One was reminded this past week of an important point which should be kept in mind during the times in which we now live.
Things are often not as they appear to be.
The “something from the past” which served as this reminder?
There was a man and his wife. They were married for a long time (at least 48 years). The man was VERY assertive in public. Although very confrontational otherwise, where the man was concerned, his wife was very meek and mild IN PUBLIC and seemingly waited upon this man hand and foot.
THEN, an unforeseen health problem struck the man. The man entered a hospital one day–and exited the hospital a few weeks later–MINUS HIS TWO LEGS, which had been removed by those in the hospital.
NOW, the man was totally dependant upon others–particularly his wife–for almost EVERYTHING. And his wife seemingly was not as she had so often appeared to be in public: NOW, she taunted the man’s lack of mobility and near-total dependence upon her.
As one person who regularly was in the home put it: “During his last years, he was tormented by her.”
And so, the wife who publicly appeared to wait on her husband so agreeably all those many years was not the meek little helpmate so many in the public believed her to be.
Things are often not as they appear to be.
No doubt, the reader is reminded of this IF the reader partakes of the stories of Hollywood’s “stars” and so many other of the world’s rich and celebrated.
Perhaps the reader is NOT surprised by the information revealed in the gossip press?
Perhaps the reader had earlier realized that those who earn their living acting as if they were someone else, really are able to put on an act when in public?
Perhaps the reader merely realized that stories about “celebrities” are mostly lies?
“He (or she) seemed like such a nice person!”
Most of what appears in the “gossip press” is thinly-disguised promotional material for the person named.
Things are often not as they appear to be.
There was a man who had, by hard work and not a little luck, accumulated great wealth during his younger years.
Looking up from his work one day, it struck him that he might grow old by himself. In an irregular moment of clarity, this man realized that his money would offer very little comfort IF he was alone in his old age.
The man began to scout around for a suitable woman he might engage in holy matrimony. He thought he had found true happiness when the girl who cut his hair appeared to be madly, secretly in love with him.
And so, the man ended up married to the girl had formerly cut his hair: the girl who (he thought) was secretly in love with him. A few years later, the man came to the realization that the girl he had married had CHANGED. NOW, she seemed to be no longer madly in love with him.
IN FACT, there were times it seemed that she could barely stomach him and his hard-working ways–though she was in agreement with what that hard work accomplished.
And so, the man and the girl who had formerly cut his hair parted ways through a divorce. And though the man lost a great deal of his wealth to the girl who had formerly cut his hair, the man had another irregular moment of lucidity which, oddly, did NOT make him feel much better about losing all of that money he had worked so hard, so many years, to accumulate.
EARLIER, the man had discovered that his money would offer very little comfort to him IF he was alone in his old age.
NOW, the man discovered his money would offer very little comfort to him in his old age–alone or otherwise.
Because NOW, the man discovered he no longer had so much money.
IF the man had pondered his circumstance deeper, he might have discovered that one can be alone, even IF one is married to someone.
Things are often not as they appear to be.
Modern man learns so many stories: in school, at work, at play, while watching his favorite movie, playing his favorite computer games.
These stories supposedly inform modern man about how the world around him supposedly works.
But so much of the world works VERY differently from the way most moderns suppose it to work.
Still, this does NOT prevent modern man’s belief that he is SO much smarter than those who came before him–and being so much smarter, modern man imagines that he knows how the world operates; sometimes, down to very tiny details.
Which modern man (believing the many stories he has been told) is happy to relate to ANY who inquire.
Most men do NOT care if they are told the truth about the way the world works: as long as he has the story straight to pass along to any who ask.
IF ONLY modern man would keep in mind:
Things are often not as they appear to be.
DOES the reader find himself noticing the many differences between what he has been told and what plays out in his life?
IS the reader too busy to think much more on these differences and why they are?
It is not YET too late: there is still time to change direction (repent), place your faith (hope) for the future entirely on Jesus Christ and enter the kingdom of heaven.
DOES the reader believe he is saved?
Make Your Calling and Election Sure: End Times Survival
DOES the reader believe he is NOT saved?
Time is Running Out: Today is the Day of Salvation
- Gospel of Jesus Christ: Making a Choice
- The Gospel of Jesus Christ
- Gospel of Jesus Christ: The Power of God Unto Salvation
- Gospel of Jesus Christ: The End Times Power of God Unleashed
THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST
“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. ”
–1 Corinthians 15:1-8
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”
-–Romans 1:16
MORE: Eternal Salvation Through Jesus Christ: Salvation Messages from End Times Prophecy Report
[Portions of this piece appeared originally in End Times Prophecy Headlines: November 16, 2020.]
MORE: Eternal Salvation Through Jesus Christ: Salvation Messages from End Times Prophecy Report
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by Jeremiah Jameson
–with Mondo Frazier
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