A WISE MAN ONCE SAID

 Beca

Lets reason together saith the Lord; 

People such as Moses, Abraham, Joseph, Daniel, Elijah, Noah, King David, Samson, Mary mother of Jesus, Rahab, Ruth, Esther, Samuel, Billy Graham, DL Moody, George Washington, Lincoln, John Adams, Pascal, William Bradford, plus the thousands upon thousands who came to America for religious freedom,  Many of the founders of this nation in 1776 who fought the revolutionary war of independence – all the prophets of old who gave their lives proclaiming God’s message – apostle Paul who wrote much of the new testament etc.  All these men & women lived lives for Jesus and knew the value of a relationship with their Creator. 

You have to ask yourself one question.  WHY?

Anyone who doesn’t take the name of Jesus on their lips is condemned already regardless of how good or bad you may think they are.  Thus there are only two major categories of people – born again and lost (read gospel of John chapter 3 and 1^st John chapter 5, & Romans chapter 2)  Yes I understand there are many great names in history who did not believe in God but they made their choice - as long as you're still alive you have the opportunity to choose God, but be careful not to wait too long - none of us are guaranteed another day.  You may say don't try to scare me -- well the truth is the truth whether any of us believe it or not. 

Will you join the list of names above and accept Jesus as they did or by default remain in the lost crowd.  It’s your choice.  The mother of all choices. You didn’t choose to be born or what country you’d be born into or your parents or for a God to exist but these things are what they are.  We must each deal with our reality and make a choice.  We all have different circumstances but we all have the same choice to make.  Choose wisely.  Oh and there are many false Jesus' out there being preached - be sure to find the right one - He's the one spoken of in the Bible not those others made up out of people's fertile imaginations of what they want him to be.

A wise man said once “I want to cover as many bases in life as best I can since there are so many things uncertain.”  He realized that belief in God required faith but so does almost everything else in life – will my spouse be faithful, will my children love me, should I trust a friend, is the water I’m drinking safe, will I wake up if I go to sleep, will that chair support me when I sit down etc.)  So he said to himself what logically will allow me to have the most victories in this life and the next if there is one – he made this list:  He chose the path that guaranteed the best possibility of no regrets in this life or after life:

Accept God’s Plan of salvation:                                                 God does not exist:

1. Eternal life in heaven wonders beyond our imagination                            return to dust  

Guarantee of persecution for Jesus

                                                                                                   or hell if other side is

                                                                                                correct whatever hell is

2. try to live as good a life by Bible as I can with Jesus help                    No help but

May lose family & friends but will gain different ones                       family and friends

3. May die for my faith                                                                  We all die anyway

4. Miss out on sinful fun stuff                                                        adultery, get drunk,

                                                                                                STDs, porn, dishonor

                                                                                             parents, envy, hate, steal

                                                                                                                 Heart broken, drugs

                                                                                                                  Addictions, fights

                 5. If I’m wrong and God doesn’t exist I’ve

                 Not really lost anything I’ve lived a good life

                And helped others and loved my family etc & and 

                Am no worse off than nonbeliever                                                            If I’m a        

                                                                                                              nonbeliever & I’m

                                                                                                wrong it’s a different story

                                                                                 and things are not the same as with

                                                                      believer- If I’m wrong and God really does

                                                                           exist then I’ve missed out on eternal life

                                                                         in heaven and those wonders untold and

                                                                             not only missed out but will be unhappy

                                                                          and weeping and nashing of teeth forever

                                                                                                  as Bible says in hell 

               6.  Lastly if after I die as a believer  I will know I was correct      If a non believer is  

                    Because I’ll be conscious in God’s presence       correct and there is no God then we 

                    No regrets because I made the right choice           Will Never know because we

                                                                                  cease to exist and return to dust and

                                                                               are never resurrected as the Bible side

                                                                             claims.  On the other hand there is God

                                                                               and this side is wrong then I will have

                                                                                       plenty of regrets.

