My generation
grew up in a time of advertising jingles and memorable quips to bury the
thought of products in the brain to trigger the want-to of buying a product
when shopping for goods. I don’t suppose things have changed that much, except
for the product and store names. I came across an old tongue in cheek, blast
from the past article, using TV commercials to express the importance of God in
one’s life. God is like Bayer Aspirin…He works miracles. God is like Ford…He’s
got a better idea. God is like Coke…He’s the real thing. God is like Hallmark
cards…He cares enough to send His very best. God is like Tide…He gets the
stains out that others leave behind. God is like General Electric…He brings
good things to life. God is like Sears…He has everything. God is like
Alka-Seltzer…Try Him, and you’ll like Him. God is like Scotch Tape…You can’t
see Him, but you know He’s there. God is like Allstate…You’re in good hands
with Him. God is like VO-5 hairspray…He holds through all kinds of weather. And
my favorite: God is like Dial Soap…Aren’t you glad you have Him? Don’t you wish
everybody did?
"Random
death syndrome" is not a medical term. But the unexplained “crib deaths”
of babies, (SIDS) “Sudden Infant Death Syndrome,” and the new phenomena, (SADS)
“Sudden Cardiac Death Syndrome,” used to describe sudden, unexpected deaths,
often in young, seemingly healthy individuals, where taxological exams and a
clear structural heart issue isn't found during autopsy, are very real.
Of late, we
have read of many well-to-do people who have passed from this life into
eternity – some of old age, some of illness, some of accident, and some sudden
and unexpectedly. Some were men and women of great power, prosperity, and
popularity. Hundreds of thousands of dollars were spent on their funerals, and
the masses assembled to pay their last respect. I, on the other hand, attended
and preached several funerals where there wasn’t hundreds of thousands of
dollars spent, and the service was certainly not a media spectacle. Set by
today’s standards, none of them represented powerful, prosperous, or even
popular people. They were just ordinary people. Yet, in reality, they left this
life the same way as those who were highly celebrated by the world. Whether one
be rich or poor, death is the great equalizer. Everyone leaves this life the
same way they entered it (Ecclesiastes 5:15-16). Thus, it matters not how much
power, prosperity, or popularity one has obtained here on earth. What matters
most is where one stands with God.
[John 5:28-29]
“Do not be marveled at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the
graves will hear His voice and come forth – those who have done good, to the
resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of
condemnation.”
Someone once
noted that even if we had… the wisdom of Solomon …the patience of Job …the
meekness of Moses …the strength of Samson …the obedience of Abraham …the
compassion of Joseph …the tears of Jeremiah …the poetic skill of David …the
prophetic voice of Elijah …the courage of Daniel …the greatness of John the
Baptizer …and the endurance and love of the apostle Paul, we would still need
redemption through Christ’s blood for the forgiveness of sin. We need to
realize that we are human, and as such do not have what it takes to sustain
ourselves through eternity. We need the power of Christ’s blood shown to us
through the Father’s love, as revealed in the Holy Spirit inspired Word.
The abilities
and knowledge we have are wonderful and should be used to the glory of God but
let us never forget that it is God Himself who sustains us. Let us always
remember the great sacrifice it took to purchase our salvation and serve Him in
our life accordingly.
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