May 18, 2023 • 16 mins
Have you ever thought about life with an eternal perspective? Join Matt & Melissa Pisani as they discuss the reality that Heaven awaits! Be a part of God's story today by sharing His light to this dark world.
www.mattandmelissapisani.com
@puzzleisreal
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to the Puzzle is Real podcast where we will be
discussing faith, family, andRelationships hosted by Matt and
Melissa Paani.
This is The Puzzle is Realpodcast when you know, you know.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
All right.
Here we are back with anotherjam packed, enthusiastic,
boring, fun.
Hope you pay attention.
Don't get distracted.
Episode
Speaker 3 (00:28):
, all of it
mixed into one giant bowl of
words.
Yeah.
And ideas.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
A fruit bowl
Speaker 3 (00:35):
And mission and,
Speaker 2 (00:38):
And gummy bears
Speaker 3 (00:40):
As our kids love those gummy bears
Speaker 2 (00:42):
.
So, hey, we are, uh, we'rereally happy to be on another
episode and thanks for everyonethat keeps
Speaker 3 (00:49):
Streaming.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
Yeah.
Keep streaming stream, baby.
We appreciate it.
We wanted to talk to you guystonight about a, a topic of I
think controversy at times andI'll, I'll just open it up with,
um, a question, Melissa.
Yes.
If you were to die today mm-hmm.
(01:11):
and stand beforeGod, do you know you would go to
heaven?
Would, would he an allow you toenter into his kingdom?
Speaker 3 (01:21):
Well, according to scripture and according to I
guess me surrendering my life toJesus, yes.
Um, yes, I believe I will go toheaven.
But I think years ago I thoughtI was going to heaven, but
(01:42):
according to the scripture, Imaybe would've not.
Speaker 2 (01:46):
Yeah.
I think this is gonna be one ofthose episodes that really gets
people's wheels spinning.
Cuz the main question is always,do we think we're all going to
heaven?
Does everybody go to heaven?
Mm-hmm.
And I would be thefirst to admit, no, I did not
think I was always going toheaven.
I probably questioned it for thetime in my life where I was not
(02:07):
honoring God.
I was disconnected fromrelationship with him.
And I was pretty far from anytype of, you know mm-hmm.
, repentance, justliving in sin.
Speaker 3 (02:20):
Yeah.
And I also, I mean this is myopinion here, this is not based
on anything, but I think, um,you know, a lot of people say,
well I said the salvation prayeror I did this, but yet they're
not making that daily commitmentevery single day to follow
Jesus, to submit to him becausethey've kind of taken that as
(02:42):
the free gift to say, well I didthis already, so I'm going to
heaven.
I mean, I don't, I don't know.
I think it has to be a dailycommitment.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
Yeah.
I think of, um, in Matthew, thebook of Matthew chapter seven
and some of you're gonna be like, oh, I know where he's going.
Verse 21 to 23.
And it says, not everyone whosays to me, Lord, Lord will
enter the kingdom of heaven.
Mm-hmm.
.
But the one who does the will ofmy father, who is in heaven on
that day, many will say to me,Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy
(03:15):
in your name and cast out demonsin your name, name and do many
mighty works in your name andthen I will declare it to them.
I never knew you.
Mm.
Speaker 3 (03:24):
That's sobering.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
Depart for me, you workers of lawlessness.
Mm.
Oof.
So that's pretty powerful cuzlike I know that can be like
convicting if you're followingthe Lord and you're doing his
works, but yet lack therelationship.
Right.
In other words, like you'redoing really cool stuff, kingdom
(03:50):
stuff, but you get so caught upin doing kingdom stuff and doing
the works that you forget aboutthe relationship.
And I think isn't that kind ofhow life is just with people?
Speaker 3 (04:00):
Yeah.
And I actually got convictedrecently, and I always think
about the Mary and the Martha,right?
Mm-hmm.
, it's like theMartha wants to go and get all
the things done and prepare allthe things.
And Mary just sits at Jesus'feet.
And I think I've mentioned thisin one of the other podcasts
because just the other day I'mlike, oh, I gotta do this, I
(04:22):
gotta do that.
And then I'm like, no, I need tolike, spend time with my
children and do the things thathe wants me to do and like put
on worship music and let thekids dance and have fun and, you
know, so it's, it is a dailycommitment and um, I think
sometimes we need thosepromptings and those reminders.
Yeah.