       

      So as you can see clearly there is a 100% chance of “no regrets”
                when you choose God  

             But if you choose the "God does not exist" side then  you odds are only 50/50 

       If you're correct we'll never know, but if God does exist then you've lost paradise

            and will have many regrets for making the wrong choice.

                      Why risk it when you have nothing to lose and everything to gain.  

                        To thine own self be true

        As a wise man once said (Jim Elliot):

    “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he can never lose”

All religions can be wrong, but they cannot all be right

DON’T JUDGE THINGS BY THEIR ABUSES:

(God said all things were good that he created)

A Robust theory or belief, a philosophy or medical techniques are not scrapped due to a few exceptions or flaws.  Evolutionists don’t scrap Evolution because they can’t explain the Cambrian explosion.  We don’t scrap Christianity because we can’t explain every minute detail of the text or because people claim religion causes all wars and has been abused over the centuries for example Spanish inquisition; crusades and the like.  For instance federal agents don’t study counterfeit bills to identify counterfeit bills NO they study the real McCoy so that when the counterfeit arises it is identified easily.  Since there is an endless amount of techniques to counterfeit the only way to really guard against them is to know the real thing. Do you want a doctor who is really compitent or one who just says he's qualified; a pilot who IS really good or just says he's good. Big difference when you're the one on the operating table or flying in the plane through a storm with zero visibility.  I don't know about you but I'll take the real McCoy every time. (Note for thought - all religions can be wrong, but they cannot all be right. )

The same goes for real true Christians also known as:

true Israel (Galatians 6:16) 

the “bride of Christ” Revelation 19:7-9, 21:2,2 Corinthians 11:2   

the “body of Christ” Colossians 1:18 

 his Church Matthew 16:18 

the seed of Abraham Galations 3:29 

& saints Psalm 34:9

It amazes me but I’m not surprised that people in general clump them all together in their minds while thinking logical practical people should think better.  Realizing that any belief system philosophy or scientific experiment can be used properly or abused.  They say knowledge is power and it certainly is and requires a high level of responsibility to go with it otherwise we have abuses thus the next maxim – “absolute power corrupts absolutely”  God himself is the only being that can hold such power and actually maintain integrity and perfect love at the same time.  Thus we need God to become anything good ourselves - thus being born again (new creation in Christ).  Nothing in this flesh will become good -- we need God.  So you say, I know many non believers who are good; now we come to the definition of terms & context.  Do we go by our own made up definitions or God’s definition of things – If god says none are good no not one then I believe him.  (Romans 3:23 & Psalm 53:3) Acting civil and living what appears to be a clean respectful life will not suffice in God’s book.  Any impure thought any deception or lie no matter how small – to envy or covet things that are not yours - sins of omission (not doing what you should). When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden they not only brought death upon themselves but upon all mankind forever – our only hope is for a sinless man to be our savior to take our sin away and pay our sin debt (past present & future) forever; because obviously we continue to sin daily.  The entire Bible and all the prophets revolve around Jesus grand rescue mission from God to provide a way where there was no way; to redeem all mankind and to make us alive again in Spirit. 

You say Adam and Eve have nothing to do with me: well lets take it a notch closer then; do your grandparents have anything to do with you.  I would say so simply due to the fact that you get your genetic info from them and wouldn’t even exist if they had not had children themselves.  Another example is disease – do you take immunizations as a baby and even now or accept modern medical treatments for any number of problems YES obviously we all do; well where did all these techniques come from – not our of thin air; they came from experiments by men and women like you and me who cared enough to figure our the mysteries of biology and medicine to help others in the future.  Polio is a good example - thus it impacts us today.  So don’t ever say the past has nothing to do with me.  It has everything to do with you and everyone else. We all have a choice to be accept Jesus and be light and salt in an evil world or reject Him and remain in darkness forever.  We  must hold to that which is good and put off the bad; but even this is fruitless unless we abide in Jesus who alone can save us from the 2^nd death.  The 1^st death is physical which is a club everyone joins involuntarily.  But the 2^nd death can be avoided by a choice in this life to confess Jesus as Lord and savior by faith and repentance & not of works lest any man could boast. (Refer to Gospel of John 3:16; Romans 3:23 & 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9;  Epistle of 1^st John 5:1-19)

 

LATER ALLIGATOR & similar sayings

LATER ALLIGATOR

IN A WHILE CROCODILE

TOODALOO KANGAROO

SEE YOU LATER, SWEET POTATER

OKEEDOKEE, ARTICHOKEE.

