THE VALLEY OF BLESSINGS
& CURSES
MIKE CUNNINGHAM
AUGUST 1, 2010
After
this year’s Independence Day Worship Service one of you folks asked me to please
don’t forget to address the questions I left unanswered in a previous sermon.
Her request was sweet music ears; because that’s something I always hope folks will
do and also because I was planning on answering them in the first sermon I
preached after returning from vacation. I mentioned the fact that I sometimes
do this deliberately in hopes that folks will give a lot of thought to
everything I share in my messages. I also appreciate them letting me know
whenever I don’t connect all the biblical dots. So-thank you, Agnes. And thank
you too, Anne-Marie for recently re-posting your January 10th
question in my Guest Book, and the rest of you for your patience.
The
title of the sermon those two women were referring to was “What If ....? That
one generated a lot of feedback and most of it was favorable. To refresh your
memory and bring everyone up to speed I have to first take several minutes and
go into a little bit of my message of last May 31st (Flashbacks Into
The Kingdom of Darkness) and then pick up where I left off. An amazing
conversation had been taking place between a couple of my fictitious characters,
a man named Charlie and his guardian angel whose name, would you believe, just happened
to be Pal. They are living in “the other side” of eternity. In other words,
Charlie and the angel are in the “everlasting
present,” a dimension still in our
future and which we will enter into when we die.
Charlie
had just witnessed three supernatural flashbacks of pitiful scenes depicting
members of his family crying out in heartbreaking prayers of anguish to God
before he died and left this world. Each of them told Him they wished they had
never had been born. And all because of the awful abuse they were each
subjected to for most of their lives by this extremely self-centered,
inpatient, argumentative, in-your-face-know-it-all loose-cannon. As is often the
case with such people; Charlie was totally shocked by these revelations.
However, those of you who have been following his exploits know the Lord has
been using the almost worn out angel to persuade Charlie that until he becomes
holy he will not enter Heaven and see God. You folks also know that slowly but
surely, the angel has been making progress with this very stubborn man.
For
instance, after watching the last disturbing flashback the angel asked him:
“Now what do you have to say for yourself, Charlie?” “Those flashbacks got me
convinced!” “I never knew how stinking rotten I really was, Pal. I was good for
nothing except to cause a whole bunch of misery for lots of people, especially
the ones in my own family. If I was still in my body I think I would pull my tongue
out. I can’t even stand myself anymore. They would have been better off without
me, Pal. I wish I had never been born.” The angel proceeded to tell
Charlie that’s something which can be arranged and to let him know what his
wishes are. After a moment the angel asked Charlie what he decided. Did he want
to continue living or would he prefer to have his birth reversed.
“Thanks
to you and those flashbacks, I now know it isn’t all about me, Pal. It’s all
about Him. That’s why I want whatever my Creator planned, ordained, and
predestined to happen before He spoke His world into existence.” No sooner had
he gotten those words out of his mouth that it seemed as though a switch had
been flicked. Everything suddenly lit up. There was no more darkness. None whatsoever!
Charlie immediately sensed he was in the presence of four other people. A
woman’s voice greeted him. “Welcome home, Charlie.” “Martha? Is that you
Martha?” “It sure is dad,” answered Charlie’s son. “We’re happy to see you
again, Charlie.” “You’re here too, Claude?” “They’re all here Charlie,” a
stranger interjected. “Who are you?” “I was your brother’s therapist.” “But not
anymore! I couldn’t be doing any better than I am right now,” said Claude. “I
don’t understand. How did you guys get here before me?” “It happened while we
were driving in your car over the old bridge on our way home from your
committal service at the cemetery,” Martha answered. “The bridge suddenly gave
out and we plunged into the river sixty feet below,” added his son. “The next
thing we knew is that here we are in heaven,” dad. “It was instantaneous.”
“We’ve been waiting for you,” said Martha. “Let’s show dad around a bit,” said
the boy. “We still have some time before Jesus told us to bring him into His
presence,” added Claude, while the beaming angel took it all in.”
Meanwhile, at the exact same moment and
unbeknownst to Charlie, a different scene was taking place back on earth
involving these same folks together with the old Bible teacher, and Charlie’s
sons best friend Rick.” That brings us up to this morning where we hear a
confused man ask: “Where are they?” “I beg your pardon, Charlie. Where are
who?” “You gotta be kidding me, Pal. Martha and my kid and my brother Claude
and his shrink, that’s who. I saw them a couple of seconds ago. They were going
to show me around Heaven before they brought me to see Jesus. And now they’re
gone and here I am all alone with you.” “Please excuse me for a moment Charlie
while I investigate this rather peculiar occurrence.” “Hurry up, Pal. I don’t
want to wait forever.”
