From my vantage point all of human history has two parallel streams of thought. Hebrews 11:3 says, “By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.” Wow, that statement is hard to believe! I had an old friend who said one time, “If you can believe the first verse of the Bible, you won’t have any trouble with the rest of it.” Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

The Bible just aired on the History Channel and had record numbers of viewers. I was mostly pleased with the production and how it simply presented the Bible as it is with little discounting of the harder to believe truths of Scripture. Are we as a people getting hungrier for more than this world has to offer?

It is impossible to please God without faith. The entire human drama which has a beginning and an end, requires each of us to have faith in something. For many, it is only what can be seen. What can be replicated in a laboratory. For what can be experienced, touched and seen here and now. So, many popular songs today call our young people to “Live or Dance like it’s the last night of your life.” Live your life-like there is no tomorrow, or no eternity.

According to the Bible, in the last days, this parallel stream will be brought to a clear point of decision. All living will be required to choose sides clearly. There will be no ability to buy or sell without receiving some kind of an identifying mark which says, “I am living purely by sight, right now is all that matters.” The other choice will be to exercise faith in the Son of God and the Word of God declaring, this life is not all there is. I will receive Jesus as the Way, The Truth and The Life, and accept His identifying mark. I will be willing to suffer now for glory later.

The person that chooses the here and now, living purely by what they can see has a disdain for the people of faith. For them we are foolish. How could you believe in creation over evolution? How could you believe in the sanctity of all life over my immediate convenience? How could you believe in a biblical view of marriage in this enlightened age? Why would you alter your life style, why would you sacrifice now for something you can’t even see?

One thing I have noticed about people who live by sight. At death, or the death of a loved one, they want to be people of faith. All of a sudden, heaven is a real place and God is important at least for a moment, and all their loved ones are readily welcomed into heaven.  We can’t have it both ways, though all of us try!

Choose this day which stream you will live your one life in. The here and now is all there is or there is a true and living God who loves you and has a purpose for your life. Only you can decide.

Blessings,

Scott