GIVE A HUG, LADYBUG

SEE WHAT I MEAN, JELLY BEAN?

OUT THE DOOR, DINOSAUR.

ANOTHER TIME, PORCUPINE

The ultimate sacrifice for the sake of Christ

The Word of God teaches us to be strong and courageous and to fear not. This account helps to illustrate that when you are in Christ and Christ is in you you are in the world but not of the world. You have the Spirit  within you to do whatever God calls you to do. This story illustrates the ultimate in courage for Christ, that being presenting your body a living sacrifice.  Refer to Romans 12:1 & 2.

Dear Reader

Greetings in the precious name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and thank you for contacting the Christian Research Institute!

“The Forty Wrestlers for Christ” appearing on various social media sites[i] appears to be a corrupted retelling of a martyrdom account from church history. The historical account neither occurred during Nero’s persecution, nor involved wrestlers and Vespasian.

The actual account trances back to the fourth century church father Saint Basil of Caesarea. In Homily XIV, entitled “In the Forty Martyrs” (In sanctos quadragint martyres), Basil preached,

The Forty Solider Martyrs of Sebaste…were ordered by the officers of Licinius, AD 320, to offer sacrifices to heathen idols, and, at their refusal, were plunged for a whole night into a frozen pond in the city, in sight of a hot bath on the brink. One man’s faith and fortitude failed him. He rushed to the relief of the shore, plunged into the hot water, and died on the spot. One of the executioners had stood warming himself and watching the strange scene. He had seemed to see angels coming down from heaven and distributing gifts to all the band but one. When the sacred number of forty was for the moment broken the officer flung his cloths, and sprang into the freezing pond with the cry, “I am a Christian.” Judas departed. Matthias took his place.[ii]

Many Christians have made the ultimate sacrifice for the sake of Christ. The New Testament speaks of the martyrdoms of Stephen (Acts 7:1-60) and James the brother of John (Acts 12:1-2). The apostles Peter and Paul were also martyred during Nero’s persecution. The account of the forty martyrs of Sebaste delivered to us by Saint Basil is also an encouragement to Christians for all times; however, believers are to be mindful in their telling of church history, so that Christ name can be honored in the speaking of truth with love.

This response was made possible by the sacrificial gifts and prayers of people who have been helped by the ministry of the Christian Research Institute. We ask that you prayerfully consider sending a donation, which will allow CRI to pass life-changing resources along to someone else, giving you the direct opportunity to touch a life for Christ.
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you always!

In Christ,

Warren Nozaki
Research Consultant
Christian Research Institute
PO Box 8500
Charlotte, NC 28271

Tel: 888-700-0274
www.equip.org

---

1.       Cf., for example, Turner Wrestling Training, “Forty Wrestlers for Christ,” http://www.ntwrestle.com/default.asp?Action=DOC&ID=169&SUBID=135; Kingdom Place, “40 Wrestlers,” http://kingdomplace.blogspot.com/2008/07/40-wrestlers.html; Millennial Kingdom, “The Forty Wrestlers,” http://www.themillennialkingdom.org.uk/TheFortyWrestlers.htm

2.       Rev. Bloomfield Jackson, The Treatise De Spiritu Sancto: The Nine Homilies of the Hexaemeron and the Lotters of Saint Basil the Great Archbishop of Caeserea, in A Select Library of Nicene and Post Nicene Fathers of The Christian Church, second series, vol. VIII, ed. Philip Schaff and Henry Wace (Grand Rapids, MI: WM. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1983), lxx-lxxi.

