Seeking Security

This is one of those weekends when we don't really want to blog about poker at all. The news of deadly shooting sprees in El Paso, Texas and Dayton, Ohio (a place where we played poker last September) has been stunning and saddening.

The sad truth is that something like that could happen at a poker room near you. Gun-pointing and barroom brawls are the stuff of Western movies, after all - and those were set more than 100 years ago.

We decided to open our Bible today to two sections with stark contrasts. One pictures the worst of times....

But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be.... abusive.... without love.... without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash.... - II Timothy 3:1-4

Several other "end-time" sins are mentioned there, but we're focusing on the ones which seem especially timely. And sad to say....

But evil men and seducers will wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. - II Timothy 3:13 (KJV)

The old phrase says things will get worse before they get better. Right now, it takes faith to believe things will get better at all. But that's where the second section of Scripture comes in:

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away.... I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God.... He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. - Revelation 21:1-4

A new heaven and earth are coming! Death will someday end! The crying over lost loved ones (from shooting sprees or something else) will stop!

This indeed takes faith to believe. And it comes only through faith God's plan to bring Jesus Christ back to Earth to set up His Kingdom.

The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: "The kingdom of this world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ., and he shall reign for ever and ever." - Revelation 11:15

It seems no place is safe in the U.S., after the events of this weekend. The best security you can have comes by giving your life to God and Jesus Christ - by turning away from the ways of "evil men" and putting your hope in the better world which the Bible promises is coming. May "Thy kingdom comes".... quickly.

Eyes Upon You

Want to be a TV star? All you have to do is sit down in some casino poker rooms. Security cameras are placed above tables, to record every hand and ensure every player and dealer is ethical.

But in a recent post, we mentioned a watch that's even higher in the sky than that. The Biblical book of Ezekiel includes a vision indicating "living creatures" have wheels "full of eyes all around" (Ezekiel 1:16-18).

This admittedly sounds weird - like something from a horror movie. What could those eyes be looking for? Another Old Testament book hints at the answer:

For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.... - II Chronicles 16:9

In the classic words of Bugs Bunny: Did you ever get the funny feeling you're being watched? Well, the Bible indicates you are. God is watching - and living cherubim are helping Him do it.

The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good. - Proverbs 15:3

God is doing this to build a case for a day of judgment, which will come after we die. It could be a case for you.... or against you.

Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it....And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne.... each person was judged according to what he had done. - Revelation 20:11-13

What can you do to prepare for this judgment? The answer is back in that verse from II Chronicles. Be "fully committed" to God the Father and Jesus Christ.

So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good. - I Peter 4:19

You might get mocked at a poker table for trying to do God's will. We faced that this past week, at a final table. But commit to doing good deeds for God, and He promises to notice. He's watching, keeping score - and if you last to the end, a nice reward is coming.