What Glenn Writes

A few years ago, we had an easy-set pond in our backyard.

I tried to convince my family it is normal for a pond to have a little green water or a sandy bottom.  The water bugs near the surface were common with a natural habitat.  We were green, close to nature, and totally into the recycling thing. 

My family reminded me we had a pool, not a pond.  A mere technicality, but fortunately they caught me just before I had the pond… er, I mean pool, stocked with fish.

The water was clear with a few doses of liquid chlorine.  I had a blue shirt with white spots where the chlorine splashed, but clear water has a sacrifice.  The bugs were gone once I found the cartridge screen for the filter.  The last challenge was the sandy bottom.

The real problem with a sandy bottom in a small pool was the lack of a filter connection for a pool vacuum.  The easy-set pools with a blow-up ring at the top just had two holes in the side of the pool, one for filter intake and one for filter output.  You cannot hook up a vacuum to either one, at least not back when I was converting one of those pools into a pond.

After stopping at three pool places and seeing salesmen shake their heads no to my otherwise brilliant ideas, I found an adaptable vacuum to suck the sand off the bottom without draining all the water.  The process was slow, as a small pool has a small filter, but I was able to turn my pond back into a pool.  The slow, steady sweeps to clean the pool bottom started me thinking of how God uses a slow, steady process to clean up our lives. 

In spite of popular belief, going to church does not make us perfect.  Accepting Jesus as our Savior does not make us perfect.  I know this news is probably causing some people to shake their heads and pound their fists in disagreement, possibly calling me a blasphemer or just a real big stinker, but this news is the truth no matter how hard it is to accept. 

Bummer.

There is no instant perfection for anyone.  1 John 1:8 tells us, “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.”  God’s Word is very clear about this fact in many places – we are not without sin, so therefore, we are not perfect. 

Again, bummer.

We also find in Scripture how God is working in our lives to perfect us.  Philippians 1:6 contains a prayer, “…that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”  God’s good work in our lives is the art of perfecting us so we might be closer to Him.  Ephesians 2:10 adds, “For we are God’s masterpiece…” 

This is where I can tell my wife I am God’s masterpiece, and then she reminds me God is not done with me yet.  While it might be really, really cool to think of ourselves as masterpieces, we must be mindful to the hard to accept fact we are still a work-in-progress. 

Through the Holy Spirit, God gives us the gift to recognize our sins.  Uh, wait a minute… can I return this gift?  Do you have a return receipt?  I just want to exchange it for one of those other really cool gifts like bringing the dead back to life or walking on water.  This whole recognizing my sin thing is a bit too uncomfortable for me.

Double bummer.  It is part of the process to cleaning the sand out of the bottom of our spiritual pools.

When we acknowledge our faults, God is faithful to forgive and wash us clean, removing the power of sin in our lives.  Just like layers of an onion, He steadily peals away the sins in our lives to reveal the perfect person He sees within us.  This is a slow progression, as sometimes we cannot handle all of the revelation which must occur to bring about our cleansing – or healing in some cases.  God is good and patient, but relentless to continue the cleansing process.  As He prepares us to handle the next revelation, He is continuing His good work in us… and perfecting the masterpiece.

This is a cold splash in the face for some whom might believe themselves to be perfect or finished masterpieces.  They are content with their ponds, not realizing they have pools – very dirty pools.  Considering my state, I am grateful the Lord is still working with me and cleansing my murky waters.

Let me encourage you to take a strong look at the state of your spiritual pool… and pray for the Lord to reveal the clean water beneath the green surface slime.  

Is your spiritual pool a bit murky?  I’ll be glad to help.  Shoot me an email.

Do you know someone who might enjoy this blog or one of my eStories or Books? Please share this blog or my website with them. Thanks!