Actions do speak louder that words

A Prayer You Can Read Together With A Lost Friend

Here is a prayer you can read out loud together for those who hear the truth and will not leave their current lifestyle or religion – they may say something like I was born to be Muslim or something like that; use the template below exactly as it is or modify it according to the person you’re trying to reach for Christ.  Let them know you care: (did you know you can pray with your eyes open looking at each other)

--------------------------------------------

God open their eyes to the big picture.

Satan wants death for them, but you desire life for them but it comes down to their choice.  None of us can choose the place of our birth or our parents, but we can see you in your creation and through the light of others who truly know you. 

To do nothing and let things remain as they are will result in their destruction.

To make the hard choice and decide to change everything they know and turn from their current beliefs is what you require, but not for the reason they can imagine;

Its so you can save them from the 2^nd death and not only impart eternal life with you Father God creator of all things seen and unseen, but so you can have an relationship with them as it was always intended to be.   

It’s absolutely unthinkable for God the Father to send His Son Jesus Christ to die on a cross between two thieves and suffer a terrible death for no reason.  And since we know Jesus did live & die and through His miracles and own Resurrection proved He was the Son of God – we must ask ourselves WHY?

The only answer that makes any sense is to save mankind from their sin.  Jesus has the keys of Hell and Death.  Those who abide in Jesus can all say - OH death where is thy sting?  It has been swallowed up in victory through Jesus.

So let your light go forth to all generations and let your light penetrate the heart of this man or woman so they may see your truth; & that your desire is for them to come to you; and then and only then can he or she truly help their family & friends come to the light as well.  Though it may cost them their physical life to make this choice I pray they see it is the only choice worth making and their only hope.  Let them be the beginning of change in their community and circle of friends; use them as you used Paul of old to reach millions.  It all starts with one person turning their life over to you.  Not for their glory but yours.

After everyone had deserted Jesus he said to the 12 will you also go away.  Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. (John 6:68)

And finally I pray you would never stop showing this lost soul your loving kindness until they can resist no more and finally surrender their life to the master builder and healer of broken lives. Amen

Forrest Gump Movie Quotes - Laugh & Cry

Gump! What's your sole purpose in this Army? 

Forrest: To do whatever you tell me, Drill Sergeant! 
Drill Sergeant: ..damnit, Gump! You're a ..damned genius! That's the most outstanding answer I've ever heard. You must have a ..damned I.Q. of a hundred and sixty! You are ..damned gifted, Private Gump! 

---

Forrest: Done, Drill Sergeant!
Drill Sergeant: Guuuuump! Why did you put that weapon together so quickly, Gump? 
Forrest: You told me to, Drill Seageant. 
Drill Sergeant: .........! This is a new company record. If it wouldn't be a waste of such a damn fine enlisted man, I'd recommended you for O.C.S., Private Gump. You are gonna be a General some day, Gump! Now, disassemble your weapon and continue! 
 
Forrest: I want you to have this [Medal of Honor].
Jenny: Forrest, I can't keep this.
Forrest: I got it just by doing what you told me to do.
Jenny: Why're you so good to me?
Forrest: You're my girl.
Jenny: I'll always be your girl.
Forrest: (voice-over) And just like that, she was gone out of my life again. 

Forrest: Hey, Bubba...
Bubba: Hey, Forrest. Forrest, why'd this happen? 
Forrest: You got shot. 
Forrest: (voice-over) Then Bubba said something I won't even forget. 
Bubba: I wanna go home. 
Forrest: Bubba was my best good friend. And even I know that ain't something you can find just around the corner. Bubba was gonna be a shrimpin' boat captain, but instead he died right there by that river in Vietnam. 
 

They gave you the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Forrest: Now that's Lieutenant Dan. Lieutenant Dan!
Lt. Dan: They gave you the Congressional Medal of Honor!
Forrest: Yes sir, they sure did.
Lt. Dan: They gave you an imbecile, a moron who goes on television and makes a fool out himself in front of the whole damn country, the Congressional Medal of Honor.
Forrest: Yes, sir.
Lt. Dan: Well, then, that's just perfect! Yeah, well I just got one thing to say to that. ..ddamn bless America. 