And this whole episode thatwe're gonna talk about is having
(04:44):
that eternal perspective.
Not, you know, thinking aboutYes, we wanna think about the
day and you know, a year ahead,but we also want to think about
eternity because not today, Imean, tomorrow is not promised.
Speaker 2 (04:58):
Yeah.
And I think,
Speaker 3 (04:59):
And where are we going?
Speaker 2 (05:00):
It's really important for everyone to know that this
is not to, um, to beat anyone upand say like, oh, people are
going to hell man.
They gotta listen to this.
This isn't fire and brimstone.
Hey, when, when I recommitted mylife to Jesus, I was a, a
straight train wreck and it tookme time and I'm still nothing
(05:21):
without him and I'm still a workin progress and I still make
mistakes and have to repent.
So it's a constant pilgrimagejourney that we go on.
But the power is in saying, I'vedecided to follow Jesus.
I've decided to repent, turnfrom, and repentance is turning
from right that act of sin orthat act of constantly living in
(05:41):
error and living in, um, youknow, any type of wickedness or
whatever that you fill in theblank thing is that has stopped
you and separated from God, drawinto relationship with him
again.
And as you continue to draw intorelationship with him, you're
not gonna want disconnect.
Right.
And that's really important.
And I think it's even moreimportant that you know, that
(06:02):
it's never too late to keepbuilding.
It doesn't have to be a, alegalistic, regimented thing
that, you know, somebody givesyou the handbook.
This is how you st stay in, um,you know, covenant mcat.
This is how you spend time withGod.
You seek God on that.
He will show you.
But we know that the more thetime that we play, pray and
(06:24):
continue to stay in covenant andalso abide in him, man, when we
do all those things, it'spowerful.
And, and just the fact ofworshiping the Lord, dancing
before the Lord, just how Daviddid, that's really powerful.
Right.
If you can seek him with allyour heart, soul, and mind, love
(06:45):
him with all your heart, soul,and mind and strength, if you
can literally each day have anew song on your heart for him,
that's where the money is.
It's not about always just theworks.
The works will come as anextension of your relationship
and your love for him and withhim.
And then he's gonna instill lovein you.
That's his holy spirit.
(07:06):
That's him saying, Hey, I'mgonna come upon you as you seek
me.
I'm gonna come upon you.
So for everyone that's out therethat's saying, Hey, well I don't
know how to do that.
It's as simple as sittingsilent, reading the word of God.
And then you go a little deeperand say, well, is there like a,
a Christian song or a worshipsong that I really enjoy?
And you put that on, you spendthat time with God and allow him
(07:28):
to speak into your heart andmind he'll do the rest.
Speaker 3 (07:32):
Or even journal too, I think.
Yeah.
That's something that has alwaysbeen therapeutic for me in a lot
of ways.
And before I was saved, I didn'teven realize that that was my
way of like praying to God, eventhough like I always believed in
God, but I just didn't fullysurrender my life until I was in
my late twenties.
But you know, journaling is agreat way to just get the
(07:53):
thoughts going.
And sometimes God takes overyour pen and you look back and
you read things.
You're like, what?
That doesn't even sound like me.
Cause I feel like God will workthrough you, however you're
willing to have that quiet timeand to spend that time with him.
So whether it's just sitting insilence, reading the Bible,
putting on music, journaling, Imean, God can use any of it as
(08:15):
long as we're willing.
Speaker 2 (08:16):
Yeah.
And it says in the Bible that noone will come to the Father
except through me.
That's Jesus.
Right.
And I think we also have toremind ourselves that this is
our father through the salvationof Jesus, right.
Through his son, he's adoptedus.
Like we get to play with ourfather, we get to sit with him
and, and dream with him and singto him and with him.
(08:38):
So that's really important, Ithink when you really
personalize it.
Mm-hmm.
, he's not aforeign God.
He's a very intimate and lovingfather.
Mm-hmm.
who cares aboutevery little thing that we can
imagine and think of before weeven say it.
Okay.
So I just wanted to encourageeveryone, like take advantage of
that.
There are people that have beenmisled, that are following
(09:00):
religions and are missing out onrelationship with the father.
So cool.
Speaker 3 (09:07):
It is really cool.
And it just, as you followJesus, I think your purpose, um,
I don't know.
It just, it becomes so clearwhen you're searching in the
world for that validation andthat promotion and the money and
all that stuff.