“It
was just as I suspected, Charlie. Do you recall those flash-backs you
experienced?” “Of course I do. They were what finally woke me up and brought me
to my senses about how rotten a guy I was before I died and wound up here with
you in eternity someplace waiting to get let into Heaven.” “Those flashbacks
were intended to elicit a response such as yours and they always have with
other people. But,...” “What are you trying to say? Get to the point and show
me some empadey, will ya, Pal.” “Do you mean empathy, Charlie?” That’s what I
just said, empadey.” “Very well, Charlie. As I was saying before I was
interrupted; those flashbacks were intended to elicit a response such as yours,
but after the final flashback, the angles assigned to protect our rear flank became
distracted and let their guard down just long enough for those cosmic demonic
forces of darkness to somehow manage to add another flashback of their own
devising. I’m certain it seemed genuine to you, Charlie, but I assure you it
wasn’t.” “Are you telling me that they kind of short-circuited God’s real
flashbacks?” “As a matter of fact they did, Charlie.” “I never woulda guessed.
Those slimy bums did that to me?” “Indeed they did, Charlie. But I have
marvelous news for you. Would you like me to explain it?” “Would I like you to
explain it? Do I look like some kind of crazy nut case? I can’t believe I’m
hearing all this. How many times do I have to tell you, you ain’t right, Pal,
you ain’t right? Got it?”
The
angel ignored Charlie’s ranting and raving and said: “I have received
authorization to take you back to earth where you and I will be able to observe
your loved ones. As we speak, they are participating in one of those Saturday
morning back yard bible studies you took such pleasure in when you were alive and
living there.” “Wow! I can’t wait to tell them all the good stuff I learned.”
“I’m sorry to inform you but you won’t, Charlie.” “I won’t? How come?” “They
won’t be able to see or hear us.” “You mean I’ll be just like one of you invisible
angel guys?” “I should say not, Charlie.” “Good! I don’t wanna be like one
them. No offense, Pal.” “However, you and I will be able to converse with each
other.” Watta we waiting for?”
Charlie
and the angel were immediately present at the Bible study and Charlie was
shocked by what he saw and heard. After taking it all in, he asked the angel if
he was in one of those phony flashbacks things again. The angel assured him he
wasn’t. Charlie scratched his head and blurted out with a, “Martha got older,
Pal. So did my brother Claude. And my kid, I can’t believe what I’m seeing and
hearing. My kid’s been attending one of those seminary places. And he got
whiskers on his chin. Yuk! All of this can’t be real.” “I assure you it is, Charlie.”
“But I only died a little while ago. If what I’m seeing is real it has to be a
few years later. I must be back in that Alzheimer’s mode and I lost my marbles
all over again!” “Of course not, Charlie! To borrow one of your favorite
expressions, you’re as ‘sharp as a tack.’” “But how come they got older? How do
you explain all that, Pal?” “I must say that’s a frequently asked question Charlie,
and the answer is quite simple. You and I can continue our conversation if you
wish, but then we’ll be unable to observe everything that’s transpiring at the
study. Please remember we’re only going to be here for an hour. And time is
running out” “All right, I’ll shut up for a while, but I ain’t gonna let you
off the hook so fast, Pal. I wanna know how everybody got older.” “Please be
assured I’m aware of your wishes, Charlie.”
Now,
we’re at the point in my January story where Marvin in the case he made against
the God of Christianity has just finished quoting a few accounts of the
prevalence of evil in our world and the horrors of natural disasters which God
allows. Marvin continued: “There is so much more I could say concerning God and
the problem of evil but it’s unnecessary. “Even if the day came when he
revealed to me a morally justifiable explanation for allowing such suffering
and evil; I would still hate him and want nothing to do with Him or His
fiendish love. There is no possible explanation which could convince me to
change my mind concerning the Christian god. None whatsoever!” The teacher went
on to pose several hypothetical questions and concluded with this one: “What if
when they enter into eternity He finally reveals to every human being that all
the evil and suffering they each endured while they were alive and living on
earth actually took place in ‘a dream which had been lovingly produced and
directed by HIM? What if this was true, my friend?”
My
story ended at that point in January and now we’ll continue it this morning.
Everyone was back at the study and once again the invisible Charlie and the
angel are taking everything in. After a few minutes of the group sharing their
praises and prayer concerns, the teacher asked if there was something anyone
would like to bring up for discussion. Marvin accepted the invitation and said:
“If no one objects, may I say a few words, teacher?” Of course, you may,
Marvin.” “Thank you. I’ve been thinking about those ‘what if’s’ you posed last
week. I must say I found your hypothesis quite intriguing. As I contemplate the
vastness and complexity of the universe, not to mention the human body and
mind, I know there has to be a mysterious architect. Such a being and its ways
are beyond human comprehension. A being such as me that has been created can’t
possibly have the intellectual capacity to do so, much less arrogantly attempt
to judge his or her creator. That being so, I concede it’s entirely possible
that your theory of life being a dream which is actually a supernatural womb
through which a creator develops and achieves a designed result.” “Now I’m
going crazy again, Pal. The teacher believes my whole life that I’m still
living is all taking place in a dream.” “Please be quiet, Charlie.” “I just
wanted to give you something to think about, Marvin and I’m pleased that you
did. The idea of life being a dream is nonsense.” “Boy am I glad to hear that,
Pal.” “Please be quiet and listen, Charlie.” May I ask why, teacher?” “Of
course you may, Marvin. However, judging from the expression on your face when
you arrived here today, I think you have something else on your mind which you
are eager to share with us. Am I correct?” “As a matter of fact you are,
teacher. I’ve been reading the Bible and have concluded there are only two
possibilities.” What are they, Marvin?” “Either the Bible is full of massive
contradictions or else the Christian God is indeed an evil fiend as I suggested
last week. Nothing else is possible, teacher.” “What’s this idiot doing here,
Pal? The guys as wacky as all those other shrinks are. I’m sorry I footed the
bill for Claude to go see him with his self-esteem issues. He’s gonna make my
whole family crazy nuts just like he is. And what kind of a Bible study is this
anyways? We’ve been here all this time and I ain’t even heard a single sentence
from the Bible. Why’s the teacher letting him get away with all this wacko
stuff?” “I must say I have confidence in this teacher, Charlie and I suggest
that you try to be patient and listen. Unless I’m very mistaken, we’re about to
hear a lot of Scripture.” “Yeah right!”