---

Lt. Dan: Have you found Jesus yet, Gump?
Forrest: I didn't know I was supposed to be looking for him, sir.
Lt. Dan: That's all these cripples, down at the V.A., that's all they ever talk about. Jesus this and Jesus that. Have I found Jesus? They even had a priest come and talk to me. He said God is listening, but I have to help myself. Now, if I accept Jesus into my heart, I'll get to walk beside him in the Kingdom of Heaven. Did you hear what I said? Walk beside him in the Kingdom of Heaven. Well, kiss my crippled ass. God is listening. What a crock of ..... 

Forrest: (voice-over) I'd never named a boat before, but there was only one I could think of... The most beautiful name in the wide world. 

Lt. Dan: Well, maybe you should just pray for shrimp.
Forrest: (voice-over) So I went to church every Sunday... Sometimes Lieutenant Dan came, too. Though I think he left the praying up to me.
Forrest: No shrimp.
Lt. Dan: Where the hell's this God of yours?
Forrest: (voice-over) It's funny Lieutenant Dan said that, 'cause right then, God showed up. 

---

Lt. Dan: Forrest, I never thanked you for saving my life.
Forrest: (voice-over) He never actually said so, but I think he made his peace with God. 
Forrest: Will you marry me? I'd make a good husband, Jenny.
Jenny: You would, Forrest.
Forrest: But you won't marry me.
Jenny: You don't want to marry me.
Forrest: Why don't you love me, Jenny? I'm not a smart man, but I know what love is. 


Aging Hippie: Hey, man, hey, listen. I was wondering if you might help me, huh? Listen, I'm in the bumper sticker business and I've been trying to think up a good slogan. And since you have been such a big inspiration to the people around here, I thought you might be able to help me jump into... Whoa! Man, you just ran through a big pile of dogshit!
Forrest: It happens.
Aging Hippie: What, shit?
Forrest: Sometimes. 

Forrest: You're a momma, Jenny.

Jenny: I'm a momma. His name is Forrest.

Forrest: Like me.

Jenny: I named him after his Daddy .

Forrest: He got a daddy named Forrest, too? 

---

Jenny: Forrest, I'm sick.

Forrest: What do you have, a cough due to cold?

Jenny: I have some kind virus. And the doctors don't, they don't know what it is. And there isn't anything they can do about it.

Forrest: You could come home with me. Jenny, you and little Forrest could come stay at my house in Greenbow. I'll take care of you if you're sick.

Jenny: Would you marry me, Forrest?

Forrest: Okay. 

---

Forrest: Lieutenant Dan? Lieutenant Dan!

Lt. Dan: Hello, Forrest.

Forrest: You got new legs. New legs!

Lt. Dan: Yeah, I got new legs.

Lt. Dan: Custom-made titanium alloy. It's what they use on the space shuttle.

Forrest: Magic legs. 

---

Jenny: Hey, Forrest, were you scared in Vietnam?

Forrest: Yes. Well, I, I don't know. Sometimes it would stop raining long enough for the stars to come out. And then it was nice. It was like just before the sun goes to bed down on the bay... There was over a million sparkles on the water. Like that mountain lake. It was so clear, Jenny. It looks like there were two skies, one on top of the other. And then in the desert, when the sun comes up... I couldn't tell where heavens stopped and the earth began. It was so beautiful.

Jenny: I wish I could have been there with you.

Forrest: You were. 

---

Forrest: (voice-over) You died on a Saturday morning. And I had you placed here under our tree. And I had that house of your father's bulldozed to the ground. Momma always said dyin' was a part of life. I sure wish it wasn't. Little Forrest, he's doing just fine. About to start school again soon. I make his breakfast, lunch, and dinner very day. I make sure he combs his hair and brushes his teeth every day. Teaching him how to play ping-pong. He's really good. We fish a lot. And every night, we read a book. He's so smart, Jenny. You'd be so proud of him. I am. He, uh, wrote a letter, and he says I can't read it. I'm not supposed to, so I'll just leave it here for you. 