I mean, it means nothing.
(09:29):
It really means nothing.
And I think when you followJesus and you are doing his will
for your life, and that's justwhatever, it's a daily
commitment every single day tosay, all right, God, what do you
want me to do today?
You don't have to figure it allout and say, oh, this is the
will for my life and this iswhat I'm supposed to do for the
rest of my life.
I think it's something thatwe're figuring in figuring out
(09:52):
Yeah.
Throughout our journey, whetherit's to, you know, he's about
saving souls.
He wants to bring us all toheaven, so he's gonna use us in
whatever way to bring people tohis kingdom.
And I think that's such a bigconcept, but it's, it's so
beautiful in a lot of ways.
(10:12):
And you know, I just, I see howhe's working in our lives and
just how he put us in a newplace because he wanted us to
reach the people down here andbuild relationships and also
just to kind of expand our reachand for our children.
I mean, I can go on and on.
I'm probably rambling right now,but,
Speaker 2 (10:33):
Preach.
Preach.
Speaker 3 (10:34):
No, it's just, um, I think when you live outside of
your own self and you're doingsomething that's a, a mission
that God has put us on thisearth for a mission for a
reason.
And when you're walking in thatpurpose, I think it just gives
you so much excitement becauseyou're like, wow, this is not
about me.
This is about him and he's goingto use me.
(10:58):
I mean, like, the God of theuniverse is going to use you to
like, bring people to Jesus.
Like that's incredible.
And
Speaker 2 (11:05):
I think it's also like really purposeful and
exciting when we remindourselves this is an internal
perspective that we're talkingabout.
We're talking about eternity inheaven or eternity in hell.
We can't forget.
Like there is a hell, there's areal place that unfortunately
those that do not wanna followChrist, do not wanna live for
God, do not wanna continuallysurrender their lives to him and
(11:28):
for him will be sent to a placeof darkness.
Right.
And, and a place of gnashing ofteeth.
And, and you know, we can gointo the Bible and talk about it
in more depth at another time,but it's a real thing.
Right.
Heaven or hell, we've seenspiritual warfare.
We've seen things that are, um,demonic because that's the
reality, right?
Because without Christ, we arenothing and mm-hmm.
(11:51):
and we're justsinners that need to be saved by
his blood, by his grace.
And unfortunately a lot ofpeople have denied that.
So I think that the eternalperspective when you're living
for God is so fun because nowyou're a part of his story,
you're a part of the story thatcontinues to build and you're
bringing heaven on earth.
And I think back to a time whenwe were visiting my old college
(12:15):
campus and visiting my oldcollege town, Melissa was
pregnant with Mercy mm-hmm.
.
And, um, we went to thispizzeria on the corner.
I wanted Melissa to try it.
Oh yeah.
And I think I was outside.
Speaker 3 (12:28):
I think you were in the bathroom.
Speaker 2 (12:29):
You went to the bathroom?
I was out.
Oh, I went to the bathroom.
I was out in the, the street onthe sidewalk of Bridge Street.
Oh yeah.
And we were up in, uh, uh, SwegoNew York.
And, uh, this guy had approachedme and oh was telling me this
whole story and, and he neededmoney.
And um, and I said, yeah, letme, let me get you some food.
I'll, I'll bring you inside.
We went into the pizzeria toget, get him some stuff, get him
(12:53):
some food.
And um,
Speaker 3 (12:54):
And he had no shame in his game.
He was already salad pizza.
Speaker 2 (12:57):
He was going to town.
I was like, all right man.
And um, and he was telling mehis story, how he had to get to
a different part of the state.
Anyway, something just happenedand mm-hmm.
, this just thiswhole demonic presence started
manifesting out of him mm-hmm.
.
And, uh, he had asked me asimple question and he said,
(13:19):
what do you do?
And I said, I tell people aboutJesus.
And as soon as I said the nameJesus, this guy totally like,
flipped a switch.
And, um, yeah, it was justpowerful to see how the, the
name of Jesus can not only, um,wake something up, right.
There was something in this manthat needed to go, but it also
reminded this man of, of whoJesus was and that he loved him.
(13:43):
And this same man had a Bible onhim.
Mm-hmm.
And he had taken it out of hispocket.
Do you remember that?
Yeah.
And he's, and he said, I knowwho he is, right.
And, and showed us the Bible andum mm-hmm.
He was in a battle.
