Mountaintop Musings: Are you prepared?

As summer fades to fall many people start worrying about winter. I guess that is a natural thing for us to do. Each season brings about change, new responsibilities, and finding a new rhythm for life. For many people winter and the cold exacerbate physical problems like arthritis, or breathing issues due to the cold air. For some it is weight gain as depression hits and the junk food calls. You may have to get some over-due vehicle maintenance done to ensure there are no problems come February. Long winter roads trips in our state can be tricky and you want to leave home with assurance you will arrive at your destination on time! I do not know the particulars of your life but I know for us it involves packing wood in to the house, trying to regulate the temperature of the wood stove so I am not burning up and Lisa says things are fine. There is the issue of snow removal and access. Now don’t get me wrong, I love winter. I do not love it when things go to 40 degrees below zero, but I love winter.

I enjoy hunting in the cold and blowing snow. I like building a fire out of a fallen log or broken off snag and feeling the warmth come back into my fingers and toes! Since most of my hunting partners have moved out of state, or are grown up and having to work, or are disabled I find myself roaming the hills on many days by myself. Actually, I am not alone but always have the presence of my Lord Jesus with me. You see as a born-again Christian I have the Holy Spirit of God living in me. So, by default and according to the Bible I have the Lord Jesus Christ living in me! Jesus spoke at length about his plan to come to his disciples in the person of the Holy Spirit in John chapter 14 verses 15 through 18: “If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.” (King James Version).

Just as a full woodshed, a properly maintained vehicle or good health bring me comfort and contentment, so does having Jesus as Lord and Savior bring me much comfort and contentment (when I keep my life focused on Him and his plan). So, as I sneak through the woods, I spend a lot of time thinking about the things of God, the challenges and hope that the Bible offers to us all, I think of people I care about and their struggles with life. I remember friends who have stepped into eternity, and I look forward to the day when I will see them again. I also think about the difficult things we all must encounter: Pain, injustice done to ourselves or our loved ones, the pressures of financial need, the senseless killings that happen all around the world, the isolation that each of us feels at certain times and I get to praying.

I believe that there is a God in Heaven who cares about each of us. He is the One we read of in the Holy Bible. He came to lowly earth in the person of Jesus of Nazareth, lived a perfect life and was crucified, buried and resurrected after three days in the grave for the salvation and redemption of all of mankind. However just as one must have the proper licenses and tags to legally hunt, one must have the proper documentation to enter Heaven. That documentation is to have your name written in the Book of Life, Revelation 20:15.

If you have not repented of you sinful standing before God, and asked Jesus to receive you as a sinner in need of forgiveness and grace then your name is not in that Book. Have you trusted Jesus as Lord, Savior and Redeemer? If not, why not do so today and when the time comes for that final journey we all will take that leads us from this life to the next, you can go with confidence and assurance! Until next time, God Bless You! Thanks for reading this column and feel free to call me any time.