How odd is it that we live in a world, where confusion is so high, we may never get anything straightened out. As with most, we get to a point where we think we have the answers and suddenly, a problem arises—a surprise if you will. We then realize we are back to step one all over again, and the most obvious fix, appears to us like a mountain. For lack of a better picture, we seem to always be, “In the valley, of the shadow of death!”

So now some begin the work in front of them, while some will simply give-up and walk away. We begin to see the enormity of our situation and some will raise their fists to God, asking  “Why Me?”

First let’s be very honest here, “Why NOT you?” Who made you any different than anyone else? Every single individual on the face of this planet must deal with difficulty and hardship, so why should you and your life be any different? Is it so difficult for you to see that you are just like everyone else, same problems, same difficulties, same suffering?

A lot of people like to reiterate an old saying, “They put their pants on the same as I do, one leg at a time!” In reality, the majority continue to be above all these problems, or so they think. No one likes dealing with stress, am I not correct? Yet the 1 percent crowd are the only ones that may be able to have a less stressful lifestyle. Mostly because someone else is taking care of all the problems … for them. Here is one thing to remember: No one is immune from the problems of life.

Back when I was young, many years ago, the average farmer worked day in and day out, in the fields. He was not a super educated man, but then there was no need for that level of education, to be a farmer. Today, however, there are many farmers that have a degrees in Agriculture, yet the same rules applied back then, as they do today. Most important, it is still work. The stress is still there, there is no end to the problems that arise, even with those who are more highly educated. Here’s the first clue of why this is so:

“And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, ‘Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return” (Genesis 3:17-19).

It matters little to me, whether you wish to believe the Word of God or not, because the one thing you can’t do, is to say this is not the truth. The Bible is without error, it IS the Holy Word of God. Something to think about here is that everyone is born, after that most will will work very hard until the day they die.

Everyone heaps to themselves the material things they THINK they NEED! And as the Word has stated, “By the sweat of your Brow, shall you eat your bread!” And so now, everyone knows, this IS Truth! No one is exempt, there are no exceptions to this rule by God, so why do the majority work so hard to discredit what they KNOW is the Truth?

What is strange, is that everyone dies; again there are no exceptions here! So where does all this “wealth” of whatever size, go to? Why of course the next generation and they squander it as fast as they get it. Yet still, they die one day, they go back to being the dust from whence they came, just like those before them. Still as yet, no one is able to see the dots being connected here, one action brings the next action into being and everyone continues to behave the same way.

If wealth is the reason for living, then why is there no difference for everyone in death? Does  this make any sense to you? If you are wealthy, you may get a really big headstone, yet as with everyone, YOU are still … dead! No change, right?

If the Word of God tells you, you will toil relentlessly for your food, why would you say that isn’t so—that it is a lie? The Word of God also says that if a man does not work, neither should he eat (2 Thessalonians 3:10). We suddenly see how effective welfare is going to be … among other things. Are you beginning to see the light  here?

I remember being young and wishing to be older, to be an adult able to make my own decisions  my own way, rather than to being forced to listen to my parents. How ignorant! Today, I wish someone would take care of me and provide for me, as my parents did. Again the cycle of life continues on in each and every person born on this planet, and to make a point once again, there are NO exceptions to this rule.

With the way everyone in this world is going, you would think everyone would be able to see the Truth of God’s Word to us. The Bible has been around for thousands of years, everyone has the ability to read the Word of God  Thus everyone could make better sense of everything going on around them. That is the crux of the matter! Not many WANT to read the truth of the Bible.

If we are indeed the “fallen species” of this  planet, then why should we think, we know it all? And then on top of that, why should we listen to our own counsel? That is, as I have stated many times, ignorance. It is insanity, if we keep doing the exact same things, in the exact same manner, throughout time and expect a different outcome. Pure insanity to do so.

Here is where the rubber meets the road: Without Jesus Christ, you are not doing anything but spinning your wheels and getting nowhere really fast! It is then a waste of time and effort, so why do we keep at it? Why would we keep the Bible at a distance? Wouldn’t it make more sense to read the Bible and then apply what it says to our lives?

If you don’t like being in “The valley of the shadow of death” then don’t go there. It’s that simple. The problem is this: No one knows they are in the valley of the shadow of death … until it’s too late and they are more than knee-deep in trouble! Yet there is a reliable guide available to everyone … Jesus Christ! HE is the reason the Bible exists to begin with, why don’t you give it a shot and read it sometime!

The entire Bible, is simple and straight forward, but you have to know the author, to understand what HE is saying! The Lord God Almighty will guide your path, even in the valley of the shadow of death!

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

All Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible (KJV).

You may reach the author at: twobears44@gmail.com

1 Peter 4:1-7 “For as much then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.

For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.

For this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit. But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.”

I have long loved the actors and actresses of old, when the movies on the big screen were righteous for the most part; when right was right and wrong was still wrong; when people strived to be good to each other—kind and benevolent. Bu alas, those days and ways are now gone.

People of today are mostly only self-serving. Rare is there a kind word or a helping hand to those who are in trouble or dealing with problems. My friends, we are in a world of hurt. I have stated before that, the Word of God is inerrant in every way.

