certainty. If we live, we will someday die. This is an absolute certainty but I cannot tell you when or where it will take place. The death here is a physical death. I believe that death is just passing from one state to another much the way when we are born. In the womb we are alive but we have little or no recollection of that life after we have passed into this one.January, 1998
Dear Family:
I have always believed that things happen for a reason. I don't always know what the reason is because I cannot see the future. I must look at life on a minute-by-minute basis. I can make plans, set goals but I really cannot say with any certainty that such and such will happen tomorrow because I cannot see tomorrow. I can only see the things that happen as they happen. There are some things however that we as humans know for a
There is one other certainty that I accept as absolute and that is that according to Hebrews 9:27 "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:" When through a physical death we pass from this life to the next, where we will exist forever. We will stand before an awesome God and give an account of our life. I believe God will look at me and say, "Well, Chuck Thomas, I see the life of my son and his deeds have been written into the book on your behalf. Welcome to my kingdom for eternity." On the other hand had I not accepted Christ as my savior, I would have to try to justify my life to God but without success because He demands perfection and purity, of which I am neither. So I would be judged on my imperfection and of course found guilty. Being found guilty I would be condemned to eternity separated from the presence of God. I have no way of proving that this statement is true. If it is not then the greatest lie in history has been told and believed by millions for thousands of years. If it is true then I would be the biggest fool in the world to risk eternity on the possibility that it is not.
Now what does that have to do with today? Well, it has everything to do with everything. If it is not true then I don't have to worry about how I live. I can cheat, kill and steal my way through life and get everything possible to satisfy all of my wants. Nothing else in the world matters but me and my satisfaction. That being true, the end will always justify the means. I am a spiritless mechanism with a form of intelligence, which makes me superior to the beings with less reasoning ability than I have.
Our form of government says that attitude is not acceptable. Our legal system says that attitude is not acceptable. The basic law of the jungle has said that attitude is not acceptable. So why have so many of my predecessors felt it necessary to make rules and laws based on our or their perception of moral and civil conduct? Moral is "relating to the principles of right and wrong." For example, the mental and emotional condition (as of enthusiasm, confidence, or loyalty) esprit de corps. Think for a minute about these words. Enthusiasm. En + theos. In God or to be inspired. Even our language points to the existence of God. And that is why.
Look for a moment at something I sent you some time ago (Aquinas, Thomas - Summa Theologica).
If he is right, then God created you and I for a purpose. We can go through life on our own, doing our own thing or we can stop for a moment every day. We can then sit down with God and say, "guide me this day to be what you want me to be, doing what you want me to do, the way you want me to do it, and with those you want me to do it with." Then with every situation you face, you can ask yourself what would God have me do in this situation? God will guide you. Satan will be there too giving you the opposing view. Sometimes it is hard to know who is speaking because Satan is the great deceiver and has had years of experience deceiving man. God does not give counsel to anyone who does not ask for it. He is not like me. I give you advice whether you want it or not. God only gives it when you ask for it.
My desktop in front of my computer is holy ground because I meet God there every day. I can tell when I have permitted him to meet with me and when I have just gone through the motions. When I invite Him to meet with me, He speaks to me through my spirit. That is why I write. I want to record everything he says to me. Afterward, I can go back and read what I have written and get the message he wanted me to have. The most amazing part of it is that the message he gives to me is a message that someone else may need. When I ask God to guide me throughout the day, inevitably I will meet someone who finds comfort in the words I share with them. These words come not because I am smart or learned but because I listen and then speak or write. It would be great if I would always in all things listen and then act or speak. Unfortunately, I don't always do that. I want more than anything for you, my children and grandchildren, to learn to know God and his desire for your lives. I know if you are doing what you were created for, then you will be happy and that is success. Look at what David said:
Psalm 119:1-18
1 Blessed are they whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the LORD.
2 Blessed are they who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart.
3 They do nothing wrong; they walk in his ways.
4 You have laid down precepts that are to be fully obeyed.
5 Oh, that my ways were steadfast in obeying your decrees!
6 Then I would not be put to shame when I consider all your commands.
7 I will praise you with an upright heart as I learn your righteous laws.
8 I will obey your decrees; do not utterly forsake me.
9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word.
10 I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands.
11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
12 Praise be to you, O LORD; teach me your decrees.
13 With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth.
14 I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches.
15 I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways.
16 I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.
17 Do good to your servant, and I will live; I will obey your word.
18 Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law. (NIV)
Then consider what God said to Joshua:
Joshua 1:8-9 (8) "This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. (9) "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go." (NKJ)
David prayed these words in Psalm 119 to God, we can also pray those same words and He will acknowledge them for us just the same as he did to David.
When God chose Joshua to lead his people out of the wilderness into the promised land he encouraged him with the words of Joshua 1:8&9. And he encourages us with the same words. I honestly think God wants to be your Heavenly father and you his children just as I am your earthly father and you are my children. The only difference is that I can never begin to come close to being the father to you that He is and will be. I may fail you but He never will. I may disappoint you but He never will. I may not always be there in everything and in every way but He will. I may not have all the answers, but He does. I may not understand but He does.
It is an awesome thing to think that the creator of the universe, who sees all of eternity at a glance, sees you, knows you, and loves you just as you are. Not only did he create us but also when we were not perfect He came to earth in person in the form of his own son and paid the bill (of our sin) we owe and said I did this as a free gift to you because I love you and you don't have to pay me back. Just accept the fact that I did it because I love you and I want you to know me and love me.
When you do that, it might not cause life to become a bed of roses but it does make it bearable. You can face every single day with hope, confidence and enthusiasm.
Love Ya,
Dad, Dad2, Mr. T and Chuck
Please take a moment and sign my guest book. Just click here.
Copyright © 2001 Churcheshosting.com. All rights reserved