Glenn Sasscer
www.glennsasscer.com
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There are no shortcuts in Michigan.  Living in Ohio, I have learned many shorter routes than normal throughout our beautiful state, depending on whether we are in the mood for scenic, two lane, or adventurous, Ohio has developed in a way to provide logical paths from one point to another. 

Michigan defies logic.  Period.

Some roads labeled EAST or WEST actually travel NORTH and SOUTH in Michigan.  There are roads with the names of lakes and travel nowhere near the lakes named.  Some expressways are divided in such a way to make you get off at an exit ramp, get back on the expressway, and then get off at another exit ramp. 

Many of the larger cities in Michigan require motorist to make a U-turn in order to turn left, otherwise known as a Michigan Left.  You travel pass the road you want to turn left, make a U-turn, cut across several lanes of fast moving traffic, and then make a right turn to the street you first passed.  There is no state that would claim such a confusing traffic hazard and call it safe, except Michigan.

Oh, and by the way, if you encounter construction delays, just sit back and wait.  The orange construction barrel is the unofficial Michigan State Flower.  Do not make any effort to find a route around the construction zone because there are no short cuts in Michigan.  There are dirt roads, though some dirt roads lead absolutely nowhere, some dirt roads are driveways, and some dirt roads are boat ramps to a hidden lake.  If you try to get around a construction zone in Michigan, you may find yourself at a dead end, in someone’s garage, or turning your car into an amphibious vehicle.

Remember, there are no shortcuts in Michigan.

Nor are there any shortcuts to Heaven. 

Jesus tells us this in John 14:6, when He answered the apostle’s question with, “I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.” 

Just as we if we are driving, whether in beautiful Ohio or illogical Michigan, we need to know where we are going and how to get there.  We gain this knowledge by way of roadmaps, asking directions, or finding someone to lead us on our journey.  In this verse, we find Christ is all three in leading us to Heaven: He is the roadmap in He is the Word of God, we can ask Him for guidance through the Holy Spirit, and He is the One Who would lead us on this journey.

Consider He is the Way.  He provided the Way, paid for in His blood, and by which He was able to enter into the Holy Place.  Only by Him do God and man meet and are brought together.  He has provided the way and by this, He is the way. 

Consider He is the truth.  Just as truth opposes lies, deceit, falsehood, error, ignorance, and pride, we find in Christ the opposing nature to these elements of our human existence.  Yet His doctrine and faithfulness to His mission and to each of us supports the truth of His merit and the trust we can have in Him.

Consider He is life.  Because of our fallen nature, we do not possess the innocence required to enter into Heaven.  Since we all sin, we are dead to God until Jesus enters into our life and we receive Him fully, thus a full pardon is presented to us and we are alive… alive in Jesus Christ.

He is the way, the truth, and the life for each of us.  He is the beginning, the middle, and the end.  His payment for our sins was paid in full and in advance.  We only need to receive this knowledge.  This is Jesus working in our lives to provide a clear path, though it may be a construction zone of sorts. 

Although sometimes we find ourselves in situations very similar to driving in Michigan.  We get confused and turned around.  “Yes, I know Jesus is the way but He won’t accept me the way I am… I mean, come on.  I need to do good deeds.  I need to help my neighbors and serve at some mission.  I need to stop bad-mouthing Michigan.  Only then can I earn enough points with God to receive Jesus more fully.” 

With this approach, we are saying Jesus didn’t do enough for our salvation and we have to do something.  Except this is not what He said on the Cross before giving His life for each of us.  His final words, when translated, simply state, “It is finished.”  There is nothing else that needs to be done for our salvation.  He did it all. 

There is nothing wrong with good deeds and serving others, yet we need to know we are working FROM a point a salvation and not toward it.

There are no shortcuts in life; just one path, one way.  Do you know it?  

If you do not know the path or the way, shoot me an email.  I’ll be glad to help.  Do you know someone who might enjoy this blog or one of my eStories or Books? Please share this blog or my website with them. Thanks!