And you know, very shortly afterthat, you know, we, uh, we had
to get going, but you know, weblessed the guy.
Like we definitely were keepinghim in prayer.
He wasn't ready for prayer atthat point.
(14:03):
Mm-hmm.
, he was kind of,um, I think just out of it, you
know, and, um, yeah.
And in awe of that we werewalking in the authority of
Christ.
But, you know, every day we havea, an opportunity to minister to
people.
It doesn't always end the waythat we want, but we get to be
the light and darkness and andthat's something that we're
commissioned to do.
It doesn't make us brave or orcourageous on our own strength,
(14:27):
it's God.
But just be encouraged thatthroughout every season that God
wants to use you, it's aneternal purpose.
He wants us to remind peoplethat it's never too late to
follow him.
Speaker 3 (14:37):
Yeah.
And we'll leave you with onescripture is, um, Colossians
three, two.
And that is set your minds onthings above, not on earthly
things.
And I think that's justsomething that we all have to
digest every day is to say, youknow what?
We're not gonna get caught up inall the keeping up with the
(14:58):
Joneses and the sports and allthis stuff.
Like, those things are great andfine, but where is your
long-term perspective?
And we should be having aneternal perspective.
So lots of tidbits ofinformation in there, a lot to
digest.
But um, ask yourself, you know,these questions and look in the
(15:21):
Bible, there's, there's, youknow, there's verses there's a
lot about heaven and what it'sgonna be like and how you get
into heaven.
So we can do like another partseries of this and yeah,
Speaker 2 (15:32):
I wanna talk more about heaven next time.
What's going on up there?
I don't
Speaker 3 (15:35):
Know, but it's gonna
Speaker 2 (15:36):
Be a amazing, I want to go, um, y'all know, I want to
go to the Tron room,.
Some people know about that,that are listening.
Um, it's, Hey, it's so fun to bea part of how God is, um, moving
here on earth.
Right.
And join in on, on theadventure, ask God to show you
(15:56):
how you can be that light anddarkness and literally bring his
kingdom to earth every day.
Speaker 3 (16:05):
Yep.
It's all about that mission.
We have to complete the mission.
So figure that out and God willdo the rest.
He will.
So thank you guys for listeningand share with a friend.
Encourage someone and, um, we'llsee you soon.
Speaker 2 (16:22):
Love ya,
Speaker 3 (16:23):
Tata.
Hey
Speaker 1 (16:24):
Guys.
Thanks so much for listening tothe Puzzle Israel podcast.
Please subscribe today and sharewith a friend.
See you soon.
Welcome to the Puzzle is Real podcast where we will be
discussing faith, family, andRelationships hosted by Matt and
Melissa Paani.
This is The Puzzle is Realpodcast when you know, you know.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
All right.
Here we are back with anotherjam packed, enthusiastic,
boring, fun.
Hope you pay attention.
Don't get distracted.
Episode
Speaker 3 (00:28):
words.
Yeah.
And ideas.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
A fruit bowl
Speaker 3 (00:35):
And mission and,
Speaker 2 (00:38):
And gummy bears
Speaker 3 (00:40):
As our kids love those gummy bears
Speaker 2 (00:42):
So, hey, we are, uh, we'rereally happy to be on another
episode and thanks for everyonethat keeps
Speaker 3 (00:49):
Streaming.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
Yeah.
Keep streaming stream, baby.
We appreciate it.
We wanted to talk to you guystonight about a, a topic of I
think controversy at times andI'll, I'll just open it up with,
um, a question, Melissa.
Yes.
If you were to die today mm-hmm.
(01:11):
heaven?
Would, would he an allow you toenter into his kingdom?
Speaker 3 (01:21):
Well, according to scripture and according to I
guess me surrendering my life toJesus, yes.
Um, yes, I believe I will go toheaven.
But I think years ago I thoughtI was going to heaven, but
(01:42):
according to the scripture, Imaybe would've not.
Speaker 2 (01:46):
Yeah.
I think this is gonna be one ofthose episodes that really gets
people's wheels spinning.
Cuz the main question is always,do we think we're all going to
heaven?
Does everybody go to heaven?
Mm-hmm.
think I was always going toheaven.
I probably questioned it for thetime in my life where I was not
(02:07):
honoring God.
I was disconnected fromrelationship with him.
And I was pretty far from anytype of, you know mm-hmm.
Speaker 3 (02:20):
Yeah.
