Never thought I’d trip over my own shoe sole.
I guess it’s because sometimes I don’t pick up my feet far enough and my rubber soles grab and hold the tile or concrete or whatever. I can only remember it happening once where my sole caught the edge of a step and down I went. Fortunately, the ground broke my fall and nothing else broke. Well, maybe my ego a bit.
One time I was backing my 850-lb motorcycle out of my garage down a sloped driveway. While backing I was turning so I didn’t back into the street. This one time I turned a little too sharp and I couldn’t hold the weight. Down she went onto the crash bars. No damage, but the first thing I did was look around to see if any of my neighbors was watching. I’m sure none of y’all ever do dumb things like that. I used to laugh at “watch your step” signs. Not anymore.
Speaking of watch your step signs,
while reading Revelation this morning, I was reminded of all the terrible things coming to a neighborhood near you during a period called “the tribulation,” a 7-year period—prophesied millennia ago—when God’s wrath is full and ready to be poured out in judgment on an unbelieving world. There are 7 “seal” judgments, 7 “trumpet” judgments, and 7 “bowl” judgments. You can read the entire narrative in Revelation 6-19.
There will be massive death, earthquakes, 1/3 of the earth burned up, 1/3 of the sea turned to blood, 1/3 of the sea creatures die, and 1/3 of ships are destroyed (Rev. 8:8,9). There will be locusts that have stinging power like scorpions that torment man for five months (Rev. (9:2-10). Plagues that kill 1/3 of mankind are on the horizon. People will be required to get “a mark” on their hand or forehead without which they cannot buy or sell. This mark turns into loathsome and malignant sores on all who get it (Rev. 16:2). And much, much more.
Watch your step…into the future.
You can escape all of these judgments if you’re willing to do one thing that most people aren’t. “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.” (Matt. 7:13,14; emphasis added). It’s not hard, and it’s free. All these judgments are for everyone who has rejected the way of salvation provided by Jesus Christ through His death and resurrection.
Why would anyone turn down an offer like this? It could be they’ve never heard the story of how God loved man—the epitome of His creation—so much that He sent His son, Jesus, to restore the relationship that sin had broken. CLICK HERE to find out how you can benefit from that love and to see yourself as God sees you.
It could also be that you’ve heard the story and either don’t believe it, think you don’t need it because you’re good enough (spoiler alert: you aren’t), or you’re putting it off until you’ve gotten further through your bucket list.
You may have bought into the devil’s lie
that to be saved, in addition to Jesus, you need to amass so many good deeds, or give so much money, or need to be baptized, or any number of other religious-sounding lies. Jesus said, “I am THE way, and THE truth and THE life, no one comes to the Father but through Me” (John 14:6). There is nothing else necessary but putting your faith into the finished work of Christ on the cross.
I have buried a 1-year old daughter and a 27-year old son. So I speak from experience when I tell you that tomorrow is NOT GUARANTEED to anybody. If you’re not sure whether you’re a “saint” or an “ain’t” you can be. God wants you to know the truth. Jesus said, “You will know the truth and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32). CLICK HERE for truth on which you can base a life or death decision.