Ephesians 4: 20-21

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”                   Ephesians 4:20-21

I recently visited a nail salon where the décor was a dark purple and the wall decked a sugar skull, and a picture of John Lennon with the phrase, “a dreamer”from his still popular song; Imagine. There were other earthy items, but it was those two images with emphasis on that particular song which really got my attention because I believe they speak volumes of what many believe today. The beginning of the song (Imagine) begins with these lyrics:
“Imagine there is no heaven, it’s easy if you try, no hell below us, above us only sky.”

But the next lyric in this song explains why an unbeliever would want to imagine no heaven or a hell because there would be no God or accountability, just living for today:
“Imagine all the people living for today”: The unbeliever says in his heart, “let us eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow I may die.”
(1 Corinthians 15:22, Luke 12:19,Isaiah 56:12, Psalm 14:1)

Lennon’s song goes on to suggest, it is countries, possessions and religion which separates us and prevents mankind from experiencing peace and becoming one.

But the heart of man is deceitful above all things and it is not in his heart to do good but to do what he desires at the expense of others. God’s way is to know the way of loving one another through the regeneration of the heart which receives God’s Truth. (Jeremiah 17:9, John 3:3, 2 Corinthians 15:17)

The Truth is that we sin and deserve the punishment of our sins. This is God’s justice. God’s love and mercy and grace is that He sent His Son, Who knew no sin to take on the punishment for the sins of the world. Those who confess they sin and need a Savior, discover the solution to their sin nature is found through faith in Jesus Christ. Therefore , they no longer want to sin and are changed, born again and start anew in the Kingdom of God where they have abundant living and experience eternal life. (John 3, John 10:10)

John Lennon dreamed there is nothing to kill or die for. But God so loved the world He sent Jesus, His only begotten Son to die for the forgiveness of all our sins and to save us from the wrath of God’s eternal judgment to come. If there is nothing worthy to die for there is nothing worthy to live for. Everything then is of no good or bad consequence. Life is lived in vain. (John 3:16, Romans 10:8-9, Ephesians 1:13)

“The attitude seems to be that if only we could remove God from the equation, then everyone would be not only good but better than ever.” Ben Carson

Jesus said, He goes to prepare a place for those who have come to believe in His great salvation. Where He is , they who believe, will be there also , for eternity. (Hebrews 2:2-3,Luke 23:42-43,John 14:3)

I can Only Imagine what Eternal life with Christ will be.

1 Corinthians 2:9-10

Resources:

– “Take the Risk: Learning to Identify, Choose, and Live with Acceptable Risk”            by Ben Carson