The disciples didn't like it. The religious authorities didn't like it. The governmental authorities didn't like it. The people in the villages didn't like it. No one liked it. Except me. Except the woman at the well. Except the woman caught in adultery. Except the tax collector. Except the woman with a bleeding disorder. Except Lazarus. Except Zachias. Except...the list could go on and on. Whether you think about the end of the story or not there still is a story and it does have an ending. Did I mention that you make the ending? All those examples (including me) made the choice to determine the end of their story. There is a story and there is always an end even if we don't like it. Having a relative or loved one refuse the grace of Jesus and die without him is an example of both. We long to believe but look for signs and wonders. They don't change the fact that it is your story and it has an end. Whether it's a child dying from cancer that you refuse to give up hope but question your faith; it's still a story and still has an ending. Unconventional faith and belief (there is a difference) determine whether we chose the story and embrace the end. We may not like it or we may love it. That's our choice. Yet the ending of the story is always either eternal live in heaven or hell.
I once was asked to talk about chemical and biological warfare. Odd subject but the group asking knew I had taken courses in this area while I served in the US Army. I explained to them that a 1 megaton warhead if dropped in Seattle (where we lived at the time) would have the following effects. First the initial blast would decimate EVERYTHING within a 50 mile radius. Everything. Nothing left. Ground zero with nothing there. Within the next 50 miles (now 100 miles from ground zero) there would be no people, no animals, no forests, no anything but maybe some cockroaches who seem to live despite any effort to eradicate on our part. Germs and some parasites would be found on the outer edges of the 100 miles. Then at 150 miles there would be some vegetation remaining and increasing out from there. There would be no life, animal or human. This area would be in a "nuclear winter" state for 10,000 years. The radiation would linger and keep everything in a "dead" and "uninhabitable state. The crowd grew very quiet and fear was evident on their faces. So, I told them the end of the story. The smallest nuclear warhead anyone in the world has is 500 megaton. Remember I used a 1 megaton example. Sobering isn't it.
We don't like to hear these kinds of truths and tend to rationalize and justify away anything like this happening. We can't do that with life and we certainly can't do that with death. What we can do is understand that, voluntary or not we are part of the story and part of the end. No, you and I can't stop what is put in motion. No, you and I cannot go far enough away to escape this kind of destruction. No, there is no way to survive for 10,000 years and emerge in a new world. The nuclear warheads in the world are enough to destroy the ENTIRE world 10 times over. If someone launches one, then the end is near. Yet we look at Scripture and can see the prophecies being fulfilled, the time is close for His return and we do little or nothing. His coming is way more devastating to those who are perishing than the nuclear holocaust. For those who chose the story to be their own god, there is an eternity in the fires of hell. For those who chose the story to exchange their lives for the life of Jesus within them, there is an eternity in heaven. Two stories to choose from. Yet one ending. Eternal life. Either story takes us to the end of the story. You get the choice. It's always your choice.
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