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How Can I Live Forever A Free E-Book |
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Feature Index Chapter 2: Justice & Mercy Kiss Chapter 8: Our Advocate & Friend Chapter 9: The God Of Make-Believe Chapter 10: A Gift Hard To Receive Chapter 11: The Faith That Saves Chapter 12: Attitudes In Conflict Chapter 14: A Brand New Family Tree Chapter 15: God The Great Motivator Chapter 16: The Works Of The Saved Chapter 18: New Hearts For Old
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Introduction There are at least three certainties to life - the first certainty is that you were born, the second certainty is as absolute as the first, and that is that you can live forever. Some claim that death is a certainty - but this is not so. Scripture assures us that some people never died, and that many others will never die. So what can I do to ensure that I live forever? This question leads us to our third certainty, which is this: Those who do not know the answer to this question will ask it with increased urgency as they grow older, until finally, on their death bed, this question will become all consuming. With the sincere hope that you will not wait until it is too late before seeking the answer to this question - here it is in all its simplicity. There is only one thing that you can do to ensure that you live forever . . . Before we can do that one thing, however, there are a couple of things that we have to know . . . No doubt you have considered the present state of our world and no doubt you are growing somewhat concerned about the future. Poverty is everywhere, crime rates are increasing alarmingly, sickness is epidemic, wars are threatening all over the globe, people are becoming more and more insensitive, cruel and hateful, and new horror upon new horror plays out before us every day. Where will it all end? Thinking people the world over are more than convinced that planet earth is headed for an unprecedented crisis. So just what can we do to free ourselves from this crippled vessel that has settled under a sea of clawing evil? Firstly we need to know that the root cause of the problems on planet earth are not simply the result of a set of circumstances - nor are they simply the unpredictable meanderings of history. The root cause of our problems on this planet can best be described by two words - human nature, or, if you like, human character. Which means, in truth, that we all have contributed in lesser or greater degree to the problems on our planet. While it is true that some of us might not be as bad as others, Scripture assures us that we all have sinned and that we all fall short of the character of God. (Romans 3:23). Personally we might not have made our world that much worse, but what have we done to make it a little better - not just for ourselves, but for others? Sure, we might not have hurt people the way others have, but have we never thought hurtful things about someone? We might not have killed as some people have, but have we never "murdered" someone in our minds? We might not have committed adultery as others have, but have we never committed adultery in our imagination? Scripture assures us that "no one living is righteous." - I guess that must include all of us. (Psalm 143:2) So what can we do about our plight? Can we cancel out the record of the bad we have done by doing good? Well, Scripture assures us that all our righteous deeds have the equivalent value of a batch of used menstrual pads. (Isaiah 64:6). Ouch! This means that our good deeds can never settle the debt for our bad deeds or for what we are. But wait - there is hope - absolute hope. The irony of it all is that if you have read this far, and if you are honest enough to admit that you have a few memories that you would sooner forget, then you are ready to do the only thing that you can ever do to ensure that you will live for ever . . . and that is to accept the Gift. This is a Gift that was given, not to people who think that they are worthy of living forever, or who think that they ever can be worthy of living forever, but to people who know that they are not worthy of living forever and that they never will be worthy of living forever. You see, only those who acknowledge that they are sick, will approach the great Physician and discover, to their delight, that He was wounded for their healing. Only those who know that they are not right with God, will come to Him and discover, with joy, that He secured peace between earth and heaven by taking the penalty for the sins of all people upon Himself. Only those who know that they do not deserve to live for ever will appreciate, with deep thankfulness, that He was pierced for their transgressions, that He was crushed for their iniquities, and that He died the death that they deserve to die - that they might live forever. Only those who acknowledge their selfishness will be able to appreciate His selflessness in giving His all, even His life. For thousands of years, millions of people have been thrilled by the thought that "God so loved the world that he gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16). May this thought thrill you dear reader. He lived the perfect life that we cannot live - as the representative of humanity - and He died the horrible death that we deserve to die - as the representative of humanity. And now, if you accept Him as your Substitute, as your Saviour, and as your best Friend, then, regardless of how bad a life you may have lived, God will consider Jesus' righteousness as though it were your righteousness, God will consider Jesus' character as though it were your character, and He will accept you as though you had never done anything wrong. Is that a gift? Is that a gift that is easy to receive? That's why they call it the "good news" - sometimes it seems almost too good to believe - but it is incredibly good news indeed. So if you want to live forever, all you have to do is forget the idea that you can ever be good enough to live forever, and simply accept Him as the One who loved you enough to die in your place - so that you may live forever. Every other religion in this world teaches that you can do it yourself - but you can't - and all who have ever taken the trouble to truthfully examine their hearts will have realized that they cannot possibly "earn" eternal life. No matter what your present condition, therefore, and no matter what your past, do not focus on your weaknesses and your mistakes - for by so doing you will only grow weaker. Shield your mind from bad influences and from bad memories, and focus on Him and He will make you strong. Spend a little time getting to know Him every day, and you will marvel at how He will change your life. Sure, you will have trials, especially in the beginning, but with your hand firmly clutched in His hand, these trials will only make you stronger. In this regard we urge you to carefully consider the feature, A Brand New You. If you have grown up thinking that God is always looking for a reason to punish you - then why would He have given His Son to be punished for you? If you have ever been given the impression that God spends His days looking for reasons to keep you out of heaven, then why would He endure such agony trying to get you there? The God that I know is infinitely kind - He would have to be infinitely kind to love a wretch like me, and to die for a wretch like me. I love Him because He has proven His love for me. How can we not love someone who took our place upon an instrument of torture and death so that we might live forever? The above is a summary of the chapters that follow. Without ignoring your need for daily study of the Scriptures, please take the trouble to study these chapters carefully - on an empty stomach - and they will act as "cat's eyes" to help you to rightly interpret Scripture and to stay on the road that leads to the land of fadeless day. Heaven is going to be a wonderful place. No more sickness, no more pain, no more sorrow, no more crying, no more heartache. There your wishes will be answered before you even wish them. See you there my dear friend. God bless you. |
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Friends Who Care International |
How Can I Live Forever?
Feature Index
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Friends Who Care International |