JACOB MEETS RACHEL : HOW TO PREPARE TO BECOME A GODLY HUSBAND OR WIFE


Hello everyone,

I hope that you’re all doing well. I’m deeply grateful to God to share with you a new piece of work called “Jacob Meets Rachel.” Jacob is one of the most pivotal characters of the Old Testament. His grandfather was Abraham, and his father was Isaac. Both are well known to have walked with God profoundly.

Jacob’s life was full of struggle, false hope, and pain. However, through all of it, he became victorious and stayed victorious. His character was so strong that God Himself physically fought with him for one complete night. After that fight, God called him Israel. “And He said, ‘Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.’” — Genesis 32:28 (NKJV). The nation of Israel carries the name of that pivotal man.

There is a lot to say about Jacob. Before becoming this amazing man of God, he started life as a cheater and a liar. He tricked his older brother into giving him his heritage due to his firstborn position. Then he tricked his father as well. While Jacob was still young, he ran from home, as his brother wanted to kill him. In his escape, he experienced two things:

1 – God. He asked God to reveal Himself to him.
2 – Romance. He then met his future wife.

Those two points are my message to all of you. You might search for foundation and direction in life. Also, you might want to find a husband or a wife. Believer, or not, I hope these few words can be helpful to you.

Jacob experienced God while he was lost and full of fears, and God became his absolute foundation in life — not a woman, nor wealth, nor anything else. I encourage you to do the same: to have a heart-to-heart encounter with the Living God and to let Him become your absolute foundation in life — for everything (spiritually, morally, physically, intellectually, etc.).

Why is this pivotal? If you don’t have God as your absolute foundation, you will have other foundations, which will be weak, temporary, uncertain, and ready to break at any moment. Once it all falls apart, your life will fall apart as well. If you have God, even if everything goes against you in life, you won’t break, you won’t be shaken, because your joy doesn’t depend on those things. God is your everything. As Jacob before you, you will be victorious — even if it takes a lot of time, pain, struggle, and tears. If you want to give your hear to God, I hope this article can be helpful to you : Are You Saved?

Regarding romance: ask God to write your love story.
If you desire to have a husband or a wife, it is a beautiful thing. I encourage you to follow God’s way for it, not the world. While you ask for a lifelong love story, I encourage you to become a true man or woman of God. Observe Jacob’s personality. God started a profound work in Jacob’s character and heart. He will do the same with you.

It is amazing to find a godly partner, but if we aren’t ready in our character and personality, we might not be able to handle it properly. God wants you to enter romance smoothly. He wants to spare you pain, useless drama, and confusion. He wants us to understand our respective roles. God has a design for it. A man isn’t a woman, and a woman isn’t a man. Men should develop their healthy masculinity, and women their healthy femininity. While we’re equal in value in God’s eyes, we have different gifts and roles. We will overview some of them below.

ROLE OF THE MAN

Picture by Tim Marshall

First, seek a woman of God. Not a worldly woman. God loves both the believer and the unbeliever, but He wants you to find someone who already loves Him. This is the number one factor. God wants to be in the center of your marriage. If one of the lovers doesn’t care about God and His Word, you will suffer in one way or another. Why? Because the most important factor in your life cannot be understood nor shared in depth with your lover, and it will create major differences in the long run (the moral direction of the house, the wrong recognition of patterns of the masculine/feminine roles, the education of the kids if you have them, politics, etc.). See 2 Corinthians 6:14-15 and 1 Corinthians 7:39. So what should you be looking for?

