Perspective

Is it true that..........?? We have all heard a reporter ask that question either in a movie or in a real press conference. Often they are looking for an answer they can enlarge on to make a sensational story. Police at an accident or crime scene try to interview as many witnesses as possible because each version of "what happened" will be slightly different. We have all had a person throw an accusation at us about something we said or did only to feel and respond, "That is not what I meant!". Lately I have been thinking about the freedom we all have, and use regularly, to choose what we want to think. Jesus Christ was viewed by many as a heretic worthy of torturous death by crucifixion. Even from the few historical perspectives we have, what did he do that was so awful? Adolf Hitler was viewed by many as a hero that was going to save a nation wanting a better economy and world position. Many people refused to believe stories of horrible things he was ordering despite his "warnings" about people of different races, religions, and physical "defects". For those who read the scriptures and choose to believe them, we have been forewarned of a day when there will be a separation of the "wheat and the tares"- those who choose to believe/follow the teachings of Jesus Christ and those who don't. The recent events in California over Proposition 8 have shown what people who choose to hate people who are earnestly striving to follow their conscience and believe (by choice) in the existence of a moral right and wrong, can do, even though they have never been personally attacked or mistreated in any way. Those who choose to follow the shifting values of current fashion or immediate personal impulse see no solid right or wrong. They can be fired up about whatever someone convinces them of at any specific point in time, whatever mood strikes them. Unfortunately, that can happen even for people who profess to follow the teachings of Christ, IF THEY HAVE NOT MADE A DILIGENT SEARCH OF THOSE TEACHINGS FIRST-HAND so they know for themselves the personality of Jesus himself and made a personal commitment to follow Him. Many people turn away from "religion" due to the controversy it can create. But for anyone that takes the time to truly and thoroughly study Christ's teachings, He wanted no such controversy. He promoted PEACE and GOOD WILL TOWARD ALL MEN! Those who will be wheat are those who want to follow a shepherd (who leads without force) and will choose to be peaceable toward their fellowmen. Nevertheless, to stay the course requires not veering off to follow those shifting values of different people. Tares are a weed that looks very much like wheat, but isn't. True wheat will not only have the appearance of wheat, but also carry the nutritional value of wheat inside to the end of its existence. I am grateful for a Being who is wiser than I am. God is real. Jesus Christ is His Son and was willing to give Himself a ransom to balance justice in paying for our sins. He was also a great teacher and example. No one makes us wheat or tare; that is a choice we each can make for ourselves. The point will ultimately be what we are at the time the separation is completed. We still have time to make that choice, but not much.