Quit worrying

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Have you ever wondered how people could look at the same thing but see something totally different? Why do weather forecasters tell us there’s a 30% chance of rain tomorrow? Why don’t they just say a 70% chance of radiant sunshine?

In Bible times, twelve influential men were selected to conduct an analysis of the new country to be inhabited by their nation. They were assigned the task of looking at the strengths and weaknesses, as well as the opportunities and threats of the land. A lot was at stake. This new land had been their dream land for quite a while. A million people had been promised a better life in a better land. They were in transition, having left their life-long homes in hope of striking it rich in a new homeland. Just now they were camping in a wilderness – not really the type of a place we would want to call home. The new land was still a dream for them.

So, the Leadership Team of Twelve set out on their mission. It did not take long for some conclusions to emerge regarding the possibilities and threats. However, they could not reach agreement on their findings and a majority report had to be delivered – not an unanimous one! The majority saw only doom and gloom in the new land. The minority report filed by Caleb and Joshua was upbeat and positive with a recommendation for immediate action.

This life is not all there is!

When you look through history and consider many of the great civilisations and major religions, they all have one thing in common, they all believe that this life is not all that there is.

Although we may disagree with many of their statements and beliefs, it is interesting that they all seemed to agree about this one point. The Egyptians, in their great pyramids, stored all their treasures in the hope that this would accompany them to the ‘after life’. 

Why would this belief in life after death be so prevalent in all these cultures and religions?

If you were to read in the book of Ecclesiastes, which is found in the Bible’s Old Testament, you would find there that ‘God has put eternity in our hearts’. In other words, deep down, we all know that this life is not all that there is. There is another life. Some people choose to ignore this, refuse to believe that there is a God, pushing away what the Bible tells us they know. Others look around for answers, but they do not know where to look for God and remain doubtful about where they will spend eternity.

Men who want to be God v God who became man

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History is replete with men who strived to be recognized as God. The ultimate power sought by many is to rule over other men and women and be worshipped by them. 

Before Jesus had reached His second birthday, He had already become the target of an assassination plot by King Herod, the ruthless and paranoid ruler of Roman-controlled Judea. Joseph and Mary, prompted by a dream from God, took the baby and fled to Egypt.

Egypt's history was one proud and glorious procession of kings spanning thirty dynasties and nearly 3,000 years. Egyptian kings--the pharaohs--were powerful figures and rich beyond imagination. They wielded wealth like a weapon, built sprawling cities and commanded huge armies.