus?  Have you believed that He is the Savior and the only way to heaven and eternal life?  If not, there is no hope for you except eternal separation from God and Jesus.  For all who do not accept Jesus as their Savior will spend eternity in hell.   A bad choice !!

Salvation is simple.  First you must realize that you are a sinner and in need of a Savior.  

"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God."   -    Romans 3:23

Romans 6:23 tells us  "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

 A person needs to repent and pray for forgiveness.  He needs to realize that Jesus died in our place on the cross to pay our sin debt in full; that His shed blood washes us clean if we believe in His redemptive work at Calvary and have faith and belief that He is the Savior.  This is not intellectual knowledge of Jesus; it is a knowing with all of your very being that He is the Savior and that He is our only hope of eternal life. 

Romans 10:9,10,13 tells us (9) That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (10) For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (13) For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by Me."   -    John 14:6

 "Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that beleiveth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die.  Believest thou this?"  -    John 11:25-26

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."    -  John 3:16

Have a blessed and Christ centered weekend --  and life !!

"Encouraging Scriptures and Christian Quotes to Help Us To Endure" - Inspirational Weekend

[Hamakua Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary, Oahu, Hawaii]

I have spent many different days at the above marsh in Kailua, Oahu; taking numerous photographs of the wildlife and flowers in the area.  Several of those photos have been posted to this blog previously.   It is always a pleasant time spent there.  I am reminded of a quote by Martin Luther :  "I would not give one moment of heaven for all the joy and riches of the world."

Great attitude of Luther!  Actually, all true believers should feel this way, since we know the main focus of our life should be on Jesus and God.  

"Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth."  -    Colossians 3:2

We believers know that this world is not our home.  What a better place awaits us in heaven!

"Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in Me.  In My Father's house are many mansions:  if it were not so, I would have told you.  I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.  And whither I go ye know; and the way ye know."   -   Jesus at John 14:1-4

What wonderful words of hope and encouragement !!  As mentioned several times on this blog, we are living now in the end times!     The end of the age Grace and the end of the Church age........is almost  here !  

Read Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21, for the signs of the season of Jesus' soon return in the air to take His Bride (the Church -  true, devout believers) to be with Him in heaven.  

[Lanikai Beach, Oahu, Hawaii]

"May the horrible trinity of the world, the flesh, and the devil never overcome us."  - Charles Spurgeon

And the world will not corrupt you if you are a true believer in the Savior, Jesus Christ.  Yes, we are all imperfect in this fallen world, and even Christians sometimes sin and fall short.  But true believers will repent and pray to God for forgiveness (in sincerity)!  Jesus' followers will not deliberately and willfully make a habitual practice of sin.  

"Prayer is a shield to the soul."  -   John Bunyan

"Be careful [anxious] for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God." -    Philippians 4:6

"But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word."  -   Acts 6:4

"Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation   [afflictions]; continuing instant in prayer;"              -   Romans 12:12

As stated numerous times on this blog, it is very important to pray often and, as well, to be reading the Bible daily.  Why?  Because that is the only way you can establish a relationship with the good Lord.  By reading God's Word, you will learn to see and appreciate His attributes, His love, His tender mercies, and much more!  It will thereby increase your love for God/Jesus, as you learn to appreciate all that has been done for you from the Lord.  And by prayer and trust in Him, you will draw closer to Him; and He will draw close to you.  You cannot build a relationship with anyone unless you communicate frequently with them; and it follows that the same is true of God.  When you establish (by the Lord's help) a living and loving relationship with God through His Son Jesus, it will blossom into something beautiful that will last for all eternity!

Revelation 1:3 tells us:  "Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the  words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand."

Although the verse directly above is referring specifically to the book of Revelation,  the same is also true of the rest of the Scriptures; in the sense that we  benefit from all of God's Holy Word.  It is important to immerse yourself in ALL of the Bible.  Revelation is special, and tells us much concerning the Tribulation period and the end of things.  God wins !! (Just especially so is the book of Revelation a blessing.  No other book in the Bible makes the claim of a special blessing as does Revelation.)

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works."  -   2 Timothy 3:16,17

Following are some Scriptures for those of you who may not be saved by a heartfelt and soul-felt true belief in Jesus as the Savior; that only by belief in Him, and His redemptive work at Calvary... His shed blood... His paying our sin debt in full by dying in our place that we may obtain eternal life.

Romans 10:9,10,13 informs us:  (9) That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  (10)  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.  (13)  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

"Jesus saith unto him,  I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me."   John 14:6

"He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him."  -    John 3:36

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."  -    John 3:16

Have a blessed and Christ centered weekend -  and life !!