"32 meg..? That would be more than 30 games in my day, and they'd be great games, too!"
-Cranky Kong from Donkey Kong Country (1994) for the Super Nintendo.
"Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end."
-Ecclesiastes 3:11
I must confess something before you all today: I am quite a gamer. In fact, when I was little, I enjoyed playing the games of its time: Super Nintendo, Nintendo 64, Pac-Man, PSX, Game Boy (Color), you name it.
-Cranky Kong from Donkey Kong Country (1994) for the Super Nintendo.
"Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end."
-Ecclesiastes 3:11
I must confess something before you all today: I am quite a gamer. In fact, when I was little, I enjoyed playing the games of its time: Super Nintendo, Nintendo 64, Pac-Man, PSX, Game Boy (Color), you name it.
Recently, I felt super nostalgic (I guess from being old) and decided to get something.
That's right, ladies and gentleman. This is a Super Nintendo. Best 16-bit console from the childhood. So many great games I played as a child, and so many great games I never played.
Eternity is something like childhood. In a way, it gets lost as we get older. As we get older, we are burdened with responsibilities and duties. As we mature, we start understanding things we wish we never heard. As we get older, we brokenheartedly realize that the days when mom and dad would come home from work with a bucket of KFC or McDonald's on Sunday has come and gone. Eternity is the same, or at least the sense of it. As we receive more responsibilities, we end up thinking more about what we have to do than how much time we're going to spend with God. As we understand things we wish we didn't, culture takes a toxic hold of innocence and exposes you to sex-filled debauchery filled with drugs and the YOLO (you only live once) attitude. As we realize mom and dad aren't buying dinner anymore, we may end up realizing that we're alone to fend for ourselves.
Let's be honest, haven't you wished you re-lived childhood?
While we cannot go back to being 5 or 7, we are assured that the life we live can be like childhood. How is this so? By the love of God, the One who wants to see you live eternally. 2 Peter 3:9 says "He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."
-People expect and demand that you act your age.
+Jesus says: "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these" (Matthew 19:14).
-Our media encourages people to live in the now. Do whatever we want. YOLO.
+Jesus says: "But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal" (Matthew 6:20).
-We are told we have to be independent, as if that is our life goal.
+God says: "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5).
+Jesus says: If birds have been provided, then so will you. If birds don't worry about tomorrow, then so shouldn't you (Matthew 6:25-34).
Why do I talk about childhood? Childhood is perhaps when we can best understand eternity. We live without caring about anything. This is how we are to live: not caring about the world, but live Godly. The best part, however, is that even at our current age, we can still accept that God loved us so much He sent His One and Only Son to die for us. When we start living our life for God, we will discover amazing love and grace we may have missed before. I, for one, missed out on great games such as Super Mario RPG and Kirby Super Star when I was young, but now I get to see how amazing those two games are.
Eternity is something like childhood. In a way, it gets lost as we get older. As we get older, we are burdened with responsibilities and duties. As we mature, we start understanding things we wish we never heard. As we get older, we brokenheartedly realize that the days when mom and dad would come home from work with a bucket of KFC or McDonald's on Sunday has come and gone. Eternity is the same, or at least the sense of it. As we receive more responsibilities, we end up thinking more about what we have to do than how much time we're going to spend with God. As we understand things we wish we didn't, culture takes a toxic hold of innocence and exposes you to sex-filled debauchery filled with drugs and the YOLO (you only live once) attitude. As we realize mom and dad aren't buying dinner anymore, we may end up realizing that we're alone to fend for ourselves.
Let's be honest, haven't you wished you re-lived childhood?
While we cannot go back to being 5 or 7, we are assured that the life we live can be like childhood. How is this so? By the love of God, the One who wants to see you live eternally. 2 Peter 3:9 says "He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."
-People expect and demand that you act your age.
+Jesus says: "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these" (Matthew 19:14).
-Our media encourages people to live in the now. Do whatever we want. YOLO.
+Jesus says: "But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal" (Matthew 6:20).
-We are told we have to be independent, as if that is our life goal.
+God says: "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5).
+Jesus says: If birds have been provided, then so will you. If birds don't worry about tomorrow, then so shouldn't you (Matthew 6:25-34).
Why do I talk about childhood? Childhood is perhaps when we can best understand eternity. We live without caring about anything. This is how we are to live: not caring about the world, but live Godly. The best part, however, is that even at our current age, we can still accept that God loved us so much He sent His One and Only Son to die for us. When we start living our life for God, we will discover amazing love and grace we may have missed before. I, for one, missed out on great games such as Super Mario RPG and Kirby Super Star when I was young, but now I get to see how amazing those two games are.
It's a fact that we can't be 5 or 7, yet childhood is sometimes the best time. Living without a care in the world. God wants to give you today what you had in childhood: a providing Father. Cast your burdens onto Him. You were created by God for a reason and you are His child, always was and always will be. Cultures come and go, but the word of God is forever (1 Peter 1:25).
If you wish to live as a child of God, please pray this in your heart:
"Dear Lord, we thank you for loving us.
Even when we rebelled against you, you still loved us.
Dear Lord, life is so hard.
I ask that you take care of me.
I am your child. You are my Father in Heaven.
I turn to you now, and live the way you made me to."
If you prayed that prayer, then please click here.
Disclaimer: If you prayed before, then I ask that you do not click on the link.
If you wish to live as a child of God, please pray this in your heart:
"Dear Lord, we thank you for loving us.
Even when we rebelled against you, you still loved us.
Dear Lord, life is so hard.
I ask that you take care of me.
I am your child. You are my Father in Heaven.
I turn to you now, and live the way you made me to."
If you prayed that prayer, then please click here.
Disclaimer: If you prayed before, then I ask that you do not click on the link.