Glenn Sasscer
www.glennsasscer.com
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When you consider superheroes, I believe my wife is at the top of the list for our children.  This woman is prepared for anything getting thrown at her. 

She carries a purse larger than what most men use as a suitcase for a week’s trip out of town.  This super-purse carries something to handle every possibility, from scrapes and bruises to sun protection, from toys and card games to a small snack, and many things more just to defy the very state of physics.  She pulls books, videos, DVDs, and school supplies from this clothing accessory like Mary Poppins pulling a hat rack out of a carpetbag.  Equally amazing is her ability to carry this thing around as if it weighed no more than an ordinary purse.

Her super-vehicle (every superhero has some kind of vehicle specially equipped to handle their own brand of justice) is disguised as an everyday minivan, yet packed inside are folding chairs for those spontaneous lawn parties, a first-aid kit rivaling a MASH unit, an additional arsenal of toys or games for a battalion of impatient children, emergency blankets and pillows, and enough spare change on the floor for any toll road.  In dire need, there is a complete bunker of food storage under the seats: stale french-fries, Cheerios and other assorted cereals, pieces of cookie, and chips.

Every practical mother would most likely be as prepared as my wife, particularly after three children.  Mothers soon learn getting caught off guard with children puts them in a vulnerable position, something taking Dads longer to pick up.  Eventually we all come to know children can smell fear and the little darlings will pounce on you if given the chance.  As parents, we cannot allow ourselves to be vulnerable, thus we must be prepared.  Fortunately, I live with a superhero making my job easier.

Yet being prepared is something we are all called to be in Scripture.  God calls us to this order to keep us from being vulnerable to the tactics of the enemy, as well as to stop us from being discouraged by others.  1 Peter 3:15-16 instructs us to, “…always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the Hope that you have.  But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.” 

This verse is especially powerful when we consider just prior to these words we are called to “set in our hearts that Jesus Christ is Lord.”  Once we have set in our hearts that Jesus is Lord, our fear of man loses power and we are set free to serve the Lord without hindrances.  We no longer care how society or the world considers our actions if we are truly serving God and WE consider Him our Lord.  Our actions are honorable, our reactions have moral soundness, and we seek the approval of our God – not of our neighbor. 

I know this is easy to state, yet to apply this in our lives is a daily struggle.  We have a decent chance at setting our actions with good intentions, however our reactions to others and to situations tend to reveal our true heart.  Do our reactions have moral soundness?  Are we embarrassed to pray in front of others or to seek the Lord’s strength? 

Perhaps this would be easier if we were prepared to present our reasons for the hope we know we have in seeking the Lord’s strength.  Are we afraid someone might challenge us if we pray in public?  I admit I sometimes allow this fear to intimidate me…  I also admit to times I tend to swing on the other side of the pendulum and give my testimony so soundly and boldly that I could receive a gold medal in Olympic Preaching – an equally disturbing “reaction” bringing an offense instead of healing to any situation.  In this case, I smell fear, my own, and I pounce on others to overcome my own fear. 

The Lord instructs us to be prepared to provide a reason for our Hope with “gentleness and respect”.  If we react maliciously or are overzealous, we depart from His call to us and we are left vulnerable.  Perhaps the safe approach is to be prepared to share the Lord’s love in all situations, a method allowing us to serve the Lord without pouncing on others.

Do you know the Lord in such a way to be prepared to share His love?  Let me encourage you to pray for this favor in your relationship with Him.  Ask Him to show you how. 

If this sort of prayer is difficult, does not come easy, or you just don’t know how, shoot me an email.  I’ll be glad to help.  I would like to help you get to know Him.  Do you know someone who might enjoy this blog or one of my eStories or Books? Please share this blog or my website with them. Thanks!

