What is "The Question"? I supose it varies somewhat from person to person, depending on how we were raised, or different perspectives we've chosen to adopt, whether for convenience, because of peer presure, training or whatever. But it is basicaly, How did I get here?, Where did I come from?, Where am I going?, What am I here for?, Do I have a purpose?

One of the variations of the question is how important it is. To some, it's just a nagging reminder of imminent yet uncertain death, therefore, a topic to be ignored. To others it means opportunity to get stuff for a short while, so there isn't really much time to think about it. Some have thought about it to some degree and concluded that there isn't really any answers, so they've tried to forget it. But most of us have considered it enough to realize that forever is a long, long time, and somewhere in the vastness of timelessness, and space, our life here on earth would be a thing of the past, significant or not. At this point we make a descision: to be, or not to be "significant" in the whole scheme of things. So now here we are again, at the begining, wondering, "What is the whole scheme?" Then we begin to look at spiritual things, because obviously, if we are going to be in the picture, say 30,000,000 years from now, then we must be spiritual creatures, even more than we are physical. So we look around and see many, many "paths to enlightenment". Which one do I take? Some are content to settle for one that is easy, some for hard, some for spacey, others for feeling good, but all for consoling themselves over that qustion that just doesn't ever go away.

As time goes on, the question gives birth to more and more questions: Will I just quit being?, Is this life real, or just a dream?, Is there really any consequences for what I do?, Should I even worry about morrals?, Is there a God?, How do I find out?

I have found peace in my search for the answers. A great and wonderful peace. But only when I found the answers. Here is the way it happened for me. I looked around me and saw impossible things, like beauty in the strangest creations, plant, animal, mineral, and mind. To me these can only be explained as artwork, by the hand of an incomprehensibly great artist. There has to be God! So who is he? I called out to Him with all my might, reasoning with Him, pleading with Him, saying, "show yourself to me so I can know. Nothing happened, for a while, But a year later, something did. When someone shared with me the gospel (good news) of Jesus Christ. It wasn't at all what I thought I knew about it. Y'see, I had thought, that Christianity was God wanting me to earn my way to heaven by not doing all of the things that I thought were fun, and even doing some things that were down right boring, like attending church. I couldn't even understand the bible. The "good news" is that God is close by, and loves us, and wants us to be with Him. The bad news is something does stop this from happening naturally. That something is a fallen nature that we inherited from Adam, since he dissobeyed God and became darkness.

Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. Romans 5: 12-14

This didn't stop God from loving us though, but somehow, we needed to be restored to the light. That's where Jesus comes in. The price for being darkness is seperation from God, and consiqently, death. By ourselves we could do nothing about this, but He could, God made a way where there was no way. That way is Jesus.

But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. 1st Corinthians 15: 20-23

And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. John 14: 4-7

He took our place and paid the price that we were supposed to pay.

For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. 2nd Corinthians 8: 9

And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 2nd Corinthians 5:18-21

He actually traded his rightiouness to us for our sin. He paid the price for it by dying on the cross, and because He was without blame, death couldn't hold Him and He rose from the grave after three days, fulfilling the prophecies pertaining to the restoration of mankind.

For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: 1st corinthians 15: 3-4

So, what now?

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Matthew 7: 7-14

Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. Acts 2: 37-41

For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. Romans 8: 6-14

And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. 2nd Corinthians 6: 16-18

For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. Ephesians 3: 14-21

And on, and on, and on,... If this sounds good to you, just ask God to forgive you in the name of Jesus and give yourself to Him to be your Lord and Savior.

All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6: 37-40

I'll meet you there,

Sincerely His,

Dennis Crombie