Many great people celebrate their birthday on the 21st of the month, just ask my wife! Well, the month of July is no exception, as it is known for the birth of Ernest Hemingway in 1899, and Don Knotts in 1924, just to name a couple that most have probably heard of. For most of my life though, I have known this day to be the birthday of a friend. Since I no longer have the luxury of celebrating with or wishing my friend a happy birthday, I decided to write something to share with everyone.
There is a quote from Ernest Hemingway that states, “Every man's life ends the same way. It is only the details of how he lived and how he died that distinguish one man from another”.
I don't know much about Mr. Hemingway, but I have to disagree with this quote. Not every man’s life ends the same way, and while it's true that the life and even death of some become more renowned than others, it's the start of every life that is the same, we all enter life in this world the same way. The book of Romans tells us that each and every one of us is born a sinner, that there are no “good” people, aside from Christ, and that the penalty for our sin is death. Because the price for sin is death, something or someone has to pay that price. The price for our sin was paid in full by Jesus Christ on the cross, this is a free gift that we have the ability to accept at will. Upon salvation, or acceptance of this gift, death is defeated in our own lives, and we are given eternal life in God’s presence. To reject this gift means an eternity in hell, where despite popular belief, there are no parties. It’s because of Christ’s work on the cross, and gift of eternal life, that we have the promise of being with loved ones again.
If you want this gift, please take a moment and pray, and God will hear you. Admit to Him that you are a sinner and fall short of His glory and that you accept Him as Lord and Savior and welcome Him into your heart and life to dwell within and change you. If you make this prayer, please follow through. Give Him the opportunity to change you, and work in your life. You are guaranteed not to be disappointed. We have been given the incredible gift of life, the more you share it with others, the sooner He will return for His church… It’s been said that one of the most hateful things you can do to another person, is to withhold the truth from them, so please share.
All of this to say that it is extremely reassuring to know that death for my friend, died long before his body. He may have been called out of this world, but he lives eternally now in the presence of God. For that, I am not sad, but grateful. Grateful that he is with our savior. Grateful that others have been saved because of him. And grateful that he has inspired me to walk with God again, now closer than ever, and be more outgoing with my faith.
I can’t tell you how much I am looking forward to seeing my God, my friend, and all my loved ones who have been called home before me. When you accept this relationship with Christ, the closer you get to Him, the more homesick you are for His presence. This is an open invitation for all to experience.
KJV Scripture References:
Romans 3:23
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”
Romans 3:10
“As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:”
Romans 5:12
“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:”
Romans 6:23
“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Romans 5:8
“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 10:9-10
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
Romans 8:38
“For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
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