The Elements 3

FIRE

What do we think about when we think about fire? We think of destruction. Oh! the danger, the power, the speed of this element. It makes me think of passion. Passion can be an extremely dangerous thing, our heart laches on to something and it grabs hold with a death grip. Passion begins at the heart, and then spreads to the brain. It makes itself come across as indispensable, as the only thing that truly gives us purpose in this life (crazy as that may sound, when you are in a passion this thought comes as easily as breathing). We are creatures of feeling, we feel bad so we act bad, we feel good so we act good, that is why we need faith. “Faith is not a feeling, more often than not, it is used to raise us above our feelings.”-D.L. But this does not mean that passion across the board is wrong. When studying the word of God and we start to get excited at finally figuring out a tricky point, that is the growth of a passion, a passion to study the Word of God. Does this mean we can only study the word of God if we are feeling passionate about it? Nope. Because any human being on earth knows that we cannot just pull a feeling of passion out of nowhere, the point of this is not to say you have to have passion to do something, just to say that passion (when directed the correct way) can fuel a fire of study, questions, and excitement that will help us build a firm foundation for the rest of our life (1 Corinthians 3).

The Elements 2

EARTH

Such a solid and yet moldable thing. Just like our minds, earth can be changed with patience and hard work. The weeds of sin continue to grow and stink up our gardens with their filthy and hideous appearance (Romans 7-8) but we push on, pulling those weeds knowing that one day the task will be over and we will be free from this constant distraction (1 Corinthians 15). This Earth is a beautiful thing, full of life and energy that speaks to us in a way no other planet in the galaxy ever could. That is because God pulled us right from the dust of this temporary home. And just like the earth, we are living under the curse of sin (Genesis 3). But this is not the end, God has a plan for a new Earth, for a new Heaven, for a new you! These bodies will be made new and without sin. Until then we labor on in the garden lots God has given to each and every one of us. God has given us the strength and seeds to plant, so care for your garden as those your own body, for it is more important. For one day God will look upon your garden and take note of what you did with what He provided (1 Corinthians 3).

The Elements 1

WATER

Water is a powerful and beautiful thing. It could so easily kill us and yet we strive to not drown in it for hours at a  time in the name of “fun”. It is naturally chaotic and yet we aim to set up fountains in public places so as to provoke a peaceful feeling in those around them. It is always changing and yet we view it with peace in our hearts. Why can’t we live life this way? Why can’t we stop and appreciate the terrifying beauty of everyday life? Why is life viewed with such disgust by so many due to its liquid nature? God has created us to thrive off of change, believe it or not. We have the moments, seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, and years; so let’s take a step back and view with awe the beauty and fear of change! Even when in denial, deep down in our hearts, we yearn for the changing of the tide. Now, without God, change is a horrific thing, but we know, we love, the truth that there is purpose, ALWAYS to the change that takes place for all is in God’s hand. Every single change, be it life or death, or the tide coming in or going out, God’s plan is falling exactly into place.

Isaiah 40

-Graveyards in Heaven-

“And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you will not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”

-Hebrews 6:11-12

“A truly faithful servant is not faithful one day and then unfaithful the next.”

-D.L.

When we see a grave we think of loss, sadness, pain, anger, and the very limited time we have here on Earth. Someone has left this life behind and, more often than not, they have left grieving loved ones behind. That is how we see a grave here on Earth. Now, imagine that Heaven and Hell have graveyards. Remember, a grave is door way (it is THE door way) for one person, and one person alone. On Earth graveyards are viewed as gloomy, dark, sad places, but in Heaven they are viewed with joy and wonder. Viewing our grave in Heaven will be very different from how we used to view them. We will look at that pure white stone and contemplate God’s work in each and every moment of our mortal life on Earth. The somber reality will also be present at the first viewing of our gravestone, and that will be the fact that we have crossed over. That door is closed and what’s done is done. All of the joys and trials of mortal life will be behind us and a glorious, sin-free existence before awaits us. Graveyards in Heaven will be a popular gather place. As we gather around the greatest mile-markers of our lives, we will marvel at God’s work in us, rejoice, and celebrate. Now for Hell. Oh, what a horrifying thought, to view one’s grave from THAT side of the door. The regret and horror is not possible to describe. The graveyards in Hell, those will easily be the most avoided area in that horrible prison. Graves in Hell will only be seen as reminders of lose, shame, and unquenchable regret. All of the wasted years will bring back memories that would only stoke that fire of burning anger, fear, and regret. Why am I making a point to mention “regret” so much? Because I do not believe that there is a more painful emotion than regret. Sadness and anger can be vented through passionate, reckless actions, but regret just sits there. It is an unseen, agonizing weight upon the heart. It tortures the mind, it makes itself known at times of rest, it burns in the front of our mind during times of self-analysis. The large, black, crumbling stones will stand as reminders that there is no going back. As they cling, weeping upon that cold stone, they will curse God and crawl away into eternal darkness. We think our graveyards here on Earth are gloomy, at least we view them knowing we still have time. The graveyards in Heaven and Hell will stand as reminders that there is no going back. So as you view the graveyards here, remember, we are living off borrowed time, and that in the end, no one truly expects death. Even with thousands of years of proof, people still live as though the very reality of death itself does not apply to them. Let us live for our death, so that we will not have to regret so much when the final door closes behind us.

“For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them in chains of darkness to be held for judgment, if He did not spare the ancient world when He brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others; if He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; and if He rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the depraved conduct of the lawless (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)- if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment. This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the flesh and despise authority. Bold and arrogant, they are not afraid to heap abuse on celestial beings; yet even angels, although they are stronger and more powerful, do not heap abuse on such beings when bringing judgment on them from the Lord. But these people blaspheme in matters they do not understand. They are like unreasoning animals, creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like animals they too will perish.”

-2 Peter 2:4-12

“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!”

-Matthew 25:23

“Then He will say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe Me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after Me.’ They will also answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing to clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help You?’ He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for Me.’ Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

-Matthew 25:41-46