Do you remember how you felt when you received your first bouquet of flowers? The smile on your face and the joy in your heart, you couldn’t wait to open the little card often accompanying them; it was important to know who thought of you in such a special way. Sometimes they come from family members or friends, then there are times they come from a secret admirer, someone you least expected. There is something about receiving a gift you didn’t expect, it evokes a different kind of emotion; gratefulness consumes your thoughts and you wonder what you may have done to deserve such thoughtfulness from the sender or giver.

It is unfortunate that flowers have a very limited life cycle, they are beautiful while they bloom, but; soon they began to fade. Fading flowers show daily their end approaches; the petals begin to droop, the vibrant colors become dull and finally the petals fall leaving behind dry remnants of what once was. Just like the fading flower, mans life cycle is limited; we all know how we are born, but; death is a mystery. We know it’s inevitable, yet; seldom do we know the when, where, or how it will come. I’ve often heard that death is not the end of the story, just an intermission until the next act begins. My question is what will the next act be? Do we choose the role we will play? What happens when the final curtain falls?

This world has a Time Keeper, He records every wasted opportunity to learn our purpose for being and every wasted opportunity to share what we have learned with others. Unlike the fading flowers, mankind was given free will; choice which determines the path he or she takes. Natures course was established at Creation, it’s path set. The seasons change as directed, the sun rises and sets as directed and so does the moon and the stars. The natural and animal kingdoms give their obedience to their Creator, man is the exception to the rule; he has the ability to disobey. The condition of our world is the result of man’s disobedience to his Creator.

Lawlessness, greed, corruption, and unmentionable evil has consumed our world. Many have aligned themselves with the evil one who is its ruler. He seeks only to kill, steal and destroy; we must be alert and sober minded, he is not a friend of mankind, but; it’s greatest enemy. He is a deceiver, the father of lies, there is no truth in him. Those who follow his leading will end their earthly lives as refuse upon the ground, dried up and discarded like fading flowers. The Time Keeper is watching the clock of time as it ticks down to the final curtain of earths history. This is our final opportunity to choose life.

When the second act begins the trumpet will sound and the dead in Christ will shake off their grave clothes, put on robes of white and rise to meet their Lord, redeemer, and savior in the air. Jesus is the truth, the life, and the way, only those who choose Him will enjoy eternity.

My revelation as I sit by the pool of grace