We see today that the people of the world are just like, if NOT worse, than the people back in the days of Noah (Great Flood) or Lot (Sodom and Gomorrah). And it would seem that they are never thinking or listening to anyone that speaks from the Word of God.

Instead they are ridiculing and  blaspheming the Lord God. What they continue to miss, is that a day is coming when they will stand before the Lord God, Jesus Christ, and they will be required to give an accounting of their lives—every single word, every single action. Here is what I know, from the Holy Word of God, concerning that day…

In the vernacular, so to speak, I want to ask some questions, make some comments. I do know there are many people who believe nothing will happen after they pass away, yet is that what the Word of God says? No!

Does the story of Lazurus and the rich man ring a bell to you? Read it inLuke 16:19-31, it may change the way you think about your own passing away here on earth.

Daniel 12:2 “Many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt.”

Wow! That my friends, is a very serious circumstance to find yourself in; yet it is the absolute truth! Does it make you want to reconsider your life? Does it make you want to change some things in your life?

As I stated in the beginning of this article, I have long loved the actors and actresses of old. So it would seem strange of me to look at their grave sites and wonder if they loved the Lord, and if they are presently in heaven or in hell. (The answer has a direct bearing on your life as well.)

First of all, everyone is going to leave this earth in the Rapture or a coffin. At some point, a person’s time here on earth is over, so the new question is, are you born-again to Jesus Christ? Are you headed to heaven or are you still a lost soul of this life here on earth and headed to hell for eternity?

If you want to stop reading here and now because what you have read is declaring your present situation, then be my guest. But in the end it will be either one way or the other. Here’s the fact; while you are still alive, you have a choice. You still have an opportunity to change where you will spend eternity.

Matthew 13:30 begins the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares and as such, you have a choice of which you are, a wheat or a tare (weed). The wheat will be gathered and then placed in the barn, while the tares (weeds) will be gathered and thrown in the fire. That my friends is pretty straight forward and right out of the Holy Word of God … therefore it IS TRUTH.

The story of Lazurus and the rich man reminds me that the riches of heaven are far greater than the riches, fame and the popularity of this life here on earth. My heart begins to sink in sadness for those who are not saved to Jesus Christ.

How many people are continually burdened with enhancing their own physical beauty, fame and fortune? When in the end, without Christ, they will only reap sadness and pain. But fighting to keep money and beauty is a priority for so many.

All the while the clock keeps ticking away the hours to each person’s eventual end; many never understanding that they were never meant to live their way—they  were meant to honor the Lord God!

Has it never been understood, that we are a fallen species? And if that is the true case, then why should we ever think that we know what is best for us? Again let me say, we are  fallen, corrupt and filled with sins of all kinds—heading in the wrong direction, heading to destruction.

The ONLY way to change this is to accept the gift of salvation through the blood of Jesus Christ. Salvation will never end, yet this life and its problems will continue as long as we live here on earth.

If God is in charge of every aspect of our lives, and we know HE is—then why do we listen to our own rationalizations? Has it never occurred to anyone that trying to be the most wealthy, the most beautiful, the most famous are goals that have been around since the beginning of mankind’s existence? In the end, where does it get anyone?

We must look at the timeline here. Life on this earth is very, very, short when we compare that time to eternity. I am not telling you anything that you don’t already know; so the question is this: Why do you not prepare ahead of time, like the old saying?: “We must save for a rainy day.”

You already know there will be sad days, bad days, times of trouble and discord. With something put away, you can do a little shopping or have a really good meal, and you’ll feel better. It is almost the exact same thing with Jesus Christ, only you’re saving for heaven—for a beautiful and happy existence.

We all have the desire to experience the most comfort, the existence of safety, the feeling of being taken care of, of being loved and pampered without any worries. Yet many never once consider where they will be after they die.

If in your life you are NOT able to know what is coming next, then wouldn’t it help you, to know someone that does?! That someone is God—Jesus Christ! You can find HIM and know HIS plan for everyone here on earth in His Holy Word the Bible. The answer to any question or problem you could ever have  can be found in the Bible.

Jesus Christ does NOT want you to feel alone, He does not want you to deal with problems when you can find a solution in His Word. He wants to give you HOPE! You can NOT live without HIM! Without HIM you are simply walking around DEAD.

The lost of this world are like zombies, walking on a highway to hell. They have no true thoughts, they do NOT know how to think, they simply trudge along the wrong highway; they are already DEAD! They never see the flowers the Lord has provided for them, they have no idea of what is good and what is bad.

They simply keep walking along, doing the exact same thing, moment by moment. My friends, ignorance is NOT bliss; it is death. Satan hates you so very much that he wants to cloud your thinking, to keep you from knowing Jesus Christ. In the end, Satan and his ilk laugh as the lost head into hell and then into the lake of fire.

What is it going to take, before you realize, that Satan is doing everything he can to keep you from Jesus Christ? Is your sin worth all of the eternal pain and suffering that will come if you do not know Jesus Christ?

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

All Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible (KJV).

You may reach the author at: twobears44@gmail.com