Trent Ruble's Blog: The Other Way It Is - Posts Tagged "grace"
The American Dream
I'm thankful that my family and I have been blessed with this great land in which we live. Our lifestyle is among the best in the world. But, apparently, not everyone feels the same way. I once saw a bumper sticker that said, "It's called the American Dream because it's only real when you're sleeping." I know that's not true because I'm living it right now. However, I'm so goal oriented that I sometimes forget I've arrived. I keep longing for that next big step in life (at the moment that would be my complete retirement from work) without thinking about how lucky I am to be where I am today.
Myself and many others are in this enviable situation; a wonderful family, a modest but nice home, a good job, solid transportation, etc... Our standard of living is so great that we don't even realize how rich we are. And, who should we thank for all this? Not ourselves, certainly. I know I've bungled my way through life only to arrive exactly where I want to be. No, it is God who has provided for me and my family in an amazing way, for "He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities" (Psalm 103:10, NIV1984). If you knew my whole story, which you never will, you would see how obvious it is that He is the One. Thank you Lord for all that you've given such an undeserving guy like me.
If you're like me, take a moment to appreciate all that you have and then thank the One who made it possible.
Myself and many others are in this enviable situation; a wonderful family, a modest but nice home, a good job, solid transportation, etc... Our standard of living is so great that we don't even realize how rich we are. And, who should we thank for all this? Not ourselves, certainly. I know I've bungled my way through life only to arrive exactly where I want to be. No, it is God who has provided for me and my family in an amazing way, for "He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities" (Psalm 103:10, NIV1984). If you knew my whole story, which you never will, you would see how obvious it is that He is the One. Thank you Lord for all that you've given such an undeserving guy like me.
If you're like me, take a moment to appreciate all that you have and then thank the One who made it possible.
The Wages of Sin
In my former position as a police detective, I had many unfortunate opportunities to be in the presence of someone recently deceased. Thankfully, many people find death fascinating. They're the ones who become forensic pathologists, coroners or morticians. Without their services we'd have a rather terrible problem. But, I find death unnerving.
Death is a consuming thing. When I would be at the scene of a recent death, I found that my focus would be riveted on the deceased, with death's presence filling the room like a fog. It was overpowering. And, even in the absence of violence, it was ugly. The most beautiful woman, who may have been God's greatest artwork, is ugly in death. Her skin will be gray and her blood pooled around points where her body rests. Her eyes, once beautiful windows to her soul, will be cloudy and lifeless. And, depending on how long she's been dead, she can be bloated beyond recognition, emitting a foul odor you'll never forget. I'm already embarrassed about how I will look when someone finds my dead body someday. I don't think Mom's advice about always wearing clean underwear is going to help much.
In addition to the physical attributes of the dead, I am keenly aware of the value of life and how the deceased will live no longer. They will not laugh, love or learn. There are no more aspirations. The totality of their knowledge is gone. Everything they ever saw, heard, touched, smelled or tasted was recorded in their brain, but is now gone. The loss is devastating, especially for their family and friends.
Death is difficult to reconcile. I've given a lot of thought to the idea, even using it as the basis for my first book, Harrison Davis: Proof Beyond a Reasonable Doubt. But, although death is difficult to understand, I believe I know why myself and many others are so averse to it. I think it's because we were never intended to die. When God created Adam and Eve, he intended for them to live forever. Death was a consequence of their sin and continues to be a consequence of our sins. So, even though it is a natural occurrence that we all must face, it isn't really natural at all.
But, we are not without hope. Jesus said, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16, NIV 1984) This will not be a physical life as we know it, but a spiritual life after death. It's a free gift but, in order to benefit from this promise, we must consciously accept the gift. It is my hope that you will join with me in the knowledge that we will never die, but live eternally in the presence of God.
Death is a consuming thing. When I would be at the scene of a recent death, I found that my focus would be riveted on the deceased, with death's presence filling the room like a fog. It was overpowering. And, even in the absence of violence, it was ugly. The most beautiful woman, who may have been God's greatest artwork, is ugly in death. Her skin will be gray and her blood pooled around points where her body rests. Her eyes, once beautiful windows to her soul, will be cloudy and lifeless. And, depending on how long she's been dead, she can be bloated beyond recognition, emitting a foul odor you'll never forget. I'm already embarrassed about how I will look when someone finds my dead body someday. I don't think Mom's advice about always wearing clean underwear is going to help much.
In addition to the physical attributes of the dead, I am keenly aware of the value of life and how the deceased will live no longer. They will not laugh, love or learn. There are no more aspirations. The totality of their knowledge is gone. Everything they ever saw, heard, touched, smelled or tasted was recorded in their brain, but is now gone. The loss is devastating, especially for their family and friends.
Death is difficult to reconcile. I've given a lot of thought to the idea, even using it as the basis for my first book, Harrison Davis: Proof Beyond a Reasonable Doubt. But, although death is difficult to understand, I believe I know why myself and many others are so averse to it. I think it's because we were never intended to die. When God created Adam and Eve, he intended for them to live forever. Death was a consequence of their sin and continues to be a consequence of our sins. So, even though it is a natural occurrence that we all must face, it isn't really natural at all.
But, we are not without hope. Jesus said, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16, NIV 1984) This will not be a physical life as we know it, but a spiritual life after death. It's a free gift but, in order to benefit from this promise, we must consciously accept the gift. It is my hope that you will join with me in the knowledge that we will never die, but live eternally in the presence of God.
The Other Way It Is
The stories and opinions of author Trent Ruble.
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