There’s one thing certain in this life, and it is Jesus Christ

We spend much time thinking about the past and viewing how our childhood and teen years make up who we are.

My father spent most of his life with an interesting perspective when it came to people, he did not trust them. He had some things happen to him while he was a child that caused him to deal with trust issues. I was raised not to trust people. However, because of the way I was raised, and things that happened in my childhood, I am the opposite of my father. I believe in people and trust them at times to a fault.

I have not been a Christian my whole life. I accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior at the age of 21. It was a year later when I started preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which I have been doing now for the last 30 years of my life.

I do know this, living your life with a heart that is bitter is no way to live your life. Many people in the midst of this chaotic world we live in look at the church and see it’s imperfections.

So, let me say this, so everyone knows my position. The church is not perfect. Things are still being worked out. Although the church may not be perfect, let me be clear about my position here, Jesus Christ is perfect.

What I find amazing about the world we live in is we are so quick to point out the imperfections of others and we will do whatever it takes to destroy them.

You may be thinking “Pastor Dave’s article is heavy today. He must be really going through something.”

On the contrary, what I want to encourage during this culture of outrage we live in is self reflection. There is a simple way to make our world a better place, and it is something we all can do.

We treat others the way we want to be treated. Taking care of myself and my attitude and how I see and interact with others is of utmost importance. The Lord has called us all, if we are to be his disciples, we must deny ourselves, pick up our cross and follow him. Some will gladly do that and others will not. However, let me state why I have decided to pick up my cross and follow Jesus, and let me add to this, I purposefully left out the “Deny myself” part of the verse because that part of the verse is an everyday battle.

If we were brutally honest with ourselves, the battle to deny ourselves is a battle that every one of us have. I have decided to pick up my cross and follow Jesus because Jesus has proven he is who he says he is.

The effects of that decision will not truly come to full fruition in this life. The truth is, when this life is over, I will become absent from this body and I will be present with the Lord Jesus Christ. I will shed this body and all the struggles I had with it to be with Jesus. It is at that point that I will trade this cross I carry for a crown.

Oh yes my friends, for the believer in the Lord Jesus Christ there is no end. Though our teaching in the church may be practical where we want to take the Word of God and apply it to our everyday living, may we never forget that this life is temporary, but giving our life to Jesus has an absolute and eternal outcome.

You can choose to be the difference and bring Peace on Earth Y’all! One thing is certain, the name of Jesus is the sweetest name I know! Have a blessed week! You can choose to be the difference, and bring Peace on Earth Y’all! One thing I know is certain, the name of Jesus is the sweetest name I know! Have a blessed week!

Dave Truncone is the pastor of First Assembly of God Church in Van Buren. He is married to Heidi and they have two daughters, Hannah, and Abigail. They live in Van Buren.