Does she love Christ? Is her faith genuine? Do her actions reflect The Scriptures? What does her lifestyle look like? How does she treat her family? What does she do in her free time? What is her speech like? Does she use curse words? Who are her friends? How does she react under pressure? You must not be impressed by a Biblical quote on her Instagram. It means nothing. Her entire lifestyle must tell you who she is. Never invest all your efforts into the wrong woman because you find her cute or smart. Way before you find her by God’s grace, focus on developing those different sections:

• 1) — Sacrificial love. Love your wife as Christ loved the Church. The Church isn’t a building. The Church means all the believers in Christ around the globe. As you already know, Jesus Christ died for us so that we can be saved and have eternal life. You also should develop sacrificial love for your wife. You should do everything you can to protect her, provide for her, and give her peace, security, and comfort. See Ephesians 5:25 and Ephesians 5:28

• 2) — Leader. God called you to be the leader and the head of your family. It doesn’t mean that you are superior, but it is the order that God created to develop a successful marriage. In the relationship, the man symbolizes Christ and the woman the Church. Your role must be to imitate Christ. Christ was not a tyrant nor a dictator, but a perfect servant to all of us, teaching us the way we should go, in tenderness and kind firmness. Lead and serve your wife with gentleness in the same Spirit — always more and more in God’s Heart. Have multiple prayer times with her, study the Scriptures. Jesus and the Scriptures must be your most talked-about subjects. Don’t be passive in the relationship. Always initiate. Give the moral, spiritual direction of your house, always in complete tenderness. Take good decisions, talk about them with your wife, listen to her advice, ask her opinion; she isn’t inferior to you. We men go last in the family. See Ephesians 5:23 and 1 Corinthians 11:3

• 3) — Provide. Your goal is to create a safe environment where she can develop her God-given quality of being a woman of God, a wife, and a mother if you both want kids. She should not bother having to work for someone else, or spend a penny from her own pocket. It doesn’t mean that she cannot have a career or be an entrepreneur if she wants to. But the main idea is for her to not be stressed financially to support the family. Being a wife and a mother is already a big, big work. She should be able to get anything she wants. I’m saying this in a wise way. I’m not talking here of a purely materialistic and out-of-control way to spend money. See 1 Timothy 5:8 and Proverbs 13:22 Remember, even if, as a man, you don’t have your finances checked yet, this should not stop you from entering a Godly relationship. If she is from the Lord, she will love you at your very lowest and will grow with you. God knows that finances aren’t easy for everyone. Many Biblical heroes were broke when they met their wives (Moses, Jacob, David) See Ecclesiastes 4:9-10. But you must strive to provide for her. God will bless such a posture of heart.

• 4) — Honor. Show her honor and respect in private and in public. Show her that she is valued and respected by your actions and words. Notice everything she does. Thank her and praise her for everything she does for God, you, and your family. See Proverbs 31:28. Understand her feminine needs. While women aren’t inferior to men, they are usually more delicate and fragile. Constantly look after her. Never raise your voice against her, nor ever be violent, even in the midst of a disagreement. Never treat her badly, even if you feel bad or frustrated. Do you know that our prayers can be blocked if we are harsh to our wives? We don’t want to provoque our Lord to Anger. See 1 Peter 3:7 and Colossians 3:19

• 5) — Faithful. Commit to her fully. Cultivate transparency and avoid any elements that would contribute to fragilizing your marriage. She should be able to take your phone anytime. If you get married, there is no place to see/text another woman alone, even if she is your friend. Rather, always include your wife in your meetings with friends, and vice-versa. Marriage isn’t a game. It’s very serious. Put everything on the table from day one. You should aim for zero drama, from day one. See Hebrews 13:4

• 6) — High quality sex life. And this is no joke! Sex is beautiful. God created it to be lived in fullness in the context of marriage, and yes — if you wonder — it can be spicy, in mutual respect and tenderness. Every time she has sexual needs, you must give it to her, and vice-versa. Never deprive her of intimacy. You don’t want to fragilize, frustrate, or create tension within your marriage. Marriage is also prescribed in The Bible because of sex, for its seriousness and importance, see here 1 Corinthiens 7:2-5. This is one of many important factors in the relationship. It should be practiced, cherished, and cultivated constantly. See 1 Corinthians 7:3-5, Proverbs 5:18-19, Song of Solomon 4:16.