---

Forrest: Jenny, I don't know if Momma was right or if, if it's Lieutenant Dan. I don't know if we each have a destiny, or if we're all just floating around accidental-like on a breeze, but I, I think maybe it's both. Maybe both is happening at the same time. I miss you, Jenny. If there's anything you need, I won't be far away. 

Marks Analysis:  Your mother had it right Forrest.  Even Lt Dan like you said made his peace with God.  There are no accidents; all things work together for good to those who are called according to his purpose -- and all who want to may come ; it's Gods desire that everyone come to repentance and surrender their lives to Him through His son Jesus.  People tend to blame God for the terrible things that occur in this world but its mankind that's done it not God, He sent many prophets over the centuries and then finally His own Son Jesus to save us.  Now the choice is ours; accept His deliverance on His terms or reject it.  What else could God have done?

Clips from movies that point to God and our longing for HOME

CLIPS FROM MOVIES THAT DECLARE GOD AND THE LONELINESS & HOPELESSNESS HUMANS EXPERIENCE WITHOUT HIM AND OUR LONGING TO GO HOME.

Rocky gaps – Adrianne filled gaps in his life which we all have; the higher message is that there are even more gaps we come to realize that only God can fill.

Gladiator what we do in this life echoes throughout eternity; all he wants to do the entire movie is go home; I won’t spoil the ending in case you have not seen the movie.

Harry Potter – the boy who lived – the greatest power of all is love; sacrifice

Lord of the rings – pull of the darkness and lure of power the struggle we all face in ourselves – that death is not the end.

Narnia – Life is a journey where we must make decisions that affect our future and others for God's kingdom

Forrest Gump – Jenny said I wish I could have been there – Forrest said you were; Forrest I want to go home (bubba said this as he died in Forest’s arms in Vietnam)

Braveheart – Freedom speech; betrayal; how people need to believe in something good.  I will never be on the wrong side again.  I don’t want to lose heart

Patriot – I don’t have the luxury of principles I’m a family man; when the little girl says Papa; and when one patriot took his own life after his family  was killed – very moving

On borrowed time - how death is necessary and part of this life but not the end; our love for others overrides our own desires and needs

Man on fire – love can be a strong motivator; how greed can make you do evil things even to your own family. 

Last Samurai – Honor and dishonor in what we do; being a servant and discipline and relationship; that Gods creation is perfect; quest for power and influence corrupts men

Twilight series; Edward is concerned for Bella’s soul if she becomes a vampire like him.  Bella recognizes it’s the condition of the heart & your actions not what race you are that defines a person.

The Avengers:  mankind needs heroes who fight for right and freedom, but with freedom comes responsibility and hard work.  Freedom isn’t free it must be fought for and maintained sometimes by force or self defense.  As the saying goes evil prevails when good men do nothing.  Nietzsche was correct -- we can each become a superman (Übermensch) but only by surrender to Jesus and letting the Spirit of God work in our lives to fulfill our purpose in God’s over arching plan.  Not through natural processes.

Almost all TV shows from beginning of TV to 90s were about family, love; honor, sacrifice; servanthood; giving – belonging; home; etc.  even though adultery and other sinful behavior is commonly accepted today these good character traits of old still can be found everywhere – they are just harder to see sometimes and may be clouded by lots of garbage.  What amazes me though is even the most liberal people cannot get away from the good things that make life meaningful and rich like home family children honor love giving sacrifice patience hard work kindness mom dad brother sister son daughter God Jesus belonging.  Against such things there is no law.  Loneliness and hopelessness are two of the saddest words there are – in the movie Castaway Tom Hanks made a friend of a soccer ball and called in Wilson.  I actually cried watching a portion of that relationship.  We all want and need to go home whether we have one or not;  If you dig deep enough we all want more – our appetite for life is inexhaustible; no matter how high or far we go in life we all want and need to go home.  So if we all have unending appetite for more and all of us want and need a home --what can we conclude;  Take 5-10 minutes go off by yourself and think this through and let your imagination go wild where anything is possible like in the cartoons and fairy tales and science fiction.  You are God for this short time how would you make things work and function without making everyone a robot slave of yours;  in whatever you think up all people must retain free choice and the good and bad people will all live for eternity as God said it will be.  Then come back and compare what you came up with against my thoughts. 