Glenn Sasscer
www.glennsasscer.com
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My family and I moved to the small village of Elmore, Ohio, two years ago.  On various roadmaps, Elmore may appear as a small black dot, a small circle with white center, a little plus sign, or as part of an exit marker for the turnpike.  Road map makers do that with small villages like Elmore, otherwise they would have a map made up of a bunch of large blots and no room for roads.  If there were no room for roads, the road map would look like a huge Rorschach inkblot.  If roadmaps looked like Rorschach inkblots, psychiatrists all over the world would be asking their patients if a roadmap looks like their mother and why do they feel that way.

Fortunately, Elmore is not a huge inkblot used by psychologist to charge their patients enormous fees, but a village of about 1,200 residents… actually, 1,205 residents after my family moved here two years ago.  We were only here about two weeks and I settled right in, wondering why we hadn’t moved to a small town years ago. 

Now, living in a small town comes with a small amount of teasing from “outsiders”.  When I tell others about the charm of this small town, they ask me if I know Opie Taylor, Aunt Bee, or Sheriff Andy; if the post office, the general store, and the police station all have the same address; and what I see when I look at a blot on the roadmap (and why do I feel that way?). 

I don’t mind the teasing.  There is something comfortable about belonging to a small community like Elmore where, as the theme song to Cheers had it so right, “…everyone knows your name.” 

Of course, not everyone knows everyone’s name here in Elmore.  A few may have to greet you with, “Hey you” or “excuse me”, but there is always a friendly tone and a smile behind it.  For those of the 1,205 residents who might be unfamiliar, we fake it and smile anyway.

I was reminded of the value of a small community last week when I dressed to attend a funeral.  I stopped in the best coffee shop in the world, “The Red, White, and Brew”, for my morning cup before the services.  After getting home and changing into my casual clothes, I took a stroll to the post office (no, it does not have the same address as the general store and the police station) and had a few folks ask me about getting all dressed up in the morning.  In Elmore, if everyone knows your name, they know what you are wearing, what you were wearing in the morning, and what you see when you look at a blot on the roadmap (and why you feel that way).  

Some folks may not like this type of closeness in a community, but I enjoy it.  The closeness and familiarity of Elmore is not like Gladys Kravitz peering out her living room window at Samantha and Darrin in “Bewitched”, nor is it intruding like the hotel receptionist in “White Christmas” listening in on all the telephone calls.  Instead, there is a genuine interest given to one another, an encouragement with sincere concern expressed for the well being of those “in town”.  By the way, “in town” is not defined by the limits posted on the streets, but more by the relationships connecting the people together. 

As those in the community express their concern, my concern for them is reciprocated, and while today’s society may have a skewed or twisted definition for this word, this is what defines a friendship.  Whether this friendship is with an elderly Veteran with a contagious smile, a table full of ladies laughing, teasing, and joking with me at “the Brew”, a group of men intent on the study of Scripture and comaradarie, wonderful baristas with my coffee started by the time I hit the door, a caring and interested librarian with her equally compasionate employees, neighbors greeting me with a smile and a wave, or two tender friends sharing an afternoon coffee or tea, the friendships, interests, and concern are a welcome relief in a fast paced world.

I believe Elmore is close to a picture of what Paul was describing to the Corinthians.  In 1 Corinthians 12:18-27, “But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.  If they were all one part, where would the body be?  As it is, there are many parts, but one body.  The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I don’t need you!’ And the head cannot say to the feet, ‘I don’t need you!’…  …God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.  If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.  Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.”

I believe God has arranged for us our places and where we should be at any given time.  This we are given in Acts 17:26, “… and He determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.” 

When we consider God determines the times and places where we should live, and He arranges the parts of the body, each with their function and role, we begin to build a picture of unity within a group of people, each serving their own purpose.  While some in the world may claim, “I don’t need you, I can do this on my own”, they are actually setting themselves up to be isolated, alone, and miserable.  God has arranged the members of the body so there would be “no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.”  We each have our role, our purpose, and our place, whether it is in a church or a village the size of Elmore.  When one person in the church (or in the village) suffers, those around the person grieve with them, and when one person in the church (or in the village) rejoices, we all celebrate together. 

