Randy Alcorn

Someone asked me, “I have a question on assurance. How can a Christian know they are going to Heaven and not hell?” First, the assurance of salvation comes from God’s fixed and eternal promises rather than our changing emotions.

Someone e-mailed me this question: “In Heaven, will some people still be annoying? After all, eternity’s a long time!” Annoyance is sometimes caused by others’ sin, our own, or both. Since sin will be eliminated, so will annoyance.

The extraordinary abilities of animals testify to God’s infinite cleverness and astounding creativity, and call for our worship of the Creator!

Being born with a sinful nature does not mean we are merely helpless victims who never personally choose evil. Although we’ve inherited sin, each of us is a sinner in his or her own right.

One morning six months before my wife Nanci died, she said to me in pure excitement, her Bible open in front of her, “I have been reading Psalm 119, and it says in verse 91 that ‘all things are God’s servants.’”

Pentru fiecare american care crede că va merge în Iad, există 120 care cred că vor merge în Cer.17 Acest optimism este în contrast izbitor cu cuvintele lui Cristos din Matei 7:13-14: „Intrați pe poarta cea strâmtă. Căci largă este poarta, lată este calea care duce la pierzare, și mulți sunt cei ce intră pe ea. Dar strâmtă este poarta, îngustă este calea care duce la viață, și puțini sunt cei ce o află."

Коли п’ятирічна Емілі Кімбел потрапила в лікарню й почула, що помре, вона почала плакати. Хоча вона любила Ісуса й хотіла бути з Ним на Небесах, вона не хотіла залишати своїх рідних. Тоді у матері Емілі виникла фантастична ідея. Вона попросила Емілі пройти в іншу кімнату й зачинити за собою двері. Тоді всі родичі Емілі почали почергово заходити до неї в ту кімнату. Її мати пояснила, що саме такий воно матиме вигляд, коли Емілі помре. Дівчинка одразу зрозумі ла це порівняння. Емілі першою пройде через двері смерті. Але з часом усі її родичі приєднаються до неї на тому боці. Там вони знову будуть разом після короткої розлуки. 

Charles Spurgeon, who fought depression most of his life and found great comfort in animals, wrote tenderly to his wife Susannah about their beloved dog Punch. Visitors also often spoke of the Spurgeons’ affection for animals.

God has a literal lifetime of good works laid out for us (Ephesians 2:10). Instead of burdening us, this should excite us! He has purposes, sometimes hidden, in every person and opportunity that crosses our paths.