Contrast

I have started this blog many times in my head. I was awakened one night and this subject came to me and I wrote the entire blog before returning to my blissful slumber. As you can imagine, when I awoke, the blog was gone.... but not the subject.

The subject is contrasts. Like good and bad. Like black and white. Like inside and outside. They have common elements, but very different results or consequences. Good means enjoyment while bad means pain or uncomfortable results. Black and white are treated as contrasting colors, but both have applications in decorating and car choices. Our choice of colors can even impact our mood and likability of whatever was pained.

Inside and outside are places, but are in contrast with each other. Inside means protection from the sun and rain, but it lacks fresh air and consists of imitation environmental surroundings. Outside means bugs and humidity, but it's fresh and real. Contrasts.....

I must warn the reader that this will be kind of preachy.

I have things that I have come to believe and I am convinced that many of my beliefs come from the fact that the world is made up of contrasts. I believe that God created the world this way so that we, as thinking animals, have choices. We have choices in what we wear, what we drive, where we work, and what we think about things. We sometimes make good choices and we sometimes make bad choices, but they're all choices. We choose between two paths. We choose between two things. We choose between two contrasting "things".

I have made some very good choices in my life. My wife was and is my best choice ever. She has been the rock in my life and my life would be much different if I hadn't made that choice. I have made the choice to continue being married to her through good times and through bad. She and I make a good team and our choice to stay together has resulted in great children, great children-in-laws, and fabulous grandchildren. God has blessed that choice many times over.

I have made some very bad choices in my life. I chose to retire at a too young age and I used up a significant retirement fund by being lazy and unproductive. I have regretted that choice many times over and I live with that choice daily. I still work full-time as a consequence of that choice (although I do enjoy working).

So you see, choices have consequences. Good and bad consequences. Good ones are most times enjoyable and rewarding. Bad ones cause harm and pain. Most choices result in short term happiness or short-term pain, but some can have eternal consequences.... like accepting Jesus or rejecting Him for a more worldly path. Here goes the preaching.....

Jesus said in John 14:6, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me". He said this as a way to teach and lead humans to a path of great joy and eternal life. He was contrasting this path to one of great sorrow as He said in Matthew 25:46, “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life".

This shows a contrast between eternal choices. One way leads to an eternity in the very presence of God. Eternal peace. Eternal comfort, freedom from pain. Eternal protection provided by the Creator of everything.

The other leads to an eternity without God. An eternity without peace. An eternity with great sorrow. An eternity with constant pain and no protection from the Creator of everything. This will be an eternity in the presence of a fallen satan and his angels. They're going to be very angry after losing the ultimate battle and guess who they're going to take it out on for eternity....

So, my question to you, the reader, is this. Which choice seems better ? Which contrasting eternity sounds more delightful ? Which eternity offers what you hope eternity will be like ?

My prayer is that you accept the eternity with Jesus. My prayer is that you believe the words of Jesus when He says that the only way to the more fruitful eternity is through Him. Believe in Him. Follow Jesus. Reach out to someone who can help you understand the choices. Ask someone like a Pastor to explain the contrasting eternities. Make the wise choice, not the foolish one.......