[Roots in Ripon] 2015 NOV 18 A Bright Future

[Chuck Roots]

From: Chuck Roots, 

 Retired Pastor, Former Marine, andNavy Chaplain - Retired 

To: JagadaChambers

 Editor, Ripon Record

Subj.: Roots in Ripon, 18 November2015

 

A Bright Future

 

RecentlyI have been called upon for pastoral duties associated with friends and churchmembers who have been loosed from their earthly bonds and are now celebratingin the joy, comfort and presence of Jesus.

Whenyou know Jesus as your Lord and Savior there is indeed a bright future whichawaits you. Two dear friends from church in the past few weeks have left us,both having reached 80 plus years. Maybe because I find myself in the shadow of70 I?m realizing that the conversations I have with friends invariably getaround to lengthy discussions about our respective health conditions. Truth betold, I feel great and am as active as ever ? just not as quick as I once was. 

Butthe conversation seems to always work its way around to health problems. Now,I?m okay with that, really. It?s just that I don?t want that to be the onlytopic covered. I vainly attempt to discuss sports in an effort to steer thesubject away from death and dying. ?Are the 49ers going to get rid ofKaepernick?? or ?How about Sports Illustrated considering PGA golfer JordanSpeith as Sportsman of the Year?? or ?Yeah, baby! The Patriots are 9 and 0!? or?The Warriors? Steph Curry is on fire!? 

Perhapsas we get older these illnesses and physical setbacks are a constant reminderof our looming mortality. Sooner or later we will shed this body of clay and belaid to rest in one manner or another ? be it a coffin in the ground, or amausoleum, or ashes scattered somewhere over the flora and fauna. It is notpossible to escape such a final act in life?s perpetually progressing drama marchingsteadily toward the moment when the heart stops and the last breath is expelledfrom this tired, worn-out body. 

One of my grandmothers lived tobe 94. My mother was three months shy of 99 when she passed away last year.Neither of these ladies considered themselves to be old, nor did they enjoybeing around ?old people.? We all laughed at this, but as I think back on itI?m inclined to believe they were more interested in life and the things thatwere going on around them than they were sitting over a cup of tea chattingabout theit aches, pains and operations which they had experienced. 

Which all brings me to this question:Why do we seem to be obsessed with death and dying? I know that after havingeight stents put in the arteries of my heart seven years ago, and beingdiagnosed with prostate cancer more than four years ago, I?m much more mindfulof, and grateful for, each day. 

The Bible says that God hasplaced eternity in the heart of every single person. Simply put, part of ourmake-up as people, our programming, if you will, gears us toward reflecting onour own existence and the significance of it in the light of eternity. Where doI fit in? Is there really more to life than the 70 or 80 years ascribed to usas mentioned by King David? 

So if the concept of eternityhas been embedded in my DNA by God himself, it would only make sense that Ishould want to find out where this all leads. Am I, in fact, an eternal being?Will I live forever? If so, where? And so, the questions arise. 

At this point it is important toremember that Adam and Eve, our first earthly parents, were perfect and fullyprepared to live on this earth in its pristine condition. But then came thechoice to reject this perfect eternity by desiring to sin against God. Thus wewere launched into a careening path of debauchery, destruction and death. Allof this separated us from God. But he had an antidote for the sin problem. Thename of this antidote is JESUS. He?s the one who rescues us from sin by having paidthe price for our sin. When we accept him as our Savior, we are promised a newrelationship with God through Jesus which leads us ultimately to Heaven whereGod awaits. 

While sharing recently at afriend?s funeral service, I made it very clear that because Jesus had died andthen raised himself from the dead, I was paying attention to whatever he had tosay. You see, I figure if someone has the power to raise themself from thedead, they have my full, undivided attention! And because I have been walkingwith Jesus for 43 years my desire is now, and always will be, to be whereverJesus is.

So, as I say farewell to mydeparting friends, and when called upon, officiate at their funeral services, Ican?t help but be constantly reminded that one day I, too, will be leaving myearthly home for a far better place and a brighter future in Heaven. 

I do hope that I will see youthere!
 
Dr. Charles R. Roots 
209-604-1415 cell phone 
Pastor, Retired
Free Methodist Church
Former Staff Sergeant, USMC
Captain, U.S. Navy Chaplain Corps (Ret)
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: Roots in Ripon 2015 NOV 18 A Bright Future.docx
Type: application/octet-stream
Size: 50367 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://lists.chuckroots.com/pipermail/rootsinripon-chuckroots.com/attachments/20151116/2907976f/attachment-0001.obj>