In the 1950s, 70s, or 90s any emerging investor in real estate should have experienced a good measure of success.
But, had those investors leveraged themselves too much, they most likely lost their gains in the 60s, 80s and the mid 2000 years. Investors must be prepared to handle the low market cash flows which inevitability comes as well.
Most of us realize that though we live, we really don’t live that long, and then – we of ourselves can not reason why – we will live again: this time forever.
In the book of Job the question is posed, “If a man die, shall he live again?” Before the story of Job was written, Plato wrote that death is when the soul leaves the body. Jesus said “I am the resurrection and the life. . .” Any so-called Christian thought which does not center around the life after death subject can hardly qualify as Christian thought.
Jesus also said in the above quote, “No man comes to the Father but by me.”
We also hear the atheist; the few, those without answers to the meaning of life, those who build their argument on doubts rather than facts and accuse “believers” of the same-in-kind but call theirs “superstitious beliefs,” those who want to silence others but speak freely themselves.
Arguing from ignorance, denying vehemently the historicity of Jesus of Nazareth, not thinking like most that the earth and solar system declare the existence of that which is Greater than the sum of the known, usually arrogant, and without any explanation for human existence: atheism is a non-answer proposal which offers no hope for beyond the grave and no thesis for the meaning of life. The most famous Greek and Roman minds assumed that believing in Spiritual Reality is reasonable. Spirituality is real life experience. How can we know the truth about it?
We come into being not as a biological accident; there is more to a person’s being than their chemistry. We live for awhile. We leave behind us even our bodies and all that we had accumulated. But we live beyond, and forever. The Bible is not alone in teaching this; but is most explicit about the reason for a first-life, death, and the after-life.
In the Bible we find how to have a happy landing as we enter eternity and leave the temporary. From the Bible we learn that the human being is body, soul, and spirit. We sense this spirit within us and about us; the Bible explains it.
Were we to be asked, ‘Did Jesus live the life that wins,’ from the Bible what answers could we give? The cross upon which He died was then an emblem of suffering and shame: it became common with the landscape of the Western world – as icon of liberty and joy. In the garden Jesus had asked His Father, “Take this cup from me;” yet, satisfied that He must drink His cup, none has died more victoriously: He did win.
History tells us, as did those who witnessed the resurrection, He rose from the grave. He has been the most loved person in world history. He is known today by millions – this is a never-changing claim gone on through the centuries since He died on the cross. This claim separates believers from those who cling to religious beliefs because it is rooted in history and is not theological imagination or based on mythical, allegorical religion. The Christian’s Gospel is truth.
The life that wins faces the same struggles as others; but knows it wins before it shows to have won. Thus was the life of Jesus on earth. Thus is the life of Jesus followers. To win does not at all indicate that no struggles were encountered; the opposite is so.
The wins shine forth hope while in struggles and brings to others hope in their struggles, comfort in their sorrows, surety in the face of that death which is common to us all. The life that wins speak victory into experience, forgiveness into guiltiness, hope against shame; and a new beginning if needed.
No intelligent person can deny the historic fact that Jesus is the reason millions have declared that saved their lives from ruin and crowned their lives with loving-kindness.
Mercy is better than sacrifice. Christianity is better than religion because it offers heart-felt mercy, and abundance of joy, and hope that cannot be smothered by sorrows.
The atheist can prove that we can not scientifically observe God but they cannot erase the good side of Christian history, that which makes singing “Amazing Grace” such a joy to so many. That song has been a popular favorite since its first appearance and is an overwhelming historic fact that can not be discounted – not even by slinging mud at the whole of Christianity.
Jesus said there would be phonies in the midst of the real. That is a part of why there will be a final judgment and a separation of the arrogant from the sincere.
Is there a real final judgment? We do it every day in every land. The supposed purpose is to protect the innocent from the bullies. Common sense has it that those who argued against Holy Spirit persuasion which is meant to save them from even themselves, will get finally the destiny they chose. They will be without the Savior who publicly gave His life for all.
“For God so loved the world,” He said, “I did not come to condemn the world” He taught, “But that the world through me might saved.” The Savior in the business of saving-He will soon return to mop things up: to gather together those who would and separate them from those who would not. It is not so much a matter of believing or not believing as it is a matter of being willing or unwilling.
The author to the letters to the Corinthians said of His own life that which well represents true Christianity:
“We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: through great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, tumults, labors, watching, hunger; by purity, knowledge, forbearance, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love, truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left; in honor and dishonor, in ill repute and good repute. We are treated as imposters, and yet as true, as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing everything.” (2 Cor. 6)
Is this the life that wins? “
In the world,” Jesus taught, “Ye shall have tribulation.”
Why? Why is the first life, the short one, so fraught with difficulty? Why does disease continuously threaten our lives? Why is inequality the norm of world history? Why has every effort by humans to form government for their protection turned against them? Why is the environment and nature itself so indifferent to our safety? Why did God have it that we without fail would find in this life challenges bigger than our own resources?
Has He given us sure answers and not left us to imagination, to superstitions of others, to mismanagement by rulers, to foolish ideological dreams that cannot even bring agreement concerning that which is right or wrong? Is there a sufficient guide-book – and I submit to you that there is. Even then our own limited and often incorrect reasoning may misread God’s book to us. We’ve made the messes of things over and over on earth; why then would we not cry out to God to save us from even our own selves?
Why did God have it that we would age and become physically – at least – as vulnerable as when children? Does our aging and dying have purpose? Do apparently unstoppable inequalities? Where is justice? Moreover, where is mercy because we ought to realize that our personal appeal for justice is over-ridden by our personal need for mercy?
We all have sinned such that justice will not set us free but rather condemn us. Is God the “Friend of Sinners?”
We need to receive the Holy Spirit. We need to own our own guilt and to be merciful to others whose guilt we laud. We need to submit ourselves to the Maker for re-making. The Christian’s message – to every person; is an over-comer’s message, a Gospel which says “If God is for us, no one can be against us.”
The life that wins is the Gospel of God lived through faith in those promises in scripture that entice courageous and self sacrificing action. “His faithful promises are your armor and protection.” Psalm 91:4.
Jesus won. The Apostle Paul won. We all face difficulties bigger than we would like. God is bigger than them, and He will become our Savior if we open our hearts to Him.
Buddy