Christian Living

THAT ETERNAL BOOT HILL

by Charles (Chuck) Robey
11/14/13
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Are you as much of a"Gunsmoke" fan as I ?  Not like any number of today's sitcoms, Gunsmoke is a true rated "G" rerun series. Poor Matt Dillon, everybody was either out to get him or out to gain a reputation by doing him in.

One tool, needed to be a part of "Gunsmoke's " repertoire  aside from the old trusted six-gun, was  a good shovel. One  never knew when  burying  a friend or enemy was  necessary. God only knows how many individuals Marshall Dillon has had to lay to rest. At least one on every 30 minute series.

Each  time someone was buried out in the prairie, on a family farm, or on that infamous "boot hill", whether the deceased was a beloved grandmother or a brutal murderer, everyone was given the same crude treatment.

The grave would be dug, the body dumped, the earth  replaced, the grave mound neatly rounded and patted down, and a crudely placed fence,  consisting of wood or rocks, would be neatly placed around the grave. Then the final stroke,  a crudely  makeshift cross, usually made from small tree limbs, was placed at one end of the mound.

What does "Gunsmoke's " crude graves  have to do with religious doctrine, you may ask ? Although these settings are  fiction, I can't help but think if these scenarios were to be real,  how many of these buried bodies would have been ready to die. In other words, if these set-ups happened to be real,  would the bodies in fact instantly go to be with the Lord (Hebrews 9:27).   

What about you ? The Bible tells us we all are but a "heart beat"  from eternity.(James 4:14) 

How can one be assured of making heaven and skipping  judgement,  upon death ? It's simply a matter of taking God's free grace, by faith. No one can earn heaven on their own, get good enough for heaven on their own, or rely on a family member or friend to get you in heaven.(Ephesians 2:8-9)   So consider the following steps:

---- God loves you and has a plan for your life.(John 3:16) (John 10:10)
---- You  are born sinful and separated from God. (Romans 3:23) (Romans 6:23)
---  God sent His Son to die for your  sins. (Romans 5:8) (1 Cor 15:3-4) 

All you have to do is believe you are a sinner, that Christ died for your sins, and ask His forgiveness. He knows you and loves you. What matters to Him is the attitude of your heart, your honesty. We suggest praying the following prayer and accept Christ as your Savior:

“Dear Lord Jesus,
I know I am a sinner, and I ask for your forgiveness. I believe you died for my sins and rose from the dead.  I trust and follow you as my Lord and Savior. Guide my life and help me to do your will.
In your name, amen.”

Did you do this ? What now?
1. Read your Bible daily starting with the book of John. ( 2 Timothy 3:16)
2. Talk to God daily by quiet prayer.(Philippians 4:6-7)
3. Start attending a "full gospel" (1 Cor 15:1-4) Bible believing church. (Hebrews 10:25) 
4. And start telling others what God has done for you. (1 Peter 3:15)

In  one episode, Festus Hagan promises Matt that he will help him track down his [Festus’s] uncle who is wanted for murder. “When a Hagan gives his word, it sticks, and when he shakes on it, it sticks like fleas on a dog. .”

 In another of  Festus's home spun theory's  he states, "It’d be a hard world if’n nobody never hepped nobody.”

Just as Festus  said in his crude way, our Heavenly Father is just waiting to help. Help you out of your sinful inbred sin, initialed in the Garden of Eden ( Genesis 3:1-13), to an eternal relationship with Him (John 5:24).