Overnight, a blanket of white snow covered the earth.  While standing inside the warmth of a dark home and peering outside, seeing any green grass was nearly impossible.  The covering of whiteness covered everything.

I often heard dad say that the snow was filled with nitrogen, a nutrient good for the grass, and as the snow melted, then the grass would also be fed this nutrient—drop-by-drop.  Then, when spring arrives, the grass will be able to grow stronger and taller because it has been fed by God’s blanket of nutrients that He sent to earth from heaven.

Thus, as I stood in the darkness of the sunporch, peering out the window onto the back yard, illuminated by the “whiteness” of the snow, I continued to allow my thoughts to dwell where they have remained for several days—Life & Death & Eternity.

As a teacher of language, I love how authors of old studied the Scriptures and then used the passages within their writings to the world.  One such author, Walt Whitman, lived during the 1800s, and within several of his compositions, he wrote about the existence of mankind.

The Existence.

Mankind.

Apart from God . . . Who are we?

Apart from God . . . Why do we exist?

Apart from God . . . How can we survive?

Apart from God . . . When do we call living A LIFE?

Apart from God . . . What hope remains?

Apart from God . . . Where will our eternity be when our life here ceases to be?

Apart from God . . . IS THERE ANY REASON TO LIVE?

Apart from God . . . we are dead.

Apart from God . . . we wither away and die.

Apart from God . . . we are carried by the wind from this to this, only to receive the opposite of life—death.

Apart from God . . . we will endure forever apart—captured inside the darkness—Separated Forever.

Apart from God . . . we will not reside in heaven—but hell.

Apart from God—

WHY WOULD ANYONE CHOOSE THAT END?

Apart from God—

WHO WOULD EVER WISH OR DESIRE OR WANT THAT FINALITY?

APART FROM GOD . . . Perishing & DEAD!

The Bible tells of a man called Peter, a man who was a fisherman, a brash young man, a runner—yes, a man who could outrun his friends and one who oftentimes even allowed his mouth to run wild as he spoke what he thought.  Peter was called by Jesus.  Peter chose to leave what he knew and follow Jesus.

As an Apostle, Peter was quick to acknowledge:

Who Jesus was when questioned.

Why Jesus came, when asked.

Where Jesus was going when Jesus returned to heaven, to the Father.   &

How we will never be left behind IF we choose to accept Jesus.

How—when life here on earth was complete—we will live forever within God’s presence.

The Word of God is so clear.

The Bible speaks truth.

God’s Holy Scriptures endure forever.

Read with me.

“For you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring Word of God.

For,

‘ALL FLESH IS LIKE GRASS,

AND ALL ITS GLORY LIKE THE FLOWER OF GRASS.

THE GRASS WITHERS,

AND THE FLOWER FALLS OFF,

BUT THE WORD OF THE LORD ENDURES FOREVER.’

And this is the Word which was preached to you.”

(1 Peter 1: 23-25)

Once we have accepted the TRUTH of God.

Once we have accepted the TRUTH, that Jesus died for mankind, for all humanity.

Once we have believed the TRUTH, that Jesus died on the cross of Calvary, that His blood covers the multitude of our individual sins.

Once we have believed the TRUTH, that Jesus was buried, remained dead for three days, and then raised to NEW LIFE!

ONCE WE HAVE ACCEPTED & BELIEVED & CONFESSED—THE TRUTH OF GOD—THEN WE RECEIVE HIM!

Then, as we have received His salvation.

Then, as we have received the only way—Jesus.

Then, as we have received Jesus through the confession of our sins.

YES, Once We Have RECEIVED, Then—There is NOTHING—EVER—That can TAKE US away from GOD’S HOLD—

NO! NOTHING!

Once we have—Then our relationship with Jesus cannot be taken OR cannot be shaken OR cannot ever be “undone.”

Once we have—Accepted, Believed, & Received Jesus Christ as Savior—Then we are HIS, forever!

There is a beautiful melody sung by CAIN titled “I’m So Blessed,” that contains this lyric—

“On my best day . . . I’m a child of God.

On my worst day . . . I’m a child of God

Oh, every day is a good day and You’re the reason why.

If I’ve got You, LORD, Hallelujah, I’m blessed.”

ONCE WE ARE A CHILD OF GOD, THEN GOD WILL NEVER SEE US AS ANYTHING ELSE!

“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature;  the old things passed away;  behold new things have come.

Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself [brought us to Himself] through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation,

Namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them [each person’s sins], and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.” [it’s a promise of God]

(2 Corinthians 5: 17-19)

Apart from GOD . . . We are Perishing & Dead.

Once we belong to GOD . . . We are Imperishable & Alive!

Believe the Word of God.