“I’m
interested in hearing what you discovered in the Bible that has convinced you
God is an evil fiend this time, Marvin.” “He’s a fiend only if the Bible is
true, teacher.” “Please elaborate.” “Thank you. It’s my understanding that in
many
1 O God, whom I praise, do not remain silent, 2 for wicked and deceitful men have opened
their mouths against me; they have spoken against me with lying tongues. 3 With words of hatred they surround me; they
attack me without cause. 4 In
return for my friendship they accuse me, but I am a man of prayer. 5 They repay me evil for good, and hatred for
my friendship. 6 Appoint an evil
man to oppose him; let an accuser stand at his right hand. 7 When he is tried, let him be found guilty,
and may his prayers condemn him. 8 May
his days be few; may another take his place of leadership. 9 May his children be fatherless and his wife
a widow. 10 May his children be
wandering beggars; may they be driven from their ruined homes. 11 May a creditor seize all he has; may
strangers plunder the fruits of his labor. 12 May
no one extend kindness to him or take pity on his fatherless children. 13 May his descendants be cut off, their names
blotted out from the next generation. 14 May
the iniquity of his fathers be remembered before the Lord; may the sin of his
mother never be blotted out. 15 May
their sins always remain before the Lord, that he may cut off the memory of
them from the earth. Psalm 109:1-15 (NIV)
8 O Daughter of Babylon, doomed to destruction, happy is he
who repays you for what you have done to us-- 9 he
who seizes your infants and dashes them against the rocks. Psalm 137:1-9 (NIV)
How
frequently have you people heard passages such as these and similar ones used
at church services?” Marvin’s question was followed by total silence until the
teacher asked if anyone was able to recall the last time they heard these kinds
of passages quoted during a worship service. One by one the each acknowledged
they couldn’t. As a matter of fact, they weren’t aware of any preacher who even
mentioned them. “That’s exactly what I suspected. Now read these passages:
17 Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when he stumbles, do not
let your heart rejoice, Proverbs 24:17
(NIV)
Proverbs
25:21 (NIV)
21 If your enemy is hungry, give
him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
Matthew
5:44 (NIV)
44 But I tell you: Love your
enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
Luke
6:35 (NIV)
35 But love your enemies, do good
to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your
reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind
to the ungrateful and wicked.
Allow
me to proceed with the following questions. How do you respond whenever a
person such as me asks you to explain these and similar Bible passages which
are seething with hatred and vengeance in one place and contradictory
elsewhere, especially since “all scripture is supposed to be God breathed?
“I’m sorry Marvin, but we have to respect everyone’s tight schedules.” “Very
well, I plan to return next week. Thank you for being so courteous teacher.”
“You’re most welcome. Marvin.”
The
study ends and Charlie and the Angel are back again in eternity. “Boy that guys
some piece of work, Pal. I can’t believe the teacher is putting up with that
Dr. Cuckoo. And you,” said the obviously agitated man; I ain’t gonna let you
off the hook, Pal. I wanna know come everybody got so older.” “Certainly,
Charlie. Just employ your Instant Scripture Recall (ICR) which as you know,
everyone in eternity possesses and go to:
2 Peter
3:8 (TLB)
8 But don’t forget this, dear
friends, that a day or a thousand years from now is like tomorrow to the Lord.
“You
and I are living in the everlasting present just as our God is, and your loved
ones back on earth are still living in time.” “You mean a day in God’s eyes
is like a thousand years in the eyes of people living back on earth. In my own
case here in eternity, it seems like only yesterday that I left there but to people
who are still living IN TIME on earth it actually is years.” “That’s correct, Charlie. As I mentioned in
the January 10th study when I referenced the previous May 31st
one “You and I are living in the everlasting present.” “I never wodda
thunk! What’s next? The latest Angelic Intelligence Data (AID) indicates that
next week (their time) the group is going to be led into THE VALLEY OF
BLESSINGS AND CURSES.
Lord
willing, next week….
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