Moments of Silence

Yesterday was the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Many Americans recalled what they were doing when four hijacked planes caused the deaths of nearly 3,000 people. Some commemorate that and other events with moments of silence. Is this beneficial?

There’s an old saying, “Silence is golden.” Some people talk too much and would be better off practicing moments of silence. One should be cautious of opening their mouths, especially when they are angry. That way, they won’t utter anything hastily. Ecclesiastes 3:7 says there is ”a time to keep silence, and a time to speak.”

Usually, I spend a few minutes per day “soaking” while soft music is playing in the background. At the very least, it quiets my mind. Often God speaks to me through a vision. However, moments of silence (just like thoughts) don’t take the place of spoken prayers. James 4:2 (KJV) says, “…ye have not, because ye ask not.”

After John Lennon died in 1980, his widow Yoko Ono requested ten minutes of silence on his behalf. That didn’t change John’s eternal destiny. Honoring the dead will not cause them to go from hell to heaven. Their fate has been determined. Psalm 115:17 says, “The dead do not praise the LORD, nor any who go down into silence.”

Religious folk will tell you to be quiet in their institutions and in public like what happened with the two blind men who called out to Jesus for healing (Matthew 20:29-34). People won’t get saved and delivered unless they hear the truth. God gave us mouths to speak. Let’s use them to share the Good News, edify the brethren, and cry out against tyranny and deception.

“Behold, it is written before Me: I will not keep silence…” - Isaiah 65:6

Thoughts and Prayers

Often when a tragedy occurs such as this past Tuesday’s train wreck in Philadelphia, people will say to victims and family members, “Our thoughts and prayers are with you.”  Many of them may be sincere in expressing their condolences but are they really being helpful just thinking about another person’s calamity? Nowadays people say, “Our thoughts go out to you” because it's politically incorrect to mention prayers. What good are thoughts going to do for someone unless prayers are attached?

It is true thoughts can have an impact on our own lives. Proverbs 23:7 says, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.” In Matthew 5:27-28, Jesus even equated the thought of committing adultery to actual sin.

On the other hand, good thoughts towards others will help only if acted upon. Let’s suppose the Lord puts it on your heart to give something to someone. Would that person benefit just by you thinking about blessing him? Of course not! James 2:16 says, “…and one of you says to them, ‘Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,’ but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?”

When you come across people going through a difficult time, don’t use the cliché that you are thinking about them. At the very least, pray for them!

“Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.” 

- James 4:17

Never Die?

Recently while evangelizing on the streets of Tampa, Florida, I talked with a man who claimed God told him he would never die. He affirmed this belief even after I quoted Hebrews 9:27, “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.” It amazes me how some individuals think they will be an exception and live forever on this earth. Although God wants us to have a long life (Psalm 91:16), we still live in a cursed world. People die unexpectedly every day from diseases, accidents, murders, and other tragedies.

John 11 contains a passage that appears to be contradictory...

25 Jesus said to her [referring to Martha], “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. 

26 And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

27 She said to Him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”

Scripture shows there are two different kinds of death: physical and spiritual. Except for Enoch and Elijah, every person mentioned in the Bible experienced a physical death. That’s when their spirit separated from their body. Everyone who dies without knowing the Lord will experience spiritual death. Four times in the book of Revelation it’s referred to as the second death...

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.” - Revelation 2:11

“Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.” - Revelation 20:6

“Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.” - Revelation 20:14

“But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” - Revelation 21:8

Except for Christians who are alive when the Lord raptures His church, everybody will die someday. If the trumpet sounded right now, would you be ready to meet Him in the air?

“For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.” 

- 1 Corinthians 15:22