First, satan does everything he can to kill your chances of getting eternal life—that is, giving your life over to Jesus now, for heaven forever.

Every person whom Jesus wins is satan’s loss, so he relentlessly tries every lie and trick and bribe in this battle for the souls of man.

When he kills your soul for heaven, he steals your heart for God, and destroys your peace forever.

So he replaces it with all kinds of temporary good stuff, as much as he can.

If he thinks he is successful now, in killing your eternal life, he may very well seem to leave you surprisingly alone for most of the rest of your life on earth.

This can explain why many people who have no time or regard for God and the life hereafter, seem to have an easier life here.

Such explains partially the theological cliche, “Why do good things happen to bad people?”

If satan does not win his first goal of killing your eternal life and getting you to hell—if you become a Christian, born again—he may very well give you all the hell on earth within his power.

Such explains partially the other theological cliche, “Why do bad things happen to good people?”

There, that’s just the facts.

But that’s not all the verse from His Book.

Thank God for part B, the Good News:

Jesus said, “I come that you may have life, and have it abundantly.”

Take it—now.

Be born—again.

Get saved—today.

Choose life—live it.

Live now—and forever.

There’s more—much more.

God loves you—loves you more.

You can love Him—love Him more.

Live abundantly—with His provisions.

Live more abundantly—on His promises.

Choose life on purpose—or death by default.

Today is your best day to begin life with Jesus.

I pray that you will.

Any time, an electromagnetic pulse device (or half a dozen other causes of a power grid failure) could instantly plunge America back 150 years to the pioneer days.

This is so unthinkable—and so possible at the same time.

It is so unthinkable because we could not deal with it, and we can’t think of how to prepare for it or how to avoid it.

It is so possible because the technology is there, and we have enemies who would like to see it happen, and they have already tested their capabilities to make it happen.

The 911 attack was a complete surprise.

An EMP or other power grid failure is a known threat—yet it will also be a complete surprise.

The death toll could easily be ten thousand times that of 911.

A few months later, the survival number could be only ten thousand times the death toll of 911.

In the light of this, Americans have two basic responses:

One, individual preparation for survival and self-defense.

Two, going to work one more day to buy food and pay bills.

And, some Americans do both.

There is another event coming, for everyone.

It can come individually, or en masse.

For many, it could be simultaneous with the above.

The timing will be a surprise for nearly everyone.

The toll will be eight billion people—everyone—eventually.

Unthinkable, because it never happened before—at least not to me, or to the reader.

Responses:

Some prepare—very do-able.

Most do not—just living for today (and retirement).

The event—eternity.

Eternity—it will happen.

Eternity—for every one of us.

Eternity—very soon, or in a few years.

Eternity—irreversible.

Eternity—unthinkable?

Eternity—not a step back in time.

Eternity—no more decision time.

Eternity—“There’s no time to change your mind.”

Eternity—prepare?

Eternity—“I wish we’d all been ready.”

Eternity—“I’ll take my chances.”

Eternity—

Many people think life is a buffet—then they find out there were only two choices on the menu—and they find out if they made the right choice—upon entering eternity.

EMP bottom line—I prepare what I can, and I go to work, and I write, to make a difference in your life . . .

ETERNITY bottom line—My name is written in a book, and when I cross into eternity, that book will be opened, and Jesus will welcome me to live with Him forever.  He wrote my name in His book when I accepted His payment for my sins and gave Him everything in my life.

There’s a lot of uncertainty in this world—peace, comfort, security, survival—fragile for most, threatened for all.

Please do not miss the parts that are certain, in light of EMP’s in this world and ETERNITY in the next.

“Making a difference in your life in the parts that are for keeps!”

And it came to pass in these days that there went out a decree from the Ruler of the universe, that all the world should be registered in His Book of Life.

And the details of this registration were recorded when Caesar Augustus sent out a decree from Rome that all the world should be registered in his book.

And it happened that a young Jewish couple followed Caesar’s decree and ended up in Bethlehem, and had a baby there.

And that baby grew up to follow the plan of the Ruler of the universe—in fact, He was the Ruler of the universe.

The plan?

His life, and His death, and His life after His death, makes it possible for the world to be registered in His Book of Life.

And it’s free—no payment, no taxes like Caesar had in mind.

But you have to follow the decree of the Ruler of the universe, just like Joseph and Mary followed the decree of the ruler of the world.

Oh, they had a motive for obeying—not even a question of not doing so—obey, or die.

So, what’s our motive for following the decree of the Ruler of the universe?

The same—obey, or die.

Say what?

I know lots of people who seem to pay little or no attention to the Ruler of the universe from day to day, and they get along just fine.

What do you mean—obey, or die?

And what is this “Book of Life”?

“When we all get to heaven, . . .”

Well, when we all get to the gates of heaven, the Ruler of the universe will have his angel open His Book of Life and look for your name, to see if you are pre-registered.

Either your name is there—or it is not there.

If your name is there, you walk through the gates into heaven.

If your name is not there, you go to hell.

That is the result of “obey, or die,” regardless of how smooth, or rough, you life was here.

Jesus is the Ruler of the universe—the Maker of the universe—the Maker of you—and He wrote all the rules, not you or me.

Jesus was the baby born to Mary.

Jesus lived and taught us everything we need to know—to live, to die, and to get our name written in the Book of Life.

Jesus died, and lived after He died.

Jesus promised us the same after we die—heaven.

Okay, obey what?

Obey what He wrote in His Book, that we have now, that tells us how to get into that Book of Life.

“Believe on Jesus, and you will be saved.”

“All have sinned . . .”

“The wages of sin is death,

but the gift of God is eternal life

through Jesus.”

And one more thought:

If Jesus is part of your life, your name is probably not in His Book of Life.

Jesus requires to be all of your life, all day, every day, if any part at all.

All for Jesus—all or nothing.

Please get that straight with Him, now.

Ask Him to be in complete charge of your life.