Steven Garofalo
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WHY DO PEOPLE ACT THEY WILL “LIVE” FOREVER?
By Steven Garofalo, November 10, 2023 (Copyright Steven Garofalo November 10, 2023)
November 10, 2023

SOMEONE ONCE SAID, LIFE IS LIKE A HALF CONSTRUCTED ROLLERCOASTER (ONLY THE ASCENT PART IS THERE AND THEN IT DROPS DEAD). TODAY I AM GOING TO GIVE YOU THE ETERNAL ANSWER AS TO WHY PEOPLE LIVE AS THOUGH THEY WILL LIVER FOREVER HERE ON EARTH.

All of the things we have in life, including school, our career, relationships, hobbies, material wealth-heck, ever our GOALS are like big billboards arranged on both sides of the roller coaster preventing us from seeing how dangerously high we are getting-preventing us from seeing that this journey we call life will end some day. If mankind would see beyond these billboards, he or she would fear death and seek the true eternal God of the universe through Jesus Christ. One of the great secrets of life and a tenant of the Christian faith is healthy contentment. I don’t mean laziness, but contentment with what we have been given in light of what God has blessed each of us with. This is the greatest challenge in American culture in my estimation. God tells us through Scripture that we are to make the most of what we have been given and stop complaining about what we don’t have. The truth about God and the secret of life is “THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN”. Once you have that, you have everything. WHAT IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN? JESUS SAID…

“THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS LIKE A TREASURE HIDDEN IN A FIELD, WHICH A MAN FOUND AND COVERED UP. THEN IN HIS JOY HE GOES AND SELLS ALL THAT HE HAS (MATERIALLY) AND BUYS THAT FIELD” (MATTHEW 13:44).

JESUS HERE IS SPEAKING IN PARABLES TO DESCRIBE THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. THIS TIME, HE COMPARES THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN TO TREASURE FOUND HIDDEN IN A FIELD. THE MAN WHO FINDS IT DOES NOT SIMPLY TAKE IT. INSTEAD, HE LEAVES IT THERE, SELLS EVERYTHING HE HAS, AND BUYS THE FIELD IN ORDER TO GET THE TREASURE IT CONTAINS. IN BIBLICAL TIMES, IT WAS COMMON TO HIDE ONE’S TREASURE AND WEALTH IN A FIELD. WHY? BECAUSE THE MODERN BANK AND STEEL HOME SAFES SIMPLY DIDN’T EXIST IN BIBLICAL TIMES. AND IF ONE ACCIDENTALLY FOUND THE TREASURE, THE LAW WAS CLEAR THAT IT WOULD BELONG TO THE OWNER OF THE LAND.

HERE, THE MAN IN THIS PARABLE ACTS TO GAIN SOMETHING MORE VALUABLE THAN WHAT HE SACRIFICES IS HE POINT. AND THE LARGER IDEA OF THIS PARABLE IS THAT ANY SACRIFICE IS WORTH BELONGING TO THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.

(NOTE: Let’s be clear here that the true God is NOT Islam, Hinduism, Mormonism, Taoism, or any other gods or religion. Only the God of the Bible through Jesus Christ.)

IN SUMMARY: LET’s remember that LIFE IS LIKE THAT HALF CONSTRUCTED ROLLERCOASTER (IN REALITY, ONLY THE ASCENT PART IS THERE AND THEN IT DROPS DEAD). The truth is that none of us will live forever on earth and evade death unless Jesus returns in our physical life time to rapture those saved by the blood of Jesus Christ. It’s easy to think that we are invincible and eternal. The truth if that life is short and we have work to do for the Lord here on earth in addition to enjoying the time He has given us in the temporal. When our focus gets out of balance and our priorities become more self-centered, we tend to cling to the present “material” world and forget the eternal big picture which places the believer in the presence of the Lord after leaving the material world. Our life on earth-including our pleasure, recreation and riches and even our sufferings come in an instant and end in the flash of an eye, but the Word of the Lord, eternity, and our time in heaven wit God is forever.

….for “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever.” And this word is the good news that was preached to you. (1 Peter 1:24-25)

I want to encourage each of you today to seek the truth of God through the Bible and prayer, and understand that we in all our glory are just like the grass and the beautiful flowers in all our earthly glory. But we, just like those flowers, will one day fade and pass away. Let’s choose the TREASURE IN THE FIELD in an authentic relationship with the living God through Jesus Christ. That treasure is eternal and never fades away or dies. As a result, those in Christ will live forever in eternal bliss-a place called heaven.

