ECCE

      The central truth of Christianity is the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Many now however are turning away from belief in that truth, even some in the Church. Even ancient civilizations, such as the Egyptians believed in a kind of life after death. In this age, though, Nihilism, the philosophy that life holds no meaning, and no hope has taken hold.       Jesus made clear the promise of eternal life, everlasting life, from the Father in heaven: "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is co...

We hear it often said, "God is good - all the time", but "good" does not always equal God. Religion is man's futile attempt to reach God, and Jesus had trouble with the religious people of His day, and told them so. There is a deception that will come in the last days that would fool the very elect if possible, and we are seeing one form of it. This deception also tempts the Church to sleep, as all of the virgins did before the cry of the Bridegroom's arrival, as told by Jesus in a parable (see Mt. 25:1-10). In the parable, for those who are found to be unprepared, the door is shut to them and the Lord tells them that He never knew them. Jesus also had an encounter with an earnest young man: "And behold, one came and said unto him, "Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter unto life, keep the commandments....