So, what do we believe ...and why??

Often we want change because we feel what has worked for others does not work for us.  We didn't deliberately decide upon this ...as often our circumstances carried us down a stream, and we tire of fighting the current.  We just let it take us wherever it may.

One other way it comes about ...is not through tired or hopeless circumstances. Instead, we may view it as an advanced learning accomplishment.  We know something others don't know ...and we can not only share it, but can show that we know more than other people.  We sort of pride ourselves with what we know ...and we have many intellectual authorities to back us up.

But, we fail to realize what our intellect can never reason, or even imagine.

When this life is over ...it really just begins.

Come to Jesus ...

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBgL223dRFU)

Tracing all my memories
Counting my regrets
Why didn't I just do this all before?

Living out the bitterness
Worries, lies, and frets
Fighting with the ones that I adore

I'm not lying
Now I'm dying
And I'm here all by myself

When life is nearly over
I think what I've not done
The chances I've passed by
Forever will be gone

I start crying
I wasn't trying
I was just hiding from myself

Now I look into the mirror
My reflection I can't bear
It isn't just my wrinkles
Or my loss of hair

Crying to pieces
I need you, Jesus
I've been hiding my miserable self

I've looked at God as someone else
Not accepting His own Son
Angry that it was near over
When really it's just begun

I'm still crying
Please forgive me
Thank you, Jesus
For what You've done

A man dies. 
He sees a light.
He hears a voice.
The voice tells him, "Hurry, it is your last chance to enter Heaven!"

As he hurries in the direction of the voice, glancing to the side he sees a past troublesome acquaintance.  It is clear the man he sees is injured.

This injured man had caused nothing but injury and pain for everyone else.  And it seemed this man always found the most joy in life when it was clear that others were suffering.  It now appears that he finally was getting what was coming to him.

This injured person reaches out, pleading to be helped. That other voice interrupts, "Hurry, you're almost out of time!"

The man tries to locate the voice, glances back to the injured person, then calls out to the voice, "But, this person needs help ...surely you'd want me to help this person first."

The voice is even louder, "Others have been asked to give up even mother and father, brothers and sisters ...for me.  This man has never brought you comfort, nor would he give you aid if you were in his place.  He is not worthy to enter Heaven.  I command you to either hurry, or you will forever be within the company of that miserable man."

The man still cannot locate the voice.  He glances at the injured man, then calls out to the voice, "Yet, I also recall Jesus telling the story of the Good Samaritan."

The voice angrily shouts, "The door is closing ...you lose.  We don't need people like you."

The man then reaches for the hand of the injured man.  At this moment, a new Light appears, and a quiet voice reassures, "Whatever you do to the least of these, you do unto Me."