Some people are uncomfortable with a place like Elmore, because it is more relational and friendly than 90% of the world.  Some people are uncomfortable with a place like church, because it is more relational than even Elmore. 

I know this because I used to be very divisive, isolated, alone, and miserable.  I would complain about my lot in life, never realizing I was the primary cause.  I was uncomfortable being a friend to anyone.  I was uncomfortable in church, and would have been uncomfortable in Elmore.  However, when I stopped being selfish, taking my eyes and focus off of me-me-me-me-me, I began to see how selfish and alone I was making myself.  I started to see life in a different way.  There was something I was missing.  And, when I set my eyes on Jesus Christ, I learned forgiveness and healing in some of the broken relationships driving me toward isolation.

My encouragement to you today is to look at your relationships with an eye from the outside and determine if you are more isolated and alone than necessary. 

 Are you divisive like I used to be?  Are you miserable and hiding from life by spending time on the Internet and chatting with people you do not know?  Email, Instant Messages, telephone texting, and chatrooms are not relationships.  These may be hiding places to take up your time so you do not have to address what is uncomfortable: relationships. 

Let me encourage you to find out what you are missing by stepping outside of your comfort zone, taking your eyes off yourself, and setting them on others around you.  Set your eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfector of our faith, and the only One capable of truly healing your past relationships and opening doors for new ones.

And, not once will He ask you to take a look at a Rorschach roadmap and tell Him what you see or ask you why you feel that way. 

Do you know Him?  Do you know Him well enough to ask for His help in your relationships?

If you do not know Jesus Christ in this way, send me an email.  I would like to help you get to know Him. Do you know someone who might enjoy this blog or one of my eStories or Books? Please share this blog or my website with them. Thanks!

Glenn Sasscer
www.glennsasscer.com
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A few years ago, a science satellite picked up a weak signal and boosted it back to Earth.  The range was undetermined and the source had yet to be identified.  Scientists could tell the direction was from a strange unknown place called, “deep space”.

There was likely the usual chatter of excitement you would expect from scientists when they receive weak radio signals from deep space: first, the disbelief; second, the realization they were discovering something for the first time; and third, a mad dash for the closet to grab a freshly laundered white lab coat and a cleaning rag to polish the pocket protector – you always have to be prepared for the photo opportunity.

Imagine their anticipation growing as they start to decipher the signal, each one expecting to hear alien communication, a chance invitation to the Galaxy Ball, a stray Martian cell phone call, or the weekly broadcast of Saturn’s Fear Factor Show – this episode has contestants surfing the rings of the planet, eating Jupitarian Hissing Beetles, and finding Fear Factor Flags in an asteroid belt.  The exhilaration must have wavered ever so slightly when one of the first broadcasts of the Howdy-Doody show played across their screen.   

 There was still cause for celebration for they made the papers with their discovery.  They speculate the signal for this episode was strong to accommodate the weaker receiving capabilities of the television sets of the day, sending the playful image of a puppet throughout the universe to bounce between planets, solar systems, moons, and asteroids until it was picked up back here on Earth. 

With their pocket protectors polished, these scientists set off the calculate the distance Howdy-Doody traveled by the rate of flow, rebound timing, and other factors which really do not exist but scientist make up to keep receiving their grant money.

I doubt the producers for the Howdy-Doody Show expected the transmission of this particular airing to come bouncing back to Earth decades after the broadcast.  In this same way, many of us will be surprised when the words we speak come bouncing back at us and we must answer for the words we have spoken in vain. 

Ouch.  Is this news for you? 

I can tell you this news strikes close to home for me: I am always the joker and the clown who sometimes takes jabs at others, has a library of put-downs for my buddies, and can tell more “Your Mamma” jokes than most comedians.  These are all words spoken in vain. 

