Randy Alcorn

Why doesn’t God simply reward each good and punish each evil as it happens? Because God’s justice is not a vending machine in which a coin of righteousness immediately produces reward or a coin of evil yields swift retribution. Scripture assures us justice is coming. Everything in God’s plan has a proper time.

It’s exhilarating, even worshipful, to be immersed in a God-made world normally beyond our reach. Years ago, while snorkeling in deep water with one of my daughters and some friends, we suddenly heard the melodic sounds of whales. We floated nearly motionless as the sounds grew louder and louder.

According to David, the greatest thing we can ask of God is to gaze upon His beauty: “One thing I have asked from Yahweh, that I shall seek: that I may dwell in the house of Yahweh all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of Yahweh and to inquire in His temple” (Psalm 27:4, LSB).

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.” Jesus could have gone on—fires consume, floods destroy, inflation erodes, governments tax, enemies attack, investments go sour. No earthly treasure is safe.

Last year, I was a guest on the Building Excellence Podcast with Bailey Miles. Bailey asked me some great questions, including about coming to faith, how I got into ministry, and my experience of becoming a writer. We also talked about mentorship, stewardship, sports, and adversity.

Imagjino të jesh pjesë e një ekipi të NASA-s, i cili po përgatitet për një mision pesëvjeçar në Mars. Pas një periudhe stërvitjesh intensive, më në fund vjen dita e nisjes. Ndërsa raketa ngrihet në ajër, njëri prej astronautëve të pyet: “Çfarë di ti për Marsin?”

On Super Bowl Sunday, LifeNews.com posted about Seattle Seahawks LB Derick Hall, who was born at 23 weeks. Derick’s story reminds me of former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow, and how the doctors in the Philippines said he needed to be aborted or his mother would die. 

A thief on the cross asked Jesus to save him (Luke 23:40-43). He had nothing to offer Christ, no way to pay Him back. He could not make restitution or be baptized. He couldn’t give to the temple, care for the poor, tell people about Jesus, or take communion.

God intends us to love our animals—of course, not more than we love people—but still, that love is God-given. The pain of letting our pets go is great because God made them to be precious to us.