Over seventy days ago Rick and I brushed the wet sand from our tires as we pulled them out of the Pacific and started toward to the Atlantic. So after all of those days on the road we would finally be coming home. So I'm sitting in the Minneapolis airport awaiting our next and final flight that would restore me to my family, house, Oogie (Hogg Island Boa), and Baylie, my flop-eared doxie.
Nothing extraordinary about the flights with one exception: five foot four Yana. Yana happened to be our flight attendant for the Minneapolis run. This fiftyish attendant was not extraordinary in her appearance. Rather average, the kind of woman you would see but not behold. Someone you'd pass over on your way to look for someone else.
It's what she said that caught my attention. She greeted boarding passengers with a generous helping of Amens! and you're blessed.
Who is this apostle of blessing, I wondered as I devoured my serving of blessing casserole. Yana's cheerful countenance and joyous belly laugh was clearly contagious to these early morning boarders. And her antics--she was tactile; she'd throw her arm around someone even as she laughed and blessed them. It's like someone shook a Coke can and then opened it. Lots of overflow. Seems that whomever was in proximity to the overflow benefited and got just a bit of her joy.
One older man had arrived late holding a cup of coffee that he'd gotten for his wife. So Yana trailed the guy like a stalker all the way to the back trying to find the missing wife. I'm sorry you lost your wife, sir. But don't you worry. We'll find her!
Toward the end of the flight Yana the Attendant stopped by Dixie and me and when she found out that I'd bicycled from the Pacific to the Atlantic, she dramatically stood up and proclaimed to God and passengers this man is my hero; he's bicycled across the country on a sit down bike. I apparently had been the first person she'd met who had done such a crazy thing.
I'm juggling two huge carry-ons down the narrow aisle when Sistah Yana once again stopped me. Actually, yanked me into a side walkway to give me her card. You are saved by Jesus, aren't you? Thought so. I assured her that we were serving the same Lord. And that shook the Coke stewardess up again. She fairly bubbled her response: I'm a pastor too!
So we parted ways with hallelujahs and amens and promises to keep in touch. Only as I walked toward the parking lot did I read her business card:
Yana (You Are Never Alone)
Servant and Empty Vessel for the Lord
Psalm 11:6
Daniel 12:3
Philippians 3:12
Yana's whole being embodied her business card. She had truly been a joyful witness for the Lord. I had been immeasurably uplifted, spiritually caffeinated, and blessed by a passing sistah, Yana (You Are Never Alone).
Praise the Lord. Hallelujah. Amen.
UNIVERSAL SALVATION? BY STEVE FINNELL
ReplyDeleteWill a loving God send those who reject Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior to an everlasting punishment in hell?
Titus 2:11 For the grace of God has appeared, bring salvation to all men,
Grace is available to all men, however, there are requirements for salvation. You must have your name written in the book of life.
Revelation 20:15 And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
HOW CAN YOU GET YOUR NAME WRITTEN IN THE LAMB'S BOOK OF LIFE?
FAITH: John 3:16
REPENTANCE: Acts 2:38, Acts 3:19
CONFESSION: Romans 10:9-10, Acts 8:37
BAPTISM: Acts 2:38, Acts 22:16, Mark 16:16
At the point of water baptism your sins are washed away by the blood of Jesus Christ, you become part of the body of Christ (which is the Lord's church), you are saved, you are clothed with Christ, you are justified, you are redeemed, you become a Christian, you have put on Christ, you will received the gift of the Holy Spirit, you will be part of the kingdom of heaven on earth (which is the church of Christ), you will be born again and God will not even remember your sins.
And then you need to remain faithful until the end: Revelation 2:10
ALL MEN WILL NOT BE SAVED!
Matthew 25:41'Then He will also say to those on His left, 'Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels;
Evidently the devil and his angels will not be alone in hell.
Matthew 13:41-42 The Son of Man will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all stumbling blocks, and those who commit lawlessness, 42 and will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Those who reject Jesus and His terms for pardon will not be sitting around drinking beer and playing cards with their friends. Besides the weeping and gnashing problem, they will not be able to see their cards or their friends. It will be dark. God provides light, but God will not be with them.
2 Thessalonians 1:8-9 dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,
Jesus said he that believes and is baptized SHALL BE SAVED, yes, belief and baptism are obedience to the gospel. It will be a surprise for those who believe that there will be a flashing sign on heaven's door that says, "no obedience required" and instead find the door closed and locked. Everlasting destruction is a long time.
JUDGMENT
Hebrews 9:27 And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment,
When you die there will be no second chance. No amount of money, nor prayers of Christians can keep you from facing Jesus on judgment day. It will be too late.
Hebrews 9:28 so Christ also , having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.
JESUS WILL COME FOR YOU IF YOUR NAME IS IN THE BOOK OF LIFE. WILL YOUR NAME BE WRITTEN THERE?
(All Scripture quotes from: NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE)
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