Thoughts of Life and Time: Strategies for Living a Complete Life (Volume 1)

1

Introduction

Jesus is coming to take His children back to heaven. Be ready!

"Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away."  (Matthew 24:35, KJV)

"For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore, ye sons of Jacob are not consumed."  (Malachi 3:6, KJV)

"Forever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven."  (Psalms 119:89, KJV)

"The grass withereth, the flower fadeth, but the word of our God shall stand forever."  (Isaiah 40:8, KJV)

"[We live] in hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began."  (Titus 1:2, KJV)

The immutability of God, His unchanging nature, is perhaps His most fearsome attribute. Although everyone will stand before Him, some people are entirely oblivious about the eternal consequences of their day-to-day actions in light of His steadfast righteousness. Others disregard how intrinsic and absolute this quality is. But the immutability of our heavenly Father must not be trivialized with compromise or foolhardiness.

Consider what you owe to His immutability. Though you have changed a thousand times, He has not changed once.

C.H. Spurgeon

Since ancient times, human beings have bartered or bargained whenever they could to achieve a desired, usually self-oriented, purpose. Though we are God’s most intelligent creatures, we sometimes use those intellectual skills in perverse ways. We frequently relish the satisfaction of overcoming any potential rejections of our proposals. We often seek whatever is comfortable and convenient. At times, we value winning at all costs and even leverage whatever we can to force the opposition—our brothers and sisters—to buckle to our whims and demands. It may be brutishness, insensitivity, or simply childishness, but some who crave to have it their way may act with a general lack of restraint.

This stands in stark contrast to the selflessness that God demands of His followers. His purpose for calling us to self-denial is well defined throughout scripture and is supported by an unshakable foundation, which we call immutability, as described in the following verses:

"God is not a man that He should lie; neither the son of man, that He should repent: hath He said, and shall He not do it? or hath He spoken, and shall He not make it good?"  (Numbers 23:19, KJV)

"Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever."  (Hebrews 13:8, KJV)

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning."  (James 1:17, KJV)

Throughout the Bible, from the book of Numbers in the Old Testament to James in the New Testament, we read God does not change. The unchangeability of our heavenly Father is an impressive characteristic. It promises blessings and eternal life for those who are willing to seek Him through repentance and obedience, who are willing to walk in the Light. On the other hand, it declares that anyone who opposes Him with disobedience will be cursed. The two positions or outcomes are fixed.

Unlike us, God does not bargain. Haggling dilutes hope. Fluctuation undermines faith by introducing variability and uncertainty. Unreliability generates questions of accuracy and loyalty. Imagine God's royal and sophisticated eternal kingdom falling into such a disarray!

"Do not err, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with Whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning."  (James 1:16-17, KJV)

This book will emphasize that our holy God solemnly and seriously opposes—truly hates—sin, but He loves His children. It is vitally important that readers are adequately aware that God cannot change, so there will be no excuses, no compromises, and no bargaining on Judgment Day. At death, one's eternity is immutably set. Let’s pray for reverent fear of the unwavering One whom Daniel called the Ancient of days. God is indeed Love, but each of us, as His offspring, those who bear His image, must live in Light and conform to Truth to enter heaven. That, too, is immutably set.

"Wherein God, willing more abundantly to show unto the heirs of promise [as are in the Bible] the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath [He confirmed His promise with an oath, thereby emphasizing that these two things (promise and oath) are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie]."  (Hebrews 6:17, KJV)

"Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the Light of the world: He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the Light of Life."  (John 8:12, KJV)

"Jesus saith unto him, I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me."  (John 14:6, KJV)

The official motto of Yale University is Lux et Veritas, which means "Light and Truth, and the University of California at Berkeley would not be outdone in its Latin catchphrase, Fiat Lux, which translates to Let there be Light. If Light and Truth momentarily seized your attention, then you may be quite familiar with John 8:12 and John 14:6, very profound verses. The slogan of Yale all but said, and correctly so, it is the Way. Light and truth are appropriate descriptors of the purpose of secular education, but when Way and Life are added to the maxim, the meaning suitably switches and precisely describes God Himself, because only to Him can we ascribe all four attributes. Otherwise, the education is incomplete and spiritual ruin follows, as Hosea 4:6 charges: My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge…" A complete education is a practical understanding of and adherence to God’s nature (His image) and expectations. As a result, each life is an animated expression of God's thoughts, and His thinking is complete and pleasant. Let us make each intention, each decision, a seamless extension of His.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made. In Him was Life; and the life was the Light of men. And the Light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. (John 1:1-5, KJV)