In this regard, the Bible warns me in Matthew 12:36-37, “But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken.  For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”  This spreads a whole new light on trash-talking my friends and our word battles when we get together. 

In the above verse, “careless word” comes from the Greek words REEMA ARGON and corresponds with the Hebrew word SHAAW’, which gives us a literal translation to mean a vain, thoughtless, useless word; a word to accomplishes no good; a word which is wicked, injurious, false, or malicious.  When we understand many scholars believe this verse correlates with Luke 6:45, which ends “…for out of the overflow of his heart [a person] speaks,” we find why our words will acquit us or condemn us. 

Our mouths speak the condition of our hearts even when we are kidding around.  Negative words reflect a negative attitude whether expressed openly or suppressed.  We may not have a bad attitude toward our buddy, but somewhere in our lives we carry the source for words we speak.  Whether our friends are bothered by the words or not, there is still an aspect of our lives we are ignoring when we have cause to speak in a foolish nature.

How many times have you had to say, “Oh come on, I was just kidding…” to a friend, coworker, or relative?  This could be a good indication the above Scripture is speaking to you. 

Words of encouragement, love, and friendship reflect the heart of God, a gift Scripture records as presented to all persons to receive. 

My struggle is I continue to search deep space for the answer the Lord has already transmitted to my heart.  I speak words inconsistent with my faith as I grasp for some weak signal in an attempt to be funny or accepted by my friends.  The answer is not out in deep space, it is not always funny, nor does it require my friends have accept me. 

My encouragement for you today is to guard the words passing from your mouth.  I can tell you, this is not easy, especially when we feel we “need” to say something to fit in, fill in the gaps, or go along with the crowd.  There is only One with whom we need to go along, He fills in the gaps, and we fit perfectly into His plan.

Do you know Him?

If you do not know Jesus Christ in this way, send me an email.  I would like to help you get to know Him. Do you know someone who might enjoy this blog or one of my eStories or Books? Please share this blog or my website with them. Thanks!

Glenn Sasscer
www.glennsasscer.com
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My hope is by the time you are reading this, all the snow we received in our recent snow splash is melted away and can only be seen in our memories.  Please know this is not due to a disliking for the frozen stuff.  I like to see the white covering around Christmas and I enjoy my time with the children playing in the yard, building a snowman, and sledding on the hills.  I do like all this winter activity, and I emphasize the word: WINTER! 

Did anyone notice spring started recently? This is the end of March/beginning of April – this is not snow season!  While this has been a light winter for snowfall in Northwestern Ohio, I still like my seasons to be consistent.  You have snow in the winter, flowers in the spring, lawn mowing and mosquitoes in the summer, and leaves falling in autumn. 

Everything belongs in a season, yet every season is acceptable and appropriate to share the Word of God.  We find this call in 2 Timothy 4:2, where Paul instructs us to, “Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage – with great patience and careful instruction.”

This is a directive to all of us.  We are to be prepared to preach the Gospel, to share the truth of salvation with everyone we meet.  Jesus Christ gave His life so that we might live and this is truly the Good News of salvation for all to hear. 

If it is in season, is this an appropriate time to hear the Word of God?  If it is out of season, is this an appropriate time?  Does this concern convenience, meaning we should only talk about the Good News when it is suitable?  Or, perhaps we should seek out times convenient as well as inconvenient?  We could also consider discussing the Word of God with people who want to hear it as seasonable discussion, and if we press those who do not want to hear the Word of God, we might be in an unseasonable vein of conversation with them.  

Either reference, we are to be prepared by this directive to share the Word of God at all times, and when we have to, we should use words - that is, our lives should be a reflection of the Gospel, in and out of season.  This is important when we consider Heaven and Hell are very real places and these are the only two destinations we have in our lives. 

There are no other options. 

