John Lennon's song "Imagine" comes to mind. The song goes like this: "Imagine there's no heaven; ....only grass beneath our feet and only sky above.....Imagine all the people sharing 'round the world.....you may call me a dreamer....." It was basically a song promoting Marxism or some kind of utopia on earth without God.

Secular dreamers try to imagine that there's no heaven yet in reality there is a heaven and there is a God who dwells there. They can't imagine God out of existence. They try to imagine there's no hell ("only grass beneath our feet") yet deep down even their consciences know that there is accountability to God and punishment for sin in the afterlife.

The "people sharing 'round the world" a. k. a. utopian communism was a gross failure because human beings are basically selfish and disinclined to share. This fact is in accordance with the Christian concept of original sin which is taught in the Bible. Under Soviet communism, Joseph Stalin (1879-1953) waged war on Christianity in the 1930s. Stalin's purges killed far more professing Christians than all ten ancient Roman persecutions put together!

Secularism has failed to produce utopia because the building blocks of society - human beings - are in need of repentance, regeneration and redemption.

In my e-mail signature I used to include the phrase "post-retirement specialist." Many people make careers as financial planners to help people set up IRAs, etc., and prepare for retirement. I help people prepare for what comes after retirement. I proclaim the good news of redemption through Christ so that people will be reconciled to God and will enter into heaven to be with God forever in the afterlife.

John Lennon (1940-1980) has gone into the afterlife and I tremble for him. All of us will someday enter the afterlife. Christ died for our sins so that we could call upon his name and receive forgiveness. Being at peace with God through Christ not only ensures a joyous existence in the hereafter but also gives us great peace and joy in our lives here and now!

The Bible is scientifically accurate! Find the evidence at www.icr.org.  

Steps to salvation: Jesus said "Ye must be born again." (John 3:7)

1. Believe that God created you and loves you and sent the Messiah (Messiah is Hebrew for Christ) to redeem you.
2. Believe that Jesus the Messiah came in fulfillment of over 300 Bible prophecies to die for you to take upon Himself the penalty for your sins. (Isaiah 53:5-6, John 6:29, Romans 4:5, First Peter 3:18)
3. Turn from sin and call on the name of Jesus to receive forgiveness. (Romans 10:13)
4. Receive Jesus as Savior and experience the new birth. (John 1:12, Acts 2:38)
5. Follow Him as Lord. (John 14:21)

"Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Romans 10:13)

To receive the salvation that Jesus purchased for us at the terrible cost of His suffering and death on our behalf I invite you to pray this simple prayer:

"Dear heavenly Father, I thank you for sending Jesus, the promised Messiah, to die for my sins. I admit that I am a sinner and I ask for your forgiveness on the basis of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. I ask you to fill me with your Holy Spirit to empower me to serve you under the Lordship of Jesus Christ, Amen."

If you prayed that prayer in the humble sincerity of your heart then you have received everlasting life, which includes power to live right in this life and entrance into heaven in the afterlife!

Bill Nugent, Overcomer Ministries of West Harrison, New York, USA

(C) 2010 William P. Nugent, permission granted to email or republish if credit given

< DEFENDING THE FAITH APOLOGETIC ARTICLES Bill Nugent currently writes a series of articles called "Defending the Faith" which, as the title suggests, defend the Christian faith from the many attacks leveled against it in our postmodern world. The articles deal with such topics as evolution, UFOs, cults, modern/postmodern philosophy, liberal theology and popular culture. At the end of each article is an invitation to receive Christ as Savior and Lord. These articles are sent out over the Internet to several opt-in email lists. People who receive these articles are encouraged to resend them to their own lists and in this way reach their own unsaved relatives and friends with the Gospel. All Defending the Faith articles are © 2009 William P. Nugent, permission is granted to email or republish if credit given. To receive these articles which are sent out once per month fill in your email address below and click the SUBMIT button. *Security: Write the characters in the image above (Case sensitive)