THE NORTHERN KENTUCKY SEARCHER
"Search the scriptures: for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. " (John 5:39)

VOLUME 6, NUMBER 17, 2006

TO SEE WHAT YOU SEE

            Since everyone here knew Bonnie Brown, and most know my son, Adam, I wanted to present this poem that Adam wrote as tribute to his grandmother.  It teaches some wonderful truths.

Why do we cling to this life as if there weren’t a better place?
Why do we weep at the pictures showing your smiling face?
Why do we stammer and groan as our hearts grow faint?
When we know that precious in the eyes of God is the death of a saint?

So once again the time has come and we must say “farewell.”
The emotion I feel now is strong, and beyond my ability to tell.
Grief at losing you makes me close my eyes and bow;
But I can only marvel at what you must be seeing now.

What did you see as angels carried you to Abraham’s side?
And the saints who preceded you standing far and wide?
What is it like being where Satan cannot enter, even to hide?
It must be beyond wonderful, can you even begin to describe?

Things were never the same for you after Grandpa and Mick died.
Oh to have seen your face as they came to welcome you side by side.
Did Uncle Mick laugh; with grin spread as wide as ever?
Did Grandpa make you laugh with something witty and clever?

We miss them so much it makes our minds shrink and reel,
Mick is not bedridden now, Grandma, and I can only imagine the joy that you feel.
And Grandpa is always with me in my heart; I hope my life is the sign.
Please tell him that I hope he’s proud; his “buddy and pal” is doing just fine.

For the moment the tears have passed, Grandma, and a smile splits my face;
And how can it not, writing of that much better place?
Finally, after so much suffering, that burden you’ve carried has at last been laid down,
You once told me that you didn’t like hats; but what about a crown?

I wonder if it’s a coincidence that it wasn’t until after April 1 that you passed into the next life?
Whether it was or not, please tell Grandpa and Uncle Mick about my beautiful new wife.
They would have loved her as much as I do now;
Yes, I got married, Grandpa.  You can finally wipe the sweat from your brow.

So what is left to say; other than I love you with all my might?
The three of you are in my thoughts each day and each night.
And eventually there will be a day when I will lay where you now lie;
But until that time, I love you Grandma.  And for now, goodbye.

WILL THE GOOD PEOPLE OF  ALL CHURCHES BE SAVED?   Part 2

Do Denominations Belong to Christ?

            But, someone objects, the various denominations are simply a part of the church Christ built.  This is a third assumption.  Is it true?  Paul pleaded with the Christians in Corinth not to have divisions, but to be “perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.”  He rebuked them for wearing sectarian names as signs of party loyalty (1 Corinthians 1:10 -13).  Does that sound as if the Lord approves of His people believing and teaching contradictory doctrines and belonging to religious sects?

Does God Have a Choice?

            Finally, when people contend that the good people of all churches will be saved, they assume God has simply left it up to man what to be religiously.  They assume God has no choice in the matter.  Is this true?  Friend, it is not enough to believe Jesus is Lord, we “do the will of” God (Matthew  7:21 ).  The Lord adds the saved to His church (Acts 2:47).   Salvation is only in Christ (John 14:6; Acts  4:10 -12).  Christ saves His body (Ephesians 5:23), and the church of Christ “is His body, the fullness of Him” (Ephesians 1:22-23).  Do you really think the Lord has left it up to us to be member of any church that strikes our fancy?

Conclusion 

            Friend, the Bible most assuredly does NOT teach that the good people of all churches will be saved.  In the Day of Judgment many who thought they were saved will be lost (Matthew 7:22 -23).  You see, salvation is only in Christ (2 Timothy 2:10), in His body, the church (Ephesians 1:22 -23).

            You can be a member of the church Jesus built.  If you will believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, repent of your sins, confess before men your faith in Christ, and be baptized in water for the remission of sins, Christ will save you (Romans 10:9-10; Acts 3:19; 2:38).   He will then add you to His church (Acts 2:47), the body of the saved (Ephesians 5:23).

            “And now why are you waiting?  Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16).

                                                Keith Sharp