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Two Worlds of Influence

For this posting, I am going to depart from my usual teaching to address those on the fence about their salvation in Christ. This is all due to prayer and supplication for one of my nephews. His mother, who is my sister and whom I dearly love, is heartbroken over her son's condition, which has affected our entire family for several years. So with that said, let me approach the following gently and with clarity.

There are two lives we live, beginning when we are born. Both sides of our walking and talking existence form who we are. Our character is developed, and these lives create the people that others see in us.

The first influence is the world. At the time that the creator formed it and said, “Let us make man in our image and our likeness”, it was perfect, yes, perfect in all ways. God breathed the breath of life into man, making him a living being. Eventually, God created a woman to be the man's companion, and they were perfect. But because of disobedience, sin entered the world, and the man and the woman were equally guilty of rejecting God’s righteousness and turning to their own desires. They didn’t do it on their own, but Satan eased his way into their lives and succeeded in having them participate in his rebellion.

In the beginning, Satan was a glorious angel created by God to minister in God’s heaven. Eventually, he became so convinced that he was greater than the Creator. He said he would set his throne above the Most High. That became the first rebellion (sin) in God’s creation. That rebellion was his tool to destroy God’s creation of man's perfection. Man created the original sin that separated all men from God.

Now the world's influence is based on rebellion. Everything it touches develops a self-destructive, fallen-from-grace life where every decision is self-centered and self-serving. The results of this earthly motivated life are death and destruction. This life demands everything but, in the end, offers nothing. It takes everything and gives nothing in return; it is a dead end in every way. The bible tells us that Satan comes to steal, kill, and destroy. He steals your peace and identity. He kills and takes possession of individuals as his own, then separates them from a loving God for eternity. And finally, he destroys everything that you build, create, and accomplish, and leaves nothing good of your short existence that you spent on this planet.

The other life that is offered while you live on this earth is spiritual. It comes because God sent His Son, Jesus, to die for the rebellion man lives under on the earth. He wiped out all sins of man by taking them on Himself, and His sacrifice is offered as a free gift of salvation for those who come to Him and confess that their lives are sinful and need Christ in their life. With that confession of faith, the Lord builds a loving, guiding relationship with you with a promise that he will come again, and you and I will spend eternity with Him. This life gives, yes, gives for eternity, unlike an ungodly earthly life that takes and destroys.

There is so much more to share about the greatness of our God. In future posts, we will explore as much of that greatness until, by His promise, He comes to take me home. May the Lord bless you and keep you, may He be foremost in your heart, so you may grasp the faith and grace to desire His gift of salvation.