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My Grandmother passed away on Saturday (09-19-09) I was asked to speak at her funeral. If you have never given a eulogy as you can imagine it is a very difficult thing to do. But I prayed about it and I knew that God would give me the words and the strength to honor such a holy woman that meant so much to me. The only reason I have posted this is because God burdened me with this thanks and message and maybe it will touch you.
"The tragedy of life is being dead inside while still alive" We are all born lost and dead inside until we find salvation and the holy spirit enters us. Luckily my grandmother found her lord and savior Jesus Christ and the verse Psalms (118:8): "It is better to take refuge in the Lord than trust in man." My grandmother was many things to many people. She was a wife. The kind of wife that would go in every morning and wipe up her husbands tears after praying. This undertaking required a full sized bath towel because there was a huge puddle. My grandfather could pray down heaven and he did every morning of his life. She was a mother, raising 3 daughters and 2 sons. She lived by Proverbs (22:6): "Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it." She was a friend, the kind of friend that would always make you feel good about yourself and do anything she could to help you out. She was a cook, the best cook that I have ever met. But most important of all she was a christian. Saturday was judgment day for my grandmother and at that point her salvation was the only thing that mattered. Not how much money she had, not her house, not her jewelry, cars, or clothes. She was not just a christian that went to church, but one that built her house on the rock. Not a woman that got lost in the world, but a woman that walked in the word. A woman that placed Jesus above all. She was a woman that not only had knowledge, but possessed wisdom; which you can only get from Gods word. Pastor James MacDonald once said the most important decision you will ever make is if you choose to be born twice or die twice. Dying only referring to the physical death if you have salvation. John (8:51) says: "Truly truly I say to you if anyone keeps my word, they will never die." The second death is mentioned in Revelations chapter 21 which reads: "The one who conquers I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murders, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns of fire and sulfur, which is the second death." Loss is never easy, but at least as Christians who have found salvation it is only temporary. 1 Thessalonians (4:13) says "Christians should not grieve as others do who have no hope." The grief that is being acknowledged should be grief mixed with joy because 1st Corinthians and Revelations talk about future reunions. As we are experiencing here right now the hourglass of life on Earth will one day end. Our judgment day will come. Always remember Psalms (118:8) "It is better to trust in the lord than to trust in man."
God Bless!
I have been reading the book of Hosea lately. God sent Hosea to prophesy in the nation of Israel. The reason Hosea was sent was because the once holy city of Israel had lost touch with God and were crediting themselves with their success. What they failed to realize was their success had nothing to do with them. It was only because of God's blessings that they had gained material things, military strength, and peaceful relations with their neighbors. They got greedy and cocky, which most of us do at some point or another. When you have success in your life always remember that it is a blessing from God and he deserves the praise. Like Hosea told the Israelites: "sow for yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love; break up your fallow ground, for it is the time to seek the lord, that he may come and rain righteousness upon you. You have plowed iniquity; you have reaped injustice; you have eaten the fruit of lies. Because you have trusted in your own way and in the multitude of your warriors."(Hosea 10:12-13 ESV) If you want to return or open up to God you have to break up your fallow ground. Open your hear to him, repent, and praise him for without him we would not be. I was at this exact point months ago in my life and I was very miserable, I always had this empty feeling. I rededicated my life to God and I am at total peace and happiness for the first time in years. Believe the hype, God is real and his powers are endless. We will be judged!
Started a class in church last night titled Theology 101! Very interesting stuff, our first lesson was on the word theology. The meaning of theology is the rational and systematic study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truth.
The three varieties of theology are Historical, Biblical, & Systematic.
We discussed Arminianism which there are five main tenets:
1) God elects or reproves on the basis of foreseen faith or unbelief,
2) Christ died for all men and for every man, although only believers are saved,
3) Man is so depraved that divine grace is necessary unto faith or any good deed,
4) This grace may be resisted,
5) Whether all who are truly regenerate will certainly persevere in the faith is a point which needs further investigation.
We then discussed Calvinism which has 5 main tenets:
1) Total depravity: that man is touched by sin in all parts of his being: body, soul, mind, and emotions,
2) Unconditional Election: that God’s favor to Man is completely by God’s free choice and has nothing to do with Man. It is completely undeserved by Man and is not based on anything God sees in man (Eph. 1:1-11),
3) Limited atonement: that Christ did not bear the sins of every individual who ever lived, but instead only bore the sins of those who were elected into salvation (John 10:11,15),
4) Irresistible grace: that God's call to someone for salvation cannot be resisted,
5) Perseverance of the saints: that it is not possible to lose one's salvation (John 10:27-28).
These are the 2 extreme beliefs. Most religions fall some where in the middle of the 2, this is referred to as "Free Will." This is the doctrine that an individual, regardless of forces external to him, can and does choose at least some of his actions.
We then talked about staments of faith. This is your personal religious beliefs that must be backed by scripture. The teacher suggested that all christian families or christians develop their statement of faith. This will provide a solid foundation for yourself and/or your children and why you have the beliefs you do. Statements of faith will differ among religions and individuals. Some things are more important to some then others are. Emphasize what's important to you in your statement of faith and include the scripture to back up these beliefs. Great piece of advice I got from the class.
In summary Life starts with theology. It is only after your second birth (SALVATION) that you are living. In order to be saved you must study and acknowledge the scripture and believe that it is the truth. The next step is doctrines are formed. This would be your position or beliefs after immersing yourself in the Bible. The next step is your ultimate outcom e of this, your statement of faith. Which leads to step 4 your morals and ethics. The final step is the decisions you make every second of the day and hopefully every decision is gloryifying God.
Last thought: You can choose to be born twice or die twice. I'm glad I chose Salvation! If you are reading this and have not chosen Jesus Christ read Romans 10:9&10--"that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead,you will be saved. 10-For with the heart one believes unto righteousnessand with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
GOD BLESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
