Without the beating rain,
the brilliant rays of a rainbow can offer no promise.
Without the enduring pain of labor,
a healthy baby will not emerge.
Without a raging forest fire,
the hard seed of a eucalyptus tree will never crack and sprout to life.
Without the subtle tearing of a muscle,
it cannot grow.
Without forceful winds,
a tree’s roots will not go deep and offer stability.
Without the shedding of a tear,
one will never know the warmth of comfort.
And without death,
there can be no resurrection, no life, and no hope.
Romans 6:10-11
“For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Likewise, you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
March 30, 2013
March 6, 2013
A Letter from Satan
Light filled the room with a mysterious beauty. The light was mesmerizing, but something was oddly wrong. The young woman picked up a letter and read. It began with words dripping of sweetness, yet something vile begged to be known. Slowly she scanned it, line by line. It read:
Dear Sarah,
I hope this letter finds you well. I wrote as quickly as possible. I was gravely concerned at hearing of your turmoil of thoughts. You have a new friend that has been asking probing questions. This is causing you to doubt your choices, your lifestyle, even your eternal destination. Hopefully I can right the wrong done to you in the following.
Your friend has questioned the very fact that you are a Christian. Don’t let her religious fanaticism cause you to doubt. You’ve gone to church. You even pray. You are far more religious than most. What more can be expected? No one is perfect. Not even your “friend.”
On top of that, she has raised some serious doubts about your lifestyle. Does this not agitate you as it does me?! First off, who is she to judge??? Is my anger coming through? I’ve got your back, you know. Living with your boyfriend wrong?! You love each other and plan on getting married. So who’s it hurting?
Now for your most prominent concern. When you die, then what? Well, God is a God of love. You know the Bible, right? Trust me, it says that He loves you. He wouldn’t throw someone like you into Hell. You love your family and help people. You even went to church last week. Sang the worship songs loudly. Gave some money to help out. He will remember those things. It’s not like you’re a drug dealer or have killed anyone. God loves you. Rest assured. Yes, rest assured. Heaven is most certainly in your future.
Your forever friend,
Satan
The letter almost stuck to her hands as she tried to set it down. Her heart skipped a beat as she took in every word. It sounded so right. It seemed so easy. Why had she listened to her religiously fanatic friend anyway? Life was good. She was mostly good. And God, He was good too, right?
But suddenly the “feel good” light disappeared and another letter caught her eye. As she reached for it, she saw a picture in her mind as if a movie was playing in front of her. She saw herself walking along a road. It was a wide road and was full of the hustle and bustle of many others walking along side of her. The vision ended abruptly, but somehow she knew the road led straight to Hell.
She shuddered and began to tear up the first letter. In desperation for truth, she clenched the new letter close to her chest. It read:
Dear Sarah,
Do not be deceived. Satan is an angel of light. His words are mixed with truth and seem so right. But in the end, they will bring death to you. I am the Truth and I am the Way. The road to Me is narrow. Unlike the road you saw in your vision, this road has less people on it. It is not easy. Life will not be easy. Not many choose this road.
Oh Sarah, if you could taste just a crumb of my love for you, how you’d dance! You see, my love, you are mistaken. You have believed that sin will make you happy. It will...for a while. Then, it will destroy you.
Oh the life I’d like to give you! The peace! The joy! The hope! Oh how you’d shine!
But now darkness wraps its arms around you tightly as you fight to be free. Free from sin and death. Free from lies. Your sin has struck you down again and again, pushing you farther and farther into a deep pit.
How I long to rescue you! To pull you out. To wrap you in a thick blanket of forgiveness, of acceptance, of my love. Will you let me?
Praying for you constantly and fighting for your freedom,
Jesus
Dear Sarah,
I hope this letter finds you well. I wrote as quickly as possible. I was gravely concerned at hearing of your turmoil of thoughts. You have a new friend that has been asking probing questions. This is causing you to doubt your choices, your lifestyle, even your eternal destination. Hopefully I can right the wrong done to you in the following.
Your friend has questioned the very fact that you are a Christian. Don’t let her religious fanaticism cause you to doubt. You’ve gone to church. You even pray. You are far more religious than most. What more can be expected? No one is perfect. Not even your “friend.”
On top of that, she has raised some serious doubts about your lifestyle. Does this not agitate you as it does me?! First off, who is she to judge??? Is my anger coming through? I’ve got your back, you know. Living with your boyfriend wrong?! You love each other and plan on getting married. So who’s it hurting?
Now for your most prominent concern. When you die, then what? Well, God is a God of love. You know the Bible, right? Trust me, it says that He loves you. He wouldn’t throw someone like you into Hell. You love your family and help people. You even went to church last week. Sang the worship songs loudly. Gave some money to help out. He will remember those things. It’s not like you’re a drug dealer or have killed anyone. God loves you. Rest assured. Yes, rest assured. Heaven is most certainly in your future.
Your forever friend,
Satan
The letter almost stuck to her hands as she tried to set it down. Her heart skipped a beat as she took in every word. It sounded so right. It seemed so easy. Why had she listened to her religiously fanatic friend anyway? Life was good. She was mostly good. And God, He was good too, right?
But suddenly the “feel good” light disappeared and another letter caught her eye. As she reached for it, she saw a picture in her mind as if a movie was playing in front of her. She saw herself walking along a road. It was a wide road and was full of the hustle and bustle of many others walking along side of her. The vision ended abruptly, but somehow she knew the road led straight to Hell.
She shuddered and began to tear up the first letter. In desperation for truth, she clenched the new letter close to her chest. It read:
Dear Sarah,
Do not be deceived. Satan is an angel of light. His words are mixed with truth and seem so right. But in the end, they will bring death to you. I am the Truth and I am the Way. The road to Me is narrow. Unlike the road you saw in your vision, this road has less people on it. It is not easy. Life will not be easy. Not many choose this road.
Oh Sarah, if you could taste just a crumb of my love for you, how you’d dance! You see, my love, you are mistaken. You have believed that sin will make you happy. It will...for a while. Then, it will destroy you.
Oh the life I’d like to give you! The peace! The joy! The hope! Oh how you’d shine!
But now darkness wraps its arms around you tightly as you fight to be free. Free from sin and death. Free from lies. Your sin has struck you down again and again, pushing you farther and farther into a deep pit.
How I long to rescue you! To pull you out. To wrap you in a thick blanket of forgiveness, of acceptance, of my love. Will you let me?
Praying for you constantly and fighting for your freedom,
Jesus
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