The Goal of Life

From Melanie on Apr 9th:

When you find Christ's love, it's so freeing to worry less and less about the things of this world. It makes life much simpler and more focused.

From Janice on Apr 9th:

Each day I try to read and write in a devotional journal, My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers. The devotion for today goes right along with this one from RFTH. It talks about the difference between realizing salvation through Jesus (what He has done for us) and "seeing Jesus" which equates to the knowing of Jesus in RFTH's devotion. I realize my salvation but I feel I have only glimpsed Jesus and I want to see Him and know Him more and more each day. That is the most worthy "goal of life."

From Lucille Shelton on Apr 9th:

Hi Brine
i sent a reply from my devotians .and thank you so much i enjoy them so much ,they make my day .and can you tell me if there is anywhere in the bible that tells us than before the end if time a black president will be over our nation ,and he will be the anti Christ .some where in my mind i have heard this .and am not speaking of Obama either .
thank you so much Lucille Shelton

From Austin on Apr 9th:

Lucille, I can tell you that the USA is not mentioned anywhere in the Bible. During the end times we may not exist as a nation or a superpower.

From fce on Apr 9th:

Austin, your comments are interesting. I know years ago I thought we would always exist and always be that super power, but viewing the world today and reading the statistics of things that are changing, I don't think we will be around, or if we are, it will be a very different USA. IMHO, that is.

From Jerry on Apr 9th:

Lucille, there is nothing in the Bible about the USA or anything about a black president before the end time. Some teach things like this statement but there is no biblical truth to it.
For the other comments, yes if we do not really pray and preach and teach the truth we very well may experience a much different America. This is in part the fault of our Nation turning from God. Psalms 33:12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance. America needs to turn back to God and seek his face and repent of its evil doings.

From Olberman on Apr 9th:

Of course the USA isn't mentioned in the Bible. The Bible was written 2,000 years ago, and the USA was formed in 1776.

From Jerry on Apr 9th:

It is such a blessing to know that a man such as Paul was, and with all the teaching and knowledge that he had, would count it all as being nothing just to know, and have a knowledge of the living Saviour. When he was arrested by the Lord on the road to Damascus he surrendered his life to the preaching of Christ's life, death on the cross and his ressurection and now his soon return to get his church. This is the same mindset that all believers should have concerning Christ. What I am, who I am, and where I am doesn't mean anything, in fact just that I exist doesn't even change the word of God. It is all about him and what he has done for us, that is what we need to tell the world. He is soon to return for the believers to carry us to be with him.

From Janice on Apr 9th:

Just in case anyone did not see it on the news, on AOL they listed America's top ten favorite books and the Bible came up as #1. God is our most popular author! #2 was Gone With the Wind which made me happy to see since I am from the Atlanta area. #1 favorite isn't a bad rating for such an ancient text. I think it says something about how the Bible is timeless. Praise God for His Word!

From Austin on Apr 10th:

fce - it's pretty scary when you think about our country ceasing to exist. Maybe so many of us get raptured that the country isn't able to function with such a massive drop in population? I don't know much about the rapture, other than all those fictional Left Behind books.
Does anyone know if the idea behind those books, the disappearance of Christians from earth, is Biblically based? I've heard different pastors with different opinions.

From Jerry on Apr 10th:

Austin, Those books are fictional but are somewhat based on Biblical views. For the most part they tell the story of how Christ will come and call his children away before the tribulation is loosed upon the earth. To find out about the end time view read Daniel, 1&2nd Thessalonians and then the first four chapters of Revelation. This is a lot of reading but don't hurry yourself. I have studied these books for the better part of the last 15 yrs and I still am learning more everytime I read it. The most important thing I tell everyone is to make sure they have been born again. Without salvation it doesn't matter what happens to the church the individual will go to hell. If I can help anymore than this we will make arrangements to email each other thru RFTH. Have a blessed day

From Janice on Apr 10th:

Austin, The books are biblically based. I just received a clearance catalog from christianbook.com and they list a book, The Truth Behind Left Behind, A Biblical View of the End Times, by Mark Hitchcock and Thomas Ice that sounds like it would have the information you are wondering about. The book is at a very reduced cost so you may want to check it out. As this RFTH comments site shows, people will always be of varying opinions about Biblical writings. The Left Behind series is fiction. It is to me the recorded imaginings of one way the Biblical prophesy could play out.

From julie on Apr 10th:

I am thankful I have Jesus in my life and am not ashamed to admit I need to give all the glory to God for this and everything I am blessed with. It is not about me, as Max Lucado says in his study book, which I highly recommend again. Just a question, why do people read Christian fiction? Christianity is real, why fictionize it? Always wondered, but it will never change my view on it. Like books in general, be very careful because it is man's opinion, not God's word, not condemning them, just be careful. We read too much of everything else and not enough of the #1book on the list.

From Jerry on Apr 10th:

Julie, Austin, and Janice.
I have the whole series of the "Left Behind Series", and yes the basic concept is biblical but when I used the word "somewhat" that might have been a bad choice of a word, some of the writings and the actions in the books are just an idea that Dr. LaHaye had and yes it sold millions of books. I wish all the books were on DVD's so I could buy them. Just remember they are listed as fictional so we do not need to use them when we wittness to people because there might be someone who could embarass us rather quickly. But still the best way to learn about the end time is to read the book by the creator. God tells us what to expect and he said to be looking for it. Won't it be wonderful when we take that trip to his home to stay and to bask in his love? I know we are ridiculed here for our belief but it doesn't matter that we will endure persucution. Jesus went thru more than we ever will. Hey I love the Lord and I am looking for his appearing, after all he died for my salvation to be so. God Bless and have a good day.

From Janice on Apr 10th:

Julie, I think many people read fiction in general to escape into another world as a diversion from their own problems or boredom. I use to read mainly nonfiction but then as I read more and more in the Bible I became interested in Christian fiction partly to see what all the big deal was about concerning Left Behind and I wondered how it had the power to steer some people even to get saved. When you read the books you do become attached to the characters and want to know what happens to them. You want to see if the authors stay true to God's word and wonder how in the world they will put into words some of the spectacular events in the Bible. I have read some other Christian fiction to see how particular problems are faced by the characters from a Christian viewpoint. I see the possibilities in Christian fiction reaching those who might never pick up a Bible to read. Just thought I would share a few thoughts to answer your question.

From julie on Apr 12th:

Thanks Janice and Jerry for you kind responses. Also Jerry forthe encouragement in your last few versus. That was very uplifting to me and I know I am not going through it alone, but have fellow believers encouraging me. Bless you all.