"He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting Life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see Life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." (John 3:36, KJV)

"And this is the condemnation, that Light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone that doeth evil hateth the Light, neither cometh to the Light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the Light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God." (John 3:19-21, KJV)

Now, whether you are a seasoned Christian, a recent convert, or one who is endeavoring to find the Truth, I hope you can use this God-inspired tool to shape a pathway to a more eternally beneficial Life and Time.

We are blessed because Jesus loves us.

2

Summary of Thoughts

33 Keys for Living a Complete Life

The following is a compilation of the main points found in this guide. Some scriptural references are included here, but significantly more verses are used throughout the rest of this book to add credence to this effort. Usually, a summary is placed at the end of a chapter or in the concluding section of a book. Nevertheless, I placed this summation at the beginning so that you can access the main points quickly. Also, this bulleted section provides a quick reference to the chapters in all volumes.

1| We Are Pre-Mortal Beings - Not unlike Plato, René Descartes, and other world-renowned philosophers, I believe in a pre-mortal existence. I am not alluding to reincarnation, a belief that a person can be transformed into a different physical form after death. Instead, as God came from heaven through the person and interface (proxy and protocol) of Jesus Christ, I believe we did as well (John 6:38 & 1 Timothy 3:16). I also reckon that since He ascended after His human responsibility, the divine expectation is for us, each member of humanity, to do the same (Acts 1:9-11).

"And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory." (1 Timothy 3:16, KJV)

"For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me." (John 6:38, KJV)

"And when He had spoken these things, while they beheld, He was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven." (Acts 1:9-11, KJV)

"And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but He that came down from heaven [we can go back to heaven], even the Son of man which is in heaven." (John 3:13, KJV)

Every member of the human race is a sophisticated and eternal composition of God's intention and work (Psalms 103:22).

"Bless the LORD, all His works in all places of his dominion: bless the LORD, O my soul." (Psalms 103:22, KJV)

We existed long before the universe began. No one is here by chance or leaves coincidentally (Jeremiah 1:4-5).

Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying: Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations." (Jeremiah 1:4-5, NKJV)

"According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love:" (Ephesians 1:4, KJV)

"I was cast upon You from birth. From My mother's womb You have been My God."  (Psalms 22:10, NKJV)

"And, having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile [or reunite] all things unto Himself; by Him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven." (Colossians 1:20, KJV)

"But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification [holiness] by the Spirit and belief in the truth." (2 Thessalonians 2:13, NKJV)

Each person’s date of birth and death was established long before conception. I do consider that each life is conceptually a pre-recording that God is watching for a second time because He already knows the genesis and exodus of each breath, of each life. Life on earth is a mission-critical, soul-testing, project-oriented, and time-restricted existence that eventually reveals a soul of light or darkness.

To this extent, the theory described as Innatism seems entirely credible to me. Innatism is a philosophical doctrine that proposes that the mind or soul is born with ideas or knowledge and that not all knowledge is gained from experiences and senses.

Then again, in a more far-reaching and overarching mentality. I consider the human physical structure is the concealment or packaging of a beautiful, pristine union that was formed long before conception. To this end, I reckon our spiritual arrangement is made up of two primary constituents: Spirit and soul. God's Breath-of-Life or Spirit is the sacred member who sustains life (of body and soul) in the body or temple (1 Corinthians 3:16-17). Together, these three — Spirit, soul, and body — form a union which can no longer exist when the Breath-of-Life leaves at the time of death (Ecclesiastes 12:7).

"Know ye not that ye [your body] are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defiles the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are." (1 Corinthians 3:16-17, KJV)

"God is a Spirit [but manifested Himself in flesh, in human form, as Jesus] and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." (John 4:24, KJV)

"Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was, and the Spirit shall return unto God who gave it." (Ecclesiastes 12:7, KJV)

Furthermore, I will emphasize that the soul is not only the agent of thought and reasoning, it is also the independent and accountable decision-maker. The soul (sometimes called the heart or the mind - Proverbs 14:30) is not only a member of man’s triple nature, but also represents and is endowed with every capability and blessed with every required occasion that is necessary for God to test its readiness for heaven. For example, hardly anyone can forget the thrill of passing an exam, especially a challenging one. Similarly, each life is an exam designed by God and He wants to eternally share the joy of our success.