And I also, I mean this is myopinion here, this is not based
on anything, but I think, um,you know, a lot of people say,
well I said the salvation prayeror I did this, but yet they're
not making that daily commitmentevery single day to follow
Jesus, to submit to him becausethey've kind of taken that as
(02:42):
the free gift to say, well I didthis already, so I'm going to
heaven.
I mean, I don't, I don't know.
I think it has to be a dailycommitment.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
Yeah.
I think of, um, in Matthew, thebook of Matthew chapter seven
and some of you're gonna be like, oh, I know where he's going.
Verse 21 to 23.
And it says, not everyone whosays to me, Lord, Lord will
enter the kingdom of heaven.
Mm-hmm.
But the one who does the will ofmy father, who is in heaven on
that day, many will say to me,Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy
(03:15):
in your name and cast out demonsin your name, name and do many
mighty works in your name andthen I will declare it to them.
I never knew you.
Mm.
Speaker 3 (03:24):
That's sobering.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
Depart for me, you workers of lawlessness.
Mm.
Oof.
So that's pretty powerful cuzlike I know that can be like
convicting if you're followingthe Lord and you're doing his
works, but yet lack therelationship.
Right.
In other words, like you'redoing really cool stuff, kingdom
(03:50):
stuff, but you get so caught upin doing kingdom stuff and doing
the works that you forget aboutthe relationship.
And I think isn't that kind ofhow life is just with people?
Speaker 3 (04:00):
Yeah.
And I actually got convictedrecently, and I always think
about the Mary and the Martha,right?
Mm-hmm.
the things done and prepare allthe things.
And Mary just sits at Jesus'feet.
And I think I've mentioned thisin one of the other podcasts
because just the other day I'mlike, oh, I gotta do this, I
(04:22):
gotta do that.
And then I'm like, no, I need tolike, spend time with my
children and do the things thathe wants me to do and like put
on worship music and let thekids dance and have fun and, you
know, so it's, it is a dailycommitment and um, I think
sometimes we need thosepromptings and those reminders.
Yeah.
And this whole episode thatwe're gonna talk about is having
(04:44):
that eternal perspective.
Not, you know, thinking aboutYes, we wanna think about the
day and you know, a year ahead,but we also want to think about
eternity because not today, Imean, tomorrow is not promised.
Speaker 2 (04:58):
Yeah.
And I think,
Speaker 3 (04:59):
And where are we going?
Speaker 2 (05:00):
It's really important for everyone to know that this
is not to, um, to beat anyone upand say like, oh, people are
going to hell man.
They gotta listen to this.
This isn't fire and brimstone.
Hey, when, when I recommitted mylife to Jesus, I was a, a
straight train wreck and it tookme time and I'm still nothing
(05:21):
without him and I'm still a workin progress and I still make
mistakes and have to repent.
So it's a constant pilgrimagejourney that we go on.
But the power is in saying, I'vedecided to follow Jesus.
I've decided to repent, turnfrom, and repentance is turning
from right that act of sin orthat act of constantly living in
(05:41):
error and living in, um, youknow, any type of wickedness or
whatever that you fill in theblank thing is that has stopped
you and separated from God, drawinto relationship with him
again.
And as you continue to draw intorelationship with him, you're
not gonna want disconnect.
Right.
And that's really important.
And I think it's even moreimportant that you know, that
(06:02):
it's never too late to keepbuilding.
It doesn't have to be a, alegalistic, regimented thing
that, you know, somebody givesyou the handbook.
This is how you st stay in, um,you know, covenant mcat.
This is how you spend time withGod.
You seek God on that.
He will show you.
But we know that the more thetime that we play, pray and
(06:24):
continue to stay in covenant andalso abide in him, man, when we
do all those things, it'spowerful.
And, and just the fact ofworshiping the Lord, dancing
before the Lord, just how Daviddid, that's really powerful.
Right.
If you can seek him with allyour heart, soul, and mind, love
(06:45):
him with all your heart, soul,and mind and strength, if you
can literally each day have anew song on your heart for him,
that's where the money is.
It's not about always just theworks.
The works will come as anextension of your relationship
and your love for him and withhim.
And then he's gonna instill lovein you.
That's his holy spirit.
(07:06):
That's him saying, Hey, I'mgonna come upon you as you seek
me.
I'm gonna come upon you.
So for everyone that's out therethat's saying, Hey, well I don't
know how to do that.
