Randy Alcorn

Představte si, že jste v týmu NASA a připravujete se na pětiletou misi na Marsu. Po období intenzivního tréninku konečně přijde den odletu. Když se raketa odlepí od země, zeptá se vás váš kolega kosmonaut: „Co víš o Marsu?“

እስቲወደማርስለሚወስደውየአምስትዓመትተልዕኮእየተዘጋጀላለውየናሳቡድንአባልእንደሆንክአድርገህአስብ።ከበርካታ  ስልጠናበኋላ፣መንኮራኮሩንየሚነሳበትቀንይደርሳል።መንኮራኮሩበሚነሳበትጊዜ፣አብረውህካሉትየጠፈርተመራማሪዎች አንዱ፣‹‹ስለማርስምንየምታውቀውነገርአለ?›› ሲልይጠይቅሃል።

One day in Heaven, we will see Christ in His glory. The most exhilarating experiences on Earth, such as white-water rafting, skydiving, or extreme sports, will seem tame compared to the thrill of seeing Jesus.

C. S. Lewis wrote to an American friend, “How little people know who think that holiness is dull. When one meets the real thing . . . it is irresistible. If even 10% of the world’s population had it, would not the whole world be converted and happy before a year’s end?”

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.