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DON’T ALPINE ON THE “GOOD OLD DAYS”

“Say not, “Why were the former days better than these” (Ecclesiastes 7:10).

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ARE YOU AS ZELOUS AS SAUL WAS?

It never ceases to amaze me how lethargic we as Christian’s can be. When we were saved we were called to. Called not to rest from God’s mission but rest only from the ways of this world. Sadly, most Christians are on the sidelines in today’s world. WHY? I think it’s because we feel we are in the safe cacoon of the Lord’s arms.

While true in one sense, the truth is that we are called to get out of the cacoon and into the battle of good and evil as representatives of Lord and Savior-standing slbodly for His goodness once saved. We are not called to relax by the beach but to share the love and truth of a Christ with anyone who happens to be at the beach when we are visiting. And the same wherever we go 24/7.

Our family is at the beach in Charleston this week and a nice Southern lady came up to Heather in the beach to speak with her-saying “you are a good southern Christian” aren’t you?” She was half right but we are not southern😎. Heather explained that she met me at a church in ...

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DO PETS GO TO HEAVEN?

When I was in seminary, the question was raised as to if pets or animals in general go to heaven. Our professor, Dr. Norman Geisler said this: “Jesus Christ came to earth and died on the Cross for the human race, not animals.” I was working out at the gym one day when one of the regulars, who had just moved to Charlotte, NC from California told me that one of her beloved dogs died; and would that dog go to heaven. I have her the same answer. But, was that the whole story? That’s what we are going to look at today.

In a peace by Michael Housman, Founder of GotQuestions.Org, Housman wrote that “The BIble does not give any explicit teaching on whether pets or animals in general have souls, or spirits, or whether pets and other animals will be in heaven.

His answer was short but the animals not having souls maybe up for debate.

We can use general biblical principles to develop some clarity on the subject though Housman wrote. The Bible states that both man (Genesis 2:7) and animals (Genesis 1:30; 6:17; 7:15 and 22) have the “BREATH OF LIFE” that is, both man and animals are living beings. Furthermore, the primary difference between human beings and animals is that humanity is made in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26-27), while animals are not.

Being made in the image and likeness of God means that human beings are like God in some ways; they are capable of spirituality; they have a mind, emotion, and “will”; and part of their “being” continues after death.

If pets and other animals do have a “soul” (or spirit or immaterial aspect), it must therefore be of a different and lesser “quality”. This difference possibly means that pets and other animal “souls”  do not continue in existence after death.

Another factor to consider regarding whether pets will be in heaven is that animals are a port of God’s creative process in Genesis. God created the animals and said they were good (Genesis 1:25). Therefore, there is no reason why there could not be pets and animals on the NEW EARTH as described in (Revelation 21:1). 

In the end, there will most definitely be animals during the millennial kingdom (Isaiah 11:6; 65:25). It is impossible to say definitely whether some animals of these animals might be the pets we had here on earth. We do know that God is just and that when we get to heaven, we will find ourselves in complete agreement with His decision on this issue, whatever that turns out to be.

So, there you have it. I think that’s the best answer on the subject in all honest. Please remember to SUBSCRIBE to our channel and check out StevenGarofalo.Com for exclusive content and early release of our two weekly podcast.

Until next time, I’m your host Steven Garofalo, and this is your reason for truth for today.

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AN ETHICAL ECONOMY IS GOOD FOR ALL
By Steven Garofalo, May 2, 2025

WHAT MAKES A GOOD ECONOMY

Government corruption comes to the advantage of a few-but at the expense of many if not all the rest of society. Today, I am going to show you through Ecclesiastes 5:8-9 that vanity and wealth, if not kept accountable, will devour one’s honor and the honor or the nation in whole. Let’s get started.

The Vanity of Wealth and Honor is an interesting subject in light of wealth, corruption, and the human heart. This subject effects many things, including what makes a good economy. 

In the Book of Ecclesiastes, chapter 5, verses eight to nine, Solomon says the following:

Ecclesiastes 5:8-9
“8 If you see in a province the oppression of the poor and the violation of justice and righteousness, do not be amazed at the matter, for the high official is watched by a higher, and there are yet higher ones over them. 9 But this is gain for a land in every way: a king committed to cultivated fields.”

COMMENTARY: There are two things king Solomon is saying here within the theme of the vanity of WEALTH and HONOR. Wealth and honor are two different things, as one can have wealth with or without honor or honor with or without wealth. That being said, let’s look at verses 8 and 9 independently to see the simple message God provides us today through Solomon.