Only one thing can supply both those wants and needs and appetite for more; God himself – at first I thought maybe paradise combined with immortality would do the trick but I realized that even those things would eventually give way to despair and boredom; only an intimate relationship with an all powerful all knowing God would suffice.  If we are to live for eternity we need an eternal God that transcends everything seen and unseen so that we will never be done exploring and experiencing the riches of His creation and His own glory and presence which we will have in the new heave and new earth where God will be with us and we will be a big family belonging and have purpose and meaning that will never grow stale but actually excite us day after day to the point where we almost want to burst. 

Here are just a few verses that will inspire you to read more of the Holy Bible:

Rom 8:18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.

2 Corinthians 4:17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

Titus 2:13 while we wait for the blessed hope--the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,

1 Peter 1:5 who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.

1 Peter 4:13 But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.

Napoleon speaks about Jesus

Felder states:
"Napoleon regarded this as precisely the most striking proof of the divinity of Jesus--namely, his power over men's hearts. The once well nigh all-powerful Corsican, in the solitude of his last days, called up before his imagination all the heroic figures and master minds of the world, and measured them by his own gigantic greatness. But all of them combined, and he himself as well, vanished like empty shadows before the person of Jesus Christ:

Napoleon:
"What a conqueror!--a conqueror who controls humanity at will, and wins to himself not only one nation, but the whole human race. What a marvel! He attaches to himself the human soul with all its energies. And how? By a miracle which surpasses all others. He claims the love of men--that is to say, the most difficult thing in the world to obtain; that which the wisest of men cannot force from his truest friend, that which no father can compel from his children, no wife from her husband, no brother from his brother--the heart. He claims it ; he requires it absolutely and undividedly, and he obtains it instantly.

Alexander, Caesar, Hannibal, Louis XIV strove in vain to secure this. They conquered the world, yet they had not a single friend, or at all events, they have none any more. Christ speaks, however, and from that moment all generations belong to him; and they are joined to him much more closely than by any ties of blood and by a much more intimate, sacred and powerful communion. He kindles the flame of love which causes one's self-love to die, and triumphs over every other love. Why should we not recognize in this miracle of love the eternal Word which created the world? The other founders of religions had not the least conception of this mystic love which forms the essence of Christianity.

I have filled multitudes with such passionate devotion that they went to death for me. But God forbid that I should compare the enthusiasm of my soldiers with Christian love. They are as unlike as their causes. In my case, my presence was always necessary, the electric effect of my glance, my voice, my words, to kindle fire in their hearts. And I certainly posses personally the secret of that magic power of taking by storm the sentiments of men; but I was not able to communicate that power to anyone. None of my generals ever learned it from me or found it out. Moreover, I myself do not possess the secret of perpetuating my name and a love for me in their hearts for ever, and to work miracles in them without material means.

Now that I languish here at St Helena, chained upon this rock, who fights, who conquers empires for me? Who still even thinks of me? Who interests himself for me in Europe? Who has remained true to me? That is the fate of all great men. It was the fate of Alexander and Caesar, as it is my own. We are forgotten, and the names of the mightiest conquerors and most illustrious emperors are soon only the subject of a schoolboy's taks. Our exploits come under the rod of a pedantic schoolmaster, who praises or condemns us as he likes.

What an abyss exists between my profound misery and the eternal reign of Christ, who is preached, loved, and worshipped, and live on throughout the entire world. Is this to die? Is it not rather to live eternally? The death of Christ! It is the death of a God."

(Quoted in Hilarin Felder, Christ and the Critics, vol. 2, pp. 216-17)

I never read that quote from Napoleon in my government-high-school textbooks! Being chained to a rock after having conquered the world evidently gives a man time to think.