I went over to the office and got specific with them. "Do you allow small pets? Do you allow only certain kinds of pets, or is it a blanket ban on any pet?" They said their concern was for the possible allergies of other residents, which I do not fully believe, so they allow only pets that do not have fur. Well, that means no cat. Please, no smart remarks about hairless cats. They still have fur.
This made the choice easy for me. I had considered getting a snake in the past, but now that owning a cat was out of the question since I do not want to move, a snake was the perfect choice.
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| Ranger - Brooks Kingsnake at 3 months old |
The only experience I had to draw from in owning a snake was college. Some of the knowledge I got in my wildlife classes helped, and what I remembered about David's ball python, Abe, helped to start me out. What was the most helpful was the online community that I had no idea existed for snakes and other reptiles. If you are looking for help, or are just curious about herps of any kind, the people on this forum have been great.
Reptile & Parrots Forum
I have been very impressed by their kindness, willingness to help, and even a desire to be friends. It has been a very nice welcome to the world of reptiles.
All of this has made me think about the Church a bit. I know that the perception of the Church really comes to visitors through whatever local church they visit. My question then is, "How do newcomers see us when they walk through the doors?" Many of them have had past experiences with other churches, either good or bad, but they have come to our church desiring what I came to that forum desiring: Someone who cared enough to help me. I want to care enough about anyone else that I would not miss it if they needed me and not be callous enough to ignore their need.
That is what God expects of us, right?
"A new commandment I [Jesus] give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:34-35).
That is what we will answer to Him for at judgment.
"When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. Before Him will be gathered all the nations, and He will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And He will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
“Then He will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome Me, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’ Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life” (Matthew 25:31-46).
Though, we know that it is not by works we are saved...
"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9).
"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9).
We see that even while saved by grace, we will be judged by our works.
"Then I saw a great white throne and Him who was seated on it. From His presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire" (Revelation 20:11-15).
This only makes sense, though. True and living faith in Jesus Christ brings forth good works.
"What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Go in peace, be warmed and filled,' without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead" (James 2:14-17).
What then do we say about the good things done by those who do not trust Jesus as their Savior? These things that they do may very well be good works. Think of Ghandi. His passive resistance for the freedom of India from British rule was inspiring! It certainly made this world a better place, not just because of his actions, but also by what those actions have inspired in others. However, Ghandi still did wrong. He was not perfect, just like the rest of us are not perfect. God says, "Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy'" (1 Peter 1:13-16).
Nothing against Ghandi, but he was not holy. He fell short of the standard of God like everyone else has, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). That is just the hard truth. We cannot do it on our own. That is why God did it for us, "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23). What does it take? Death, unfortunately. Sin leads to death. There is no getting around that little doosy. "For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life" (Leviticus 17:11). That is why Jesus had to die. He had to die so that the sin we committed would be paid for, and He was the only one who could do it because He never sinned. "Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin" (Hebrews 4:14-15). Once our sin is paid for, we can be free. All we have to do is accept the gift. Remember, the Bible said it was a "free gift." How do we accept it? Trust in Jesus. "Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, 'Everyone who believes in Him will not be put to shame.' For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing His riches on all who call on Him. For 'everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved'" (Romans 10:9-13).
Believe in Jesus that His blood on the cross paid for your wrong doing.
Confess Him as your Savior.
That's it. Trust Jesus. You will not be put to shame, and you will gain eternal life in Heaven.