It's as simple as sittingsilent, reading the word of God.
And then you go a little deeperand say, well, is there like a,
a Christian song or a worshipsong that I really enjoy?
And you put that on, you spendthat time with God and allow him
(07:28):
to speak into your heart andmind he'll do the rest.
Speaker 3 (07:32):
Or even journal too, I think.
Yeah.
That's something that has alwaysbeen therapeutic for me in a lot
of ways.
And before I was saved, I didn'teven realize that that was my
way of like praying to God, eventhough like I always believed in
God, but I just didn't fullysurrender my life until I was in
my late twenties.
But you know, journaling is agreat way to just get the
(07:53):
thoughts going.
And sometimes God takes overyour pen and you look back and
you read things.
You're like, what?
That doesn't even sound like me.
Cause I feel like God will workthrough you, however you're
willing to have that quiet timeand to spend that time with him.
So whether it's just sitting insilence, reading the Bible,
putting on music, journaling, Imean, God can use any of it as
(08:15):
long as we're willing.
Speaker 2 (08:16):
Yeah.
And it says in the Bible that noone will come to the Father
except through me.
That's Jesus.
Right.
And I think we also have toremind ourselves that this is
our father through the salvationof Jesus, right.
Through his son, he's adoptedus.
Like we get to play with ourfather, we get to sit with him
and, and dream with him and singto him and with him.
(08:38):
So that's really important, Ithink when you really
personalize it.
Mm-hmm.
He's a very intimate and lovingfather.
Mm-hmm.
imagine and think of before weeven say it.
Okay.
So I just wanted to encourageeveryone, like take advantage of
that.
There are people that have beenmisled, that are following
(09:00):
religions and are missing out onrelationship with the father.
So cool.
Speaker 3 (09:07):
It is really cool.
And it just, as you followJesus, I think your purpose, um,
I don't know.
It just, it becomes so clearwhen you're searching in the
world for that validation andthat promotion and the money and
all that stuff.
I mean, it means nothing.
(09:29):
It really means nothing.
And I think when you followJesus and you are doing his will
for your life, and that's justwhatever, it's a daily
commitment every single day tosay, all right, God, what do you
want me to do today?
You don't have to figure it allout and say, oh, this is the
will for my life and this iswhat I'm supposed to do for the
rest of my life.
I think it's something thatwe're figuring in figuring out
(09:52):
Yeah.
Throughout our journey, whetherit's to, you know, he's about
saving souls.
He wants to bring us all toheaven, so he's gonna use us in
whatever way to bring people tohis kingdom.
And I think that's such a bigconcept, but it's, it's so
beautiful in a lot of ways.
(10:12):
And you know, I just, I see howhe's working in our lives and
just how he put us in a newplace because he wanted us to
reach the people down here andbuild relationships and also
just to kind of expand our reachand for our children.
I mean, I can go on and on.
I'm probably rambling right now,but
Speaker 2 (10:33):
Preach.
Preach.
Speaker 3 (10:34):
No, it's just, um, I think when you live outside of
your own self and you're doingsomething that's a, a mission
that God has put us on thisearth for a mission for a
reason.
And when you're walking in thatpurpose, I think it just gives
you so much excitement becauseyou're like, wow, this is not
about me.
This is about him and he's goingto use me.
(10:58):
I mean, like, the God of theuniverse is going to use you to
like, bring people to Jesus.
Like that's incredible.
And
Speaker 2 (11:05):
I think it's also like really purposeful and
exciting when we remindourselves this is an internal
perspective that we're talkingabout.
We're talking about eternity inheaven or eternity in hell.
We can't forget.
Like there is a hell, there's areal place that unfortunately
those that do not wanna followChrist, do not wanna live for
God, do not wanna continuallysurrender their lives to him and
(11:28):
for him will be sent to a placeof darkness.
Right.
And, and a place of gnashing ofteeth.
And, and you know, we can gointo the Bible and talk about it
in more depth at another time,but it's a real thing.
Right.
Heaven or hell, we've seenspiritual warfare.
We've seen things that are, um,demonic because that's the
reality, right?
Because without Christ, we arenothing and mm-hmm.
(11:51):
his blood, by his grace.
And unfortunately a lot ofpeople have denied that.
So I think that the eternalperspective when you're living
for God is so fun because nowyou're a part of his story,
you're a part of the story thatcontinues to build and you're
bringing heaven on earth.
