Final Resolve

Posted on by Gary Fultz

A message for Jesus followers.

I often remember a conversation between Todd and me. It was the last time I saw him 42 years ago. “Todd, will you ever have a relationship with Jesus?” Todd “No Gary. Even if God sends me to hell, I have learned that there is always a way out of everything.” Me “that’s not how it works.” Todd: “I don’t believe the bibles take on how I should live my life or what’s after that”

I woke up again last night just before I would have to die in my re-occurring nightmare (for many years now). The only resolve is to wake up, get up and stay up. Going back to bed will only allow it to return. It’s my solution… a resolve. I can then move on with my day.

Everything about life is a type of resolve. In fact, there is always a resolve in the here and now. Hungry? eat. Thirsty? drink. Need money? get a job, a better job or hold up a “help me” sign. Tired? sleep. Music? full of resolves; usually each measure. Movies? always resolved unless there is sequel(s) to resolve. War? fight or escape. Terminal cancer? die. In this life we hope and look for resolve without thinking about it. Resolve or the hope of resolve is always there and always possible, somehow. Miracles do happen in this life; we experience them or at least hear about them. No matter what, we all die and some die twice…ask Lazarous.

I cannot imagine being trapped in my nightmare forever conscious with no escape, no waking up, no getting up, no time frame, no resolve or the relief of death. I cannot go there even for a few seconds as it’s too real, yet knowing hell would be worse than any nightmare I could have as I wake in my present existence. Hell has no resolve. None. No one will know you exist but you.

Eternity. The final resolve. I choose Jesus. I desperately want others to choose Jesus. If there were a stronger word than desperately, I would use it. In the context of my worst nightmare, I read Romans 8. It’s so good. It’s such a wonderful resolve for me. But, what about those who are born into and will be trapped in the little box of existence forever living out a worst nightmare as a final resolve? I cannot wish my worst nightmare on them much less what will happen to them without Jesus “knowing” them (referencing “I never knew you”).

I know how incapable I am of helping someone waking from their worst forever nightmare. All I ask is we pray for God to move us, work through us and allow God’s love and light to shine brightly through us. This means we are becoming lambs without spot or blemish. Time may be short, Final resolve near.

Meanwhile for us, this is ok in light of the alternative and much of the worlds sense of altered reality….”As it is written: For your sake we face death all day long; We are considered as sheep to be slaughtered,” (Romans 8:36) Trust me, this is much better than my worst re-occurring nightmare.

Gary

26 thoughts on “Final Resolve”

  3. Hi Gary, “For many years now . . .” That is strange, I’ve never encountered anything like this. Obviously you’ve prayed about it and obviously it’s still here. Does it happen everywhere or just at your home? Our oldest daughter ran into something similar when she was very young, only she saw a dark figure at the door of her room after she went to bed at night, that couldn’t seem to get in but it scared her. When the whole family was out I went around from room to room and cast anything that might be around, out in the name of Jesus and it worked because my oldest daughter never encountered it again. This dream doesn’t seem to be sourced from God but I could be wrong. That’s a heavy to carry around. You just went up a notch on my prayer list. If I can help let me know. Blessings, brother!

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    1. I have tried about everything Bruce. The nightmares drive me to The Lord quickly and make the reality of Hell hundreds of times more real than one could imagine. I believe our “Christianized” minds refuse to go there and it skews our belief into being more like Todd (mentioned above).

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  4. There are those who have had an experience in life in which they were pretty much forced to leave a good life and home they knew and appreciated and enter into a new life in a different location in which all was completely different and not so good. In those first few hours of the first day such people suddenly realize this is how their life will now be for the unforeseeable future which might last for a while or a long while and they will have to adjust like it or not. It can be rough. Some can’t handle it. The only way out, of course, is to first RESOLVE to adjust as quickly as possible and do one’s best to make the best of it. It is the only way. Such an action often works out well but not usually right away and it takes time. Based on one’s good attitude and unrelenting RESOLVE the move eventually turns into a blessing and shows one what is possible. Such only works, however, within the parameters of this temporal life. Once this life is over, without the right decision, it will be too late. May we all apply such RESOLVE to making the eternal move the correct one by following the One with the greatest RESOLVE to lead us home and do all we can while here to serve Him in assisting others to find their home in Him also. Thank you for your witness, Gary. Blessings to you

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    1. You get it RJ. I just want people to realize there is no way to change one’s final Destiney once they are there. We do come up with all sorts of unfounded beliefs to think there is another way (praying for the dead, declaring they were a good person, believing in purgatory) That realization should hit us like a sledgehammer.

