THAT'S THE WAY YOU ARE GOING OUT

YOU CAME IN WITH NOTHING AND 

YOU WILL BE GOING OUT WITH NOTHING.

We are still considering the writings of the wisest

man, and probably the richest man, that ever lived.

King Solomon who said;

"We all come to the end of our lives

as naked and empty-handed as on the day

we were born.  We can't take our riches

with us."  

(Ecclesiastes 5:15 NLT). 

You would think that just good old common

sense would tell all of us that.  And it probably

does - we just don't live like it.

There is an interesting story in the news about 

an Ugandan Politician who tried to take it with him.

"Charles Obong, 52 worked as a senior personnel officer

in the ministry of Public Service from 2006 to 2016.  Before

his death, he saved more than Shs200 million to bribe the

Almighty Father on Judgement Day so He could forgive his

earthly sins."

That of course will not work, but he tried.

You and I know human nature well enough 

to know that the money would never leave

this earth.

The story goes on;

"Mr Obong's Will was violated as his body was exhumed last

Saturday and the money withdrawn from the gave and his

would-be planned penitence before God frustrated."

So much for taking it with us.

The Holy Bible tells us more about true

wealth when the Apostle Paul tells us;

"Yet true godliness with contentment is itself

great wealth.  After all, we brought nothing

with us when we came into the world, and we

can't take anything with us when we leave it.

So if we have enough food and clothing, let

us be content."  

(1 Timothy 6:6 - 8 NLT). 

Is it any wonder that Solomon considered working

hard only to loss it as vanity or futility?  But it does 

not need to be futile.  The very creator of the universe,

and the giver of life it's self, Jesus Christ said;

"Don't store up treasures here on earth,

where moths eat then and rust destroys them,

and where thieves break in and steal.  Store

your treasures in heaven, were moths and

rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break

in and steal.  Wherever your treasure is there

the desires of your hart will also be."

 (Matthew 6:19 -21 NLT)

That is another subject and not our point today.

Just remember, you will not take any of the material

goods of this world with you.

FAKE CHRISTIANS

Image courtesy of:www.Pixabay.com  

Being born in a "Christian country" does not make you a
Christian.  Being born into a "Christian family" does not
make you a Christian.  Going to a "Christian Church" does
not make you a Christian any more than living in a garage
would make you a car.

Going through rituals, routines or traditions does not make
you a Christian.  It only puts you in the position of those
Christ was speaking about when he said:

"He answered and said to them,

"Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites,

as it is written:

'This people honors Me with their lips,

But their heart is far from Me.

Teaching as doctrines the commandments

of men.'"

(Mark 7:6,7 NKJV)  

Jesus Christ, the very creator of the universe, the
one who gave you life it's self said:

"Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is
born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter
the Kingdom of God."
(John 3:5 NKJV) 

A Christian is one who has not only been born
into this world, but in addition been born of the
Spirit of God himself too.

He makes it simple enough.
Recognize that Christ in his love for you died
as a sacrifice in your place - if you will accept
it.
Confess to God your utter sinfulness and need.
Submit yourself to Jesus Christ asking him to
come into you and take control of yourself.

The most scary portion of Scripture I know is:

"Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord,
have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out
demons in Your name, and done many wonders
in Your name?"
(Matthew 7:22,23 NKJV) 

These folks did lots of "Religious" stuff in the name
of Jesus Christ.  But- he did not know them.  That is.
They never came into a relationship with Jesus Christ.
And without that personal relationship, they plain
and simply are not "Christians".

DIE HOW MANY TIMES?

A truism  

"Born once, die twice.

Born twice, die once."

That's right.

The very creator himself said,

"I am telling you the truth: no one

can see the Kingdom of God

without being born again."

(John 3:3 GNV)

He goes on to explain that we are 

born physically of our human parents,

but we also need to be born again of 

the Spirit.  That is the Spirit of God.

Then when we die, we go into the presence

of God himself.  Born twice, but just

die once.

But, if we are not born again of the Spirit,

when we die we will go to an eternal hell

that was prepared for the Devil, and we

will experience a "second" eternal death.

Born once, but die twice.