And I think back to a time whenwe were visiting my old college
(12:15):
campus and visiting my oldcollege town, Melissa was
pregnant with Mercy mm-hmm.
And, um, we went to thispizzeria on the corner.
I wanted Melissa to try it.
Oh yeah.
And I think I was outside.
Speaker 3 (12:28):
I think you were in the bathroom.
Speaker 2 (12:29):
You went to the bathroom?
I was out.
Oh, I went to the bathroom.
I was out in the, the street onthe sidewalk of Bridge Street.
Oh yeah.
And we were up in, uh, uh, SwegoNew York.
And, uh, this guy had approachedme and oh was telling me this
whole story and, and he neededmoney.
And um, and I said, yeah, letme, let me get you some food.
I'll, I'll bring you inside.
We went into the pizzeria toget, get him some stuff, get him
(12:53):
some food.
And um,
Speaker 3 (12:54):
And he had no shame in his game.
He was already salad pizza.
Speaker 2 (12:57):
He was going to town.
I was like, all right man.
And um, and he was telling mehis story, how he had to get to
a different part of the state.
Anyway, something just happenedand mm-hmm.
manifesting out of him mm-hmm.
And, uh, he had asked me asimple question and he said,
(13:19):
what do you do?
And I said, I tell people aboutJesus.
And as soon as I said the nameJesus, this guy totally like,
flipped a switch.
And, um, yeah, it was justpowerful to see how the, the
name of Jesus can not only, um,wake something up, right.
There was something in this manthat needed to go, but it also
reminded this man of, of whoJesus was and that he loved him.
(13:43):
And this same man had a Bible onhim.
Mm-hmm.
And he had taken it out of hispocket.
Do you remember that?
Yeah.
And he's, and he said, I knowwho he is, right.
And, and showed us the Bible andum mm-hmm.
He was in a battle.
And you know, very shortly afterthat, you know, we, uh, we had
to get going, but you know, weblessed the guy.
Like we definitely were keepinghim in prayer.
He wasn't ready for prayer atthat point.
(14:03):
Mm-hmm.
know, and, um, yeah.
And in awe of that we werewalking in the authority of
Christ.
But, you know, every day we havea, an opportunity to minister to
people.
It doesn't always end the waythat we want, but we get to be
the light and darkness and andthat's something that we're
commissioned to do.
It doesn't make us brave or orcourageous on our own strength,
(14:27):
it's God.
But just be encouraged thatthroughout every season that God
wants to use you, it's aneternal purpose.
He wants us to remind peoplethat it's never too late to
follow him.
Speaker 3 (14:37):
Yeah.
And we'll leave you with onescripture is, um, Colossians
three, two.
And that is set your minds onthings above, not on earthly
things.
And I think that's justsomething that we all have to
digest every day is to say, youknow what?
We're not gonna get caught up inall the keeping up with the
(14:58):
Joneses and the sports and allthis stuff.
Like, those things are great andfine, but where is your
long-term perspective?
And we should be having aneternal perspective.
So lots of tidbits ofinformation in there, a lot to
digest.
But um, ask yourself, you know,these questions and look in the
(15:21):
Bible, there's, there's, youknow, there's verses there's a
lot about heaven and what it'sgonna be like and how you get
into heaven.
So we can do like another partseries of this and yeah,
Speaker 2 (15:32):
I wanna talk more about heaven next time.
What's going on up there?
I don't
Speaker 3 (15:35):
Know, but it's gonna
Speaker 2 (15:36):
Be a amazing, I want to go, um, y'all know, I want to
go to the Tron room,
Some people know about that,that are listening.
Um, it's, Hey, it's so fun to bea part of how God is, um, moving
here on earth.
Right.
And join in on, on theadventure, ask God to show you
(15:56):
how you can be that light anddarkness and literally bring his
kingdom to earth every day.
Speaker 3 (16:05):
Yep.
It's all about that mission.
We have to complete the mission.
So figure that out and God willdo the rest.
He will.
So thank you guys for listeningand share with a friend.
Encourage someone and, um, we'llsee you soon.
Speaker 2 (16:22):
Love ya,
Speaker 3 (16:23):
Tata.
Hey
Speaker 1 (16:24):
Guys.
Thanks so much for listening tothe Puzzle Israel podcast.
Please subscribe today and sharewith a friend.
See you soon.
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