"A sound heart [or soul] is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones." (Proverbs 14:30, KJV)

All of the skills and inclinations one possesses are united in the soul. Our mission on earth does not have to end in a wreck, nor do we have to fear not having sufficient fuel to reenter heaven; God is the Master Capacity Planner. The Creator will test us and allow evil entities to tempt our souls, so they can mature in sanctity and decisively demonstrate who their King is. Considering the redeemed will judge angels in heaven, God’s standard for holiness should be well understood and effectively accepted.

"Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?" (1 Corinthians 6:3, KJV)

Each soul was an active member of heaven and now lives on earth in a physical body. You may doubt the previous assertion but consider the words of the Bible: Jesus came to save (salvation) and redeem (redemption) the lost, to help the separated person or the lost sheep make it home (Matthew 18:11). Now, here is an important question: how can someone be considered lost or prodigal if they were never a possession or a related in some way? Jesus knew us before we came to be on this terrestrial ball called earth. The word knew is more than cognitive familiarity existing in the mind of God; it is practical and intimate.

For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost. (Matthew 18:11, KJV)

2| Mortals Have an Eternal Hope - A human being is a triune, complex organization of substances that vary in durability and purpose. The principle is one of form and function, and its design is reflected in 20th-century modernistic architecture and industrial design, which propose that the design of a building should match its function or purpose. As a temple, the exterior of a person is short-term. Our bodies are made of a material that is external to the essence of God. We were fashioned from clay, as it were. Despite this, our soul or internal member is permanent; it’s everlasting. Why? Unlike our mortal container, our spiritual insides were created using the divineness of God, His Breath-of-Life, which is unending. The concept is no different from the permanence of the Bible, which contains the words of God and will therefore never pass away. Relative to human, everything that God releases from Himself, through speaking and breathing, is immortal.

Our geographical placement on earth, our body structure, our basic emotional configuration, even our genealogy, were all planned in heaven eons ago. I am not sure if our voices were active in the decision-making process that oversaw our departure from heaven. Nevertheless, again, given the free-will-giving nature of God, I believe it is more than reasonable to perceive that we were given options. Why? Without choices, only a mandate stands, and why would one want to leave heaven, particularly under good terms (compared to fallen angels), unless the rewards for the earthly engagement were highly compensative? As described in 1 Corinthians 6:3, returning children are promised jurisdiction over angels, essentially reigning with Jesus (2 Timothy 2:12).

"If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him: if we deny Him, He also will deny us:" (2 Timothy 2:12, KJV)

"Verily I say unto you, whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein." (Mark 10:15, KJV)

There is an important consideration, though; we were not booted from heaven, as was Satan. We are given a chance to reenter through Christ Jesus. But fallen angels have indeed plunged from such an opportunity, and so we are justified to consider ourselves blessed. Still, before becoming overwhelmingly enthralled by the prospects of eternal life, the Bible gives us a sobering reminder of our nature in Isaiah 64:6, all in an attempt to remind us that the journey back home will require total reliance on God, not self.

"But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are as filthy rags, and we all do fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away." (Isaiah 64:6, KJV)

While the stirring verse in Isaiah 64 is a sturdy and effective rod against our natural tendency to become prideful and waxed in a boastful mindset, the words are a forewarning that we cannot reenter heaven on the wings of one's strength. Instead, the redemptive process is accomplished by our submission, our willingness to yield to the Spirit of God, as Zechariah 4:6 so compellingly instructed and warned.

"Then He answered and spake unto me, saying, this is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the LORD of hosts." (Zechariah 4:6, KJV)

"For by grace are ye saved through faith and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast."  (Ephesians 2:8-9, KJV)

To add another viewpoint to the previous statement, in Luke 10:1 we read about the seventy-two disciples who Jesus appointed and sent out in twos to evangelize and later on, verses Luke 10:17 through 10:20 recount their victory. However, these verses issue a stern notification as to what they should rejoice about: not because they had commanded demons, but rather, because their names were written in heaven.

