Christian Living

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Larry Lilly’s Letter Thursday November 5, 2009

Hope seems to be on the lips and in the hearts of many Americans again. This is good and bad, for upon questioning it is obvious most have a false hope at best. Many are hoping for honesty in politics.

During the course of what is becoming a long life I have noticed a tremendous hope in the power of education to solve our problems. That this is observably a false hope is painful to our intellectual pride, but given the education level of SS Troops during the war, little hope is left in that field. Other empty hopes are found wanting in the attempt to deny the reality of God, and even more so in the denial of Christ, though most still accept Christmas gifts.

I read a statement by a world famous man who at the end of the road came to a state of utter hopelessness.

“I must look forward to Down Graveyard as the sweetest place on earth.”

Seldom will you find in literature the gaping hole in the earth we call a grave referred to “as the sweetest place on earth.”

Years ago when John Wesley was asked about the stalwartness of his followers he remarked, “They die well.” By that answer Wesley meant that when his teachings were followed and believed those who adhered to them found a deep peace which comes from God through Christ. The early Methodists viewed the “gaping mouth of the grave” as merely the portal to heaven. Their lives lived rigorously for the Lord proved their steadfast belief in the teaching of the Bible.

A good question to ask concerning beliefs is “Where does this belief lead?” The deluded people of Jonestown failed to ask enough questions.

The man who looked toward “Down Graveyard” as a sweet place had started out in life with a grand mind, a tremendous education and opportunities galore. Something happened when he forgot the essential definition of faith given in Hebrews 11:6:

“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

Charles Darwin moved away from faith and when this happens all faithless eyes can see is the “Gaping mouth of the grave.”

Larry Lilly Copyright © 2009 Use with Credit

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