BREAK DOWN
Ecclesiastes 5:8-9

THE ABUSE OF AUTHORITY & WEALTH
 “8 If you see in a province the oppression of the poor and the violation of justice and righteousness, do not be amazed at the matter, for the high official is watched by a higher, and there are yet higher ones over them." 

COMMENTARY: Verse 8 clearly illustrates that there is a corruption at every level of government, with higher level oppressors plundering the equally oppressive lower-level magistrates. This perhaps explains the st state of America and the world. With blackmail running. Rampant and the public sector unchecked, they have been robbing the everyday citizen of their hard earned money. As a result, the system became insulated and division between the haves and have nots became more defined. When the high level government officials rob and abuse those below them, someone above that person robs and abuses the higher level person himself.

In America, where we print money out of thin air for the world, in this short period of history, there is little need to plunder those under one authority because there is so much to steal that those in authority can simply pay them off or blackmail them; whichever is most convenient. Either way, Solomon makes abundantly clear that when there is nobody minding the ship, evil perpetuates to the point of overtaking the government in whole. As a result, we end up with a 2024 government, riddles with corruption, immorality, blackmail, lawlessness, and all other things evil due to the lack of God-ness which equates to “goodness”. 

Economically speaking, when this happens to a country, its own economy begins to decline into debt due to their insatiable desire and emotional need for more money and resources. When resources are stripped and money is squandered, the elite few are smart enough to collect those resources and money and we end up with a U.S. Stock Market where only 5% holds up to 80%  of the entire market wealth. 

WHAT IS THE ANSWER?
The answer and solution is to keep to return to the system we created in the first place which is free market capitalism that allows those who desire to work hard, to have a fair chance at success, making money and turning a fair profit. This is called “honor for everyone”.

HONOR FOR EVERYONE
"9 But this is gain for a land in every way: a king committed to cultivated fields.”

CONCLUSION:

Government corruption comes to the advantage of a few-but at the expense of many if not all the rest of society. Vanity and wealth, if not kept accountable, devours one’s honor and the honor or the nation in whole. Solomon (Qohelet) considered goverment to be frustrating becuase it was a necessary evil, something deply flawed but indespsnsible. On the one hand people sould "not be shocked" when they see OPPRESSION and injustice in a governmental province (v.8). After all, bloated government bureaucracy tends to frustrate justice (v.8b). On the other hand, government has it advantages (v.9). Many hold to the belief that this verse continues the negeative assessment of government. Others see this passage better understood more positively since it fits with Qohelet's normal pattern of "on the one hand, on the other.." way of teaching. 

Even a corrupt government is better than anarchy, which devastates a country, it's culture and in Solomon's time, an agrarian economy that would lead to starvation. Keeping to God's ways is the only solution to man's sinful nature; especially in governmental rule. In the end, a king who devotes himself to developing the resources of the land ushers in a systems that brings the opportunity for profit to all, not just the corrupt few.

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SOLA SCRIPTURA
A Protestant & Catholic View Comparison

I grew up Catholic and now go to a Protestant or non-Catholic church in Charlotte, NC. Michael Houdmann, Founder and CEO of GotQuestions.Org writes that a major difference between the two boils down to believing in the Bible alone as God's word verses believing that God's word plus man's input as the divine inspired word of God.

WHAT DO PROTESTANTS BELIEVE?

A major difference is the issue of sufficiency and authority of Scripture. While Protestants believe that the Bible alone is the source of God's special revelation to mankind, it also speaks to everything we need to understand as necessary for our salvation from sin.

Protestants view the Bible as the STANDARD for Christian morality and ethics which governs our behavior. This is called sola scripture and is one of the five Solas in Christianity. (Solas meaning "alone" in Latin. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 makes clear that "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (ESV).

WHAT DO CATHOLICS BELIEVE?

Catholics do not believe in sola scriptura hence do not believe that the Bible alone is sufficient. They see both the Bible and sacred Roman Catholic tradition as equally authoritative and binding on the Christian. While not all Catholics hold to doctrines such as purgatory, praying to the saints, worship or veneration of Mary, etc., the Catholic doctrine hold to them even though they have little or no mention or basis in the Bible. In truth, these doctrines are based on Roman Catholic traditions based on the Catholic Church's insistence that the Bible and tradition are equal in authority. The problem with this is that it undermines the sufficiency, authority, and completeness of the Bible. The view of Scripture is at the root of many, if not all, of the differences between Catholics and Protestants.

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