Friday, April 30, 2010

The Death of an unbeliever

I work in a nursing home, I see the elderly drugged daily because of pain, or behavioral issues. Several have passed away since I started working there, they depart in silence, largely due to the influence of drugs. I ponder what would it be like if they were not under the influence of drugs, which leads me to this question---What happens when an unbeliever faces his/her own death. Here is an account of the death of an atheist...








The noted French atheist, Voltaire, died a frightening death. Let me quote for you the exact record as published, “When Voltaire felt the stroke that he realized must terminate in death, he was overpowered with remorse. He at once sent for the priest, and wanted to be ‘reconciled with the church.’ His infidel flatterers hastened to his chamber to prevent his recantation; but it was only to witness his ignominy and their own. He cursed them to their faces; and, as his distress was increased by their presence, he repeatedly and loudly exclaimed, ‘Begone! It is you that have brought me to my present condition. Leave me, I say; begone! What a wretched glory is this which you have produced to me!’

“Hoping to allay his anguish by a written recantation, he had it prepared, signed it, and saw it witnessed. But it was all unavailing. For two months he was tortured with such an agony as led him at times to gnash his teeth in impotent rage against God and man. At other times in plaintive accents, he would plead, ‘O, Christ! O, Lord Jesus!’ Then, turning his face, he would cry out, ‘I must die-abandoned of God and of men!’

“As his end drew near, his condition became so frightful that his infidel associates were afraid to approach his bedside. Still they guarded the door, that others might not know how awfully an infidel was compelled to die. Even his nurse repeatedly said, ‘For all the wealth of Europe I would never see another infidel die.’ It was a scene of horror that lies beyond all exaggeration. Such is the well-attested end of the one who had a natural sovereignty of intellect, excellent education, great wealth, and much earthly honor.” (Dying Testimonies of Saved and Unsaved by Rev. S B Shaw, pp. 49-50.)

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

I can hardly wait!!!

This is a very uplifting and encouraging post from Heidi Swander; the days are growing ever so dark, yet, we have so much to be thankful and hopeful for! Read Heidi's post and be blessed...

I went out to dinner with a couple of girlfriends a while back and the conversation easily slipped into world events and how dire the forecast looks economically, socially, politically, etc. Finally I burst out excitedly: “Goin’ Home!” (This has become a trademark of mine. When I see the rapid decline of so much in our world, the increase of earthquakes, the decline of the church, the rapid descent into socialism – it reminds me that the hour is late, and that reminds me that Jesus promised to come and get me!). In response, one of my girlfriends smiled wryly. I said, “Jesus could come back and get us tonight!” to which she replied, “Oh, Jesus could come back tonight, but I doubt it.”

My heart wrenched. It wasn’t that I believed it any less. It was grief I felt that she, for all her lip service to the imminence of the Lord’s return for His bride, very obviously wasn’t anticipating Him, let alone waiting with baited breath. And I wondered: how many does she represent in Christendom? How many Christians say they are waiting for Jesus to rapture us out of this world and take us Home, but in practice they evidence a lack of belief because they don’t anticipate it moment-by-moment? And their lack of joy reflects it.

Continue reading here...

Friday, April 16, 2010

The Church Which Christ Builds

by J.C. Ryle

"Upon this rock I will build My Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" (Matt. 16:18).

Do we belong to the Church which is built upon a rock? Are we members of the only Church in which our souls can be saved? These are serious questions. They deserve serious consideration. I ask the attention of all who read this message, while I try to show the one true, holy, catholic Church, and to guide men's feet into the only safe fold. What is this Church? What is it like? What are its marks? Where is it to be found? On all these points I have something to say. I am going to unfold the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, which stand at the head of this page. He declares, "Upon this rock I will build My Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."

Let us consider this in more detail:

1. We have, firstly, a Building mentioned in the text. The Lord Jesus Christ speaks of "My Church."

Now what is this Church? Few inquiries can be made of more importance than this. For want of due attention to this subject, the errors that have crept into the world are neither few nor small.

The Church of our text is no material building. It is no temple made with hands of wood or brick or stone or marble. It is a company of men and women. It is no particular visible Church on earth. It is not the Eastern Church or the Western Church. It is not the Church of England or the Church of Scotland. Above all, it certainly is not the Church of Rome. The Church of our text is one that makes far less show than any visible Church in the eyes of man, but is of far more importance in the eyes of God.


continue reading here...

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Earthquakes! Are they increasing?

By Gary Stearman


Recent events in Haiti and Chili have caused many Christians to ask, “Are earthquakes increasing in the way that Jesus said they would in the period leading up to the Tribulation? His words are among the most forthright and unequivocal ever spoken. There can be no mistake about what He said:

“For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. “All these are the beginning of sorrows” (Matt. 24:7,8).

In January and February of this year, those who search the Scriptures and watch for His return marked those words well, wondering with renewed interest whether His coming was being foreshadowed by the prophesied global events.

continue reading here...