"And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. And He said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven." (Luke 10:17-20, KJV)

Why did Jesus put them on guard despite their achievement? As the scripture rightly noted, the accomplishment was the workings of the Spirit of God, not mortal bodies, who were mere representatives for the miracles. For example, Numbers 22:28 presents evidence of God using even an ass to convey His message.

And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, what have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times? (Numbers 22:28, KJV)

Overall, a mighty engagement of God working through a person does not suggest a place in heaven for that soul; holiness is the only guarantee for upwards movement after death, so let us not be carried away with signs and wonders; only God knows what is in the heart and the hearts of many are not of God. Instead, let us take a firm stance for hope through obedience.

3 | Jesus Saves, Not Religion - Various theological groups across the globe have formed platforms from which they zealously disseminate their beliefs. Though the yearning or ambition of each member, of each soul, is to connect with its spiritual parentage, some have missed the target altogether and become trapped by anti-Christ teachings in religiosities such as Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism, and even Mormonism.

World Religions Comparison Chart

Muslims are indoctrinated to denounce the divinity of Christ and relegate Jesus to being a mere prophet. Hindus are taught polytheism and, thus, worship multiple gods. Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) try to equate Jesus to being Michael the Archangel, whereas Jehovah's Witnesses (JW) outright reject the Trinity doctrine among other things. Judaism denies the resurrection and second coming of Christ and deems Jesus a false prophet. Buddhists spurn the biblical account of God as the Creator (Elohim - Genesis 1:1). Although Mormonism (as well as SDA and JW) is a Christianity-based categorization, its teachings refute the timeless supremacy and divinity of God and instead promote the contemptible theology that God is merely an exalted man. All of these doctrines profane the holiness and infallibility of God the Father, who is Himself Jesus Christ, the only Redeemer of the humankind.

"In the beginning God [Elohim] created the heaven and the earth." (Genesis 1:1, KJV)

"For the kingdom is the LORD’s, and He rules over the nations."  (Psalms 22:28, NKJV)

Although the civility and social graces of the members in each system of belief may foster a global orbit of inclusivity and though they may be fully persuaded by the delusion that all paths lead to eternal life, atonement or pardon for our transgressions is recognizable and accepted only through Jesus Christ. As illustrated in the World Religions Comparison Chart, only Jesus was raised from the dead and ascended into heaven. All other founders are still in their grave awaiting the judgment of Christ (Hebrews 9:27, KJV). Religion is man-made, and Jesus is no longer on the cross. He is standing right beside you, so do not ignore Him.

And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment. (Hebrews 9:27, KJV)

All in all, the truth remains that the life of each person is owed entirely to Jesus, the Son, through whom God created all things. None of the other religious founders, Muhammad, Vishnu, Buddha, Mr. Smith, or any other gave Life or Time to anyone. Only God is able to dispense those things through the power of Jesus Christ. Not accepting this singular truth is a lapse in judgment that will assuredly result in a life of eternal anguish. The inescapable truth is that Jesus owns every single member of humanity and the sooner we cling to this fact, the more prepared we become to embark on a journey to the true meaning and purpose of Life and Time. Otherwise, we are wasting time and will eventually come to regret this deviation.

I am still learning this most significant lesson: I am not my own (Hebrews 1:1-4, KJV).

"God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, [He] hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when He had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; [Jesus] being made so much better than the angels, as He hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they."  (Hebrews 1:1-4, KJV)

"For every house is builded by some man; but He that built all things is God."  (Hebrews 3:4, KJV)

"For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen."  (Romans 11:36, KJV)

"And be not conformed to this world but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind [soul], that ye may prove what is that good, acceptable, and perfect will of God." (Romans 12:2, KJV)

I cannot function without God. I cannot exist without Him. I am not a self-sufficient being. Effectively adopting this new thought process, absorbing it into my inner being, and exhibiting it in my thoughts and deeds is helping me to achieve the quality and type of life that I desire, and it is the manner of lifestyle that eventually lifts a soul heavenwards. Placing Jesus at the center of our decisions and expectations instead of self is imperative for demoting and quenching our often-consuming desires to boost ego and idolatry.

A strategy or dragnet of Satan is to intoxicate a soul with the wine of self-absorption or the