We have a choice to make:  Share the truth of God’s Word, the Gospel, and His plan of salvation with everyone we meet no matter the circumstances, or ignore this directive and everyone we know will have to learn on their own or by some other person.  By the first choice, we are obedient to God and we shall share His glory with many of the people we share His truth.  By the second choice, we fear man (you chicken) and what others may think of us, or we are lazy – and by this choice there may be one or more of the people we care about who do end up at the wrong destination. 

If you have to, use words.  And remember, there are only two destinations no matter the season.

Do you know someone who might enjoy this blog or one of my eStories or Books? Please share this blog or my website with them. Thanks!

Glenn Sasscer
www.glennsasscer.com
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I know you have seen them: the harmless little creatures swimming around the dozens of bowls at the summer festivals. The little children are entertained by the way they dart back and forth in their little spheres of glass. They dodge the ping-pong ball when it bounces just before settling in to select the one to be transferred to a sandwich baggie. Yet for our children, the sandwich baggie might as well be called a fish hearse.

We have purchased the goldfish bowls and the starter kits. We have cleaned, re-cleaned, filtered, and re-filtered. We bought new food, new bottom gravel, and bubble pumps. The result: belly-up by the next day.

Such is the life for a Goldfish Killer. Some people kill houseplants, some their lawns, but for me, I choose to stick with live festival prizes.

The deaths come easier each year. My children are finally used to the idea the fish will die. My loving and supportive wife has coached them to know the fish are already sick. This helps them… not me, though. I know better.

Yes, I am the Goldfish Killer.

There are probably tales in the goldfish communities and I am notoriously referred to as the Festival Slasher, Son of Mrs. Paul, or Tuna the Ripper. The goldfish may go to little horror movies portraying a tiny guppy in the shower and me poking through the curtain with a ping-pong ball. When they swim around in their little schools, there are educational teachings on how to avoid me: the Goldfish Killer.

We have the original James Bond film called Goldfinger, and now a spoof called Goldenfish. Could Ian Flounder bring this to life? The star, James Bass, a secret agent for the royal jellyfish, will be dressed to the gills as he attempts to track down the Goldfish Killer.  Would shadows of angelfish swim across the opening credits?  Would he have a license to fish or just a fishing license? 

I know this is getting kind of fishy.

Sure I can make light of my goldfish curse, for in truth, these festival fish are most likely as my wife has portrayed them to our children: already sick. The fish disease “Ich” (also known as Ick or Ichtyopthirius) is common with goldfish. Yet this brings to mind the curse against all of us too many take just as lightly.

Romans 5:14 refers to this curse with, “Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam…” Here we are reminded death is a curse over the descendants of Adam, who sinned through disobedience. The Lord told Adam in Genesis 3:19, “By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.”

Eternal life was Adam’s before his defiance from God, and eternal life was taken from Adam as it was taken from each of us. Fortunately, Paul goes on to state in Romans 5:18-19, “…just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one Man the many will be made righteous.”

As Adam brought the curse of death against the entire human race, one Man has provided an answer and a way to eternal life. He paid the price for our sin and disobedience. Paul finishes the fifth chapter of Romans with, “…just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

By Adam’s act of selfishness, we were brought into a curse. By Jesus’ act of unselfishness, we were brought into a blessing, a gift provided by God. Yet we must make the deliberate decision to accept this gift or we remain with the curse. When we consider the curse lightly, the gift of eternal life holds little value.

After all, we have plenty of time to accept this gift, right? 1 Thessalonians 5:2-3 warns us, “…the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, ‘Peace and safety,’ destruction will come on them suddenly…”  Would God provide this warning if we had plenty of time before our deaths to accept God’s gift?

How important is eternal life?  Ask a goldfish.

If you haven’t found the eternal life written about above and would like to know more about it, shoot me an email.  Do you know someone who might enjoy this blog or one of my eStories or Books? Please share this blog or my website with them. Thanks!

Glenn Sasscer
www.glennsasscer.com
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