Buildings that last...

So many of my friends are in the virtual

world and know nothing of the real.

I feel so much like Morpheus talking

to NEO in the Matrix -"NEO, you've

been living in a dream world..."  Now

let's really class it up and say that 

even those who believe they get the

real world, are probably missing

it- and that's where my sadness is

hanging out- check this logic...

I have a friend who is spiritual, meaning

(it seems) that they consider the nature of

things beyond the strictly physical.

They are nice, they are hugely contributing

to peoples lives, and yet, because of an

odd statement that Jesus made in his

ministry, there is a tinge of sadness to

the fact that this person who is indeed

good if ever there was such a thing,

unless they follow the instructions-

they will not have an eternity of peace,

but one filled with horror beyond my

ability to see horror.  I cringe at such-

and cringe at the theology which makes

it mandatory to see it.  But the truth is

the truth- No man can come to me, 

except the Father which hath
sent me draw him: and I will
raise him up at the last day.

Jhn 6:44

What frightens me even more than

this, is the fact that some really believe

that it isn't important to continue to 

dwell with this person, but rather, 

"just plant the seeds," and they think

that because my heart breaks for such

people, and that my dwelling is to be

with them, in so much as it is possible

to do so; that my actions are not motivated

by a true love of Jesus?  That's a little

bit different - isn't it?  And it occurred

to me that this type of concerned and

lifestyle evangelism as some have termed

it is rather like this example:

Suppose you met a really nice billionaire-

and they proceeded to change your life, as

that much power and money can do.  It 

might be fun, huh?  So they say to you one

day, "friend, I like you, I really do, and so

what I'm going to do is bless your friends

as I've blessed you.  Go get them, bring

them to me, and I'll take it from there."

"Well sure I will, but what shall I actually

say to them?"

"Tell them you have a friend who wants

to get to know them, and the blessings

are going to be amazing."

"Can I tell them your rich?"

"Tell them whatever you want, the 

truth is the truth, what can we do about that?"

So what do you do?  I go to find my friends-

and begin to share with them what my

billionaire friend has said.  At first they

are a bit cynical, doubting that it's for real,

but as one of them gets the blessing of

a million bucks put into their account,

word gets around.  How long do you 

think it would be before all my friends

had told each other?  How many of them

do you think wouldn't get a million?

NOW that's just money-

you can't eat it, you can't build a thing

with it, other than what you purchase to

build with it, obviously, but beyond

that, it is useless except to exchange for

something else- right?  (In fact if I hear

folks right about a dollar...if you were

to eat it...you'd catch a sampling of 

cocaine?) And Money won't be around

after the fire...the truth says

that everything we know will go...

NOW, that's a little bit scary...but

not if you know Christ...we count

on Him to save us from such...

don't we?  Don't you?

So now you get the point I know-

and it's not an easy one to take in-

and there are a lot of angles to the thing-

but do you see where I'm coming from?
My friends matter to me- they are doing
the good things of life for others, they
are giving back- and giving and giving
some more- I've seen it- so yes, it might
seem "trite" but I don't think so, this
"good news" of Jesus is indeed a two
edged sword just like the Romans used.
And indeed - it does cut, both ways.