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  5. Wow, Gary! There is such rich and profound material here to consider. Here’s what jarred me awake: “In this life we hope and look for resolve without thinking about it.”
    This reminds me that the greatest reality is in the spiritual realm, not the physical. And there’s no real way to deny it. Saying I don’t believe in God doesn’t mean He ceases to exist. We will all answer to Him—good or bad, safe or hopelessly lost.

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  6. “the greatest reality is in the spiritual realm”
    is a great way to put it David. Even worship is in “Spirit and Truth”.
    Our prayers are mostly for our immediate resolve physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually takes last place.
    These thoughts would make good discussion amongst people being honest with themselves, believers or not.

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      1. True. We had elderly women gently bawl out the church this morning about how we pray for our own comfort and health, rather than our heart conditions with God.

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  7. I love your prayer…’we pray for God’s love and light to shine brightly through us.’ That is a beautiful prayer to live by. Like a stained-glass window in a church that is full of luminous light, our souls reflect the light of Christ that shines within us. It is a light that never fails. No matter how dark the night, the light shines on, leading, guiding, making a way in the wilderness.

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  10. Hey Gary,
    I’ve been pondering for a few days about what to say to you concerning this nightmare of yours – this is my area of “issues” that I know most about – so to say….
    A few things came to mind, and I know that there are most likely more (soothing) truths to say to you, but here goes my “10 pence / cent”:

    1. JESUS says in John 15:16 you have not chosen me, but I have chosen you
    This is something I always remember when evangelizing, I am not the one who determines the outcome, only GOD knows who will “get it” and who won’t – my task is to tell them and to try and convince them and let THE HOLY SPIRIT move my actions and words and pray for them. In my jobs over the years, meeting many people in prison and on the streets, I have met many who didn’t seem receptive to the message I was trying to bring across to them, but then, I heard they got saved – sometimes what we say to them is only one piece in the puzzle and someone else will say something and GOD will make sure they get convicted and transformed, if it is HIS will.
    If your friend didn’t get saved, it is not your fault.
    Only the devil wants you to believe that.
    GOD knows that you’ve tried your best!

    2. Which takes us to this nightmare – nightmares are very often attacks from the enemy and we need to fight them – I know what I am talking about, as I haven’t slept through one single night for more than a decade…..I don’t know what you have been trying and studying, but if not familiar with Derek Prince and his material, I highly recommend you look into that and take authority over your dreams, there are 2 scriptures I like to declare over myself and stand on before going to sleep: Psalm 127:2 and Proverbs 3:24.

    3. I am sure you have an “arsenal” of warfare scriptures which you know by heart – mind you, at night, when he is throwing his attacks at you, the devil is not going to wait until you turn on the light, get your bible and then read the scriptures out to him LOL – if you would like to know which ones I like to use, you may want to check out an article I wrote a while back, it was back in the days when our mutual late friend Ron was still encouraging us with his comments (bless his heart and may he rest in peace!!!) and I listed some of my favorite scriptures for spiritual battle – you can read it here: https://witnessforjesus.net/2019/04/25/why-being-an-ex-smoker-can-actually-help-you-defeat-the-enemy/
    (and please feel free not to post this comment or edit it, as it is more a message for you than a post – and I am also here to pray with you over zoom if you wish, please feel free to reach out!!!!!!)

    And one last thought: you don’t know if Todd didn’t get saved last minute before he died!!!
    Only GOD knows.

    GOD bless you and I KNOW HE will reward you for your labour of love!!!

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    1. Thanks for all that Eva. It’s all in God’s hands. I believe I have done everything on my part and do not feel threatened by the evil one. It’s possible it’s more like a thorn in the flesh at this point. If my nightmare ever comes true, there will be resolve as that is how I will die in this life. In Christ I am untouchable after that. Should I feel led by the Spirit to do more, I will. It is a matter of staying very close to the Lord and a matter of “Practicing the presence of Jesus” (referencing brother Lawrence). Thank you for all you do on this front of the spiritual battle.

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  13. I frequently pray for holy curiosity for our uncommitted loved ones, driving them to seek truth. So many are living by their opinions of what happens when we die and think we can’t know for sure. Like Lee Strobel (author of the Case for Christ and the Case for Faith) before them, I pray they’ll decide once and for all to find out if the Bible could possibly be right!

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  14. I find myself praying often for those also Nancy. It’s so easy for self deception to happen unless one is intentional about such an important thing. I am glad for the promise ” seek (with your whole heart) and you will find

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