• 7) — Never stop dating her. Take care of yourself. Always pick time with her, and cultivate your romance. Show her how much you love and desire her. See Song of Songs 1:2

Note to my brothers: While preparing for marriage, don’t do casual sex, and avoid porn by the kindness and grace of our Lord. Remember, sex is beautiful, and we need to elevate it to the sphere of excellence. We, as celibates, need to practice our celibacy with God. I know it’s not easy, but don’t lose patience by having sex with a woman that will not be your wife. We need to value ourselves. If we don’t do it, It can only send bad signals and become an instant turn-off for serious women of God. You don’t want that to happen! If you smoke or drink, I encourage you to ask God to help you — with His love to quit both. Do you think that God is judging you? No, God is good and tender, He knows what you are going through and wants to help you, develop you in all spheres of your life. Know that God allows a man to drink occasionally but without getting drunk. We are all in the same boat, no one is greater than another. Remember that you are sacred, unique, and carefully made. Your goal is to aim for excellence in all spheres of life. Train yourself to become a man of God. Develop both the inside and the outside with God. We all struggle. The process isn’t always easy, but worth it. If you fall on the process, don’t run away from God. But run towards God even more. God loves you all the time. If you live with your parents, or one of them, help them, be there for them. Act like you are already a husband, even if you’re a very young man or already an adult. Train yourself with what you have at hand. Constantly work on your heart and character so that, by the Grace of God, you can enter marriage smoothly. Clean your entourage, make sure they are your true friends that wants your good. Avoid cursing, clubbing, don’t gossip, exercise whenever you can, have an impeccable hygiene, smell good, dress well, you don’t need to spend a ton of money also on those things. Your singleness season is a blessing not a curse. It is there to prepare you in all things.

ROLE OF THE WOMAN

Picture by Kate Smr

God created man and woman equal in value in His eyes, and both bear His image. They were also created with different gifts and roles. When He created them, the initial goal — before their fall in the Garden — was for both, to rule the earth. So, I don’t want you to believe that, as a woman, you are secondary in God’s Heart. While we will develop the role of the woman, I want you to always keep in mind the role of the husband to grasp the proper perspective. I’m saying this to prevent any misunderstanding.

As said for the man’s section. Search for a biblical Christian man of God. Does it imply that all unbelievers aren’t good and moral? Of course not. But God wants to be in the center of your life and couple. God wants you to find a man that already lives for Him, so that the most important thing in your life — Christ Jesus — can be shared, understood, celebrated, and cherished in depth. As you know, not every man professing Christianity is a true believer. Pray to God for wisdom and intelligence to discern things. What does his lifestyle look like? Does he smoke or drink? How does he treat his family? Does he party? Does he go to bars and clubs? Does he curse? Is he prompt to anger? Is he impatient? What is his vision in life? Does he care about not having sex before getting married? How does he live celibacy? No judging here. We are sinners progressing by God’s Grace to holiness. But you both should aim for stability and seriousness. Don’t invest into someone that is not God-sent, because of your lack of affection. Don’t ever ruin your future because of impatience.

If he is a true man of God, and hasn’t his finances checked yet, it is just a matter of time. Don’t bypass him, but rather grow with him if you like him. God will bless you for that. If you see that God and the Bible is a true priority for him, that his lifestyle is sincere towards Christ, then it is someone worth praying for and considering. Again, I’m calling you to wisdom. Know the Scriptures. There are true Christians in all denominations, but not all of them care about the sovereignty of The Bible. For example, Catholic theology is way different from Biblical Christianity. They add other teachings that aren’t in the Bible and contradict the Scriptures. Same thing for Orthodoxy. If you want to live a true biblical lifestyle, beware of those differences. It might create tension in your marriage as well. For exemple, If the man is a Catholic and wants to pray to Mary and the saints, knowing that The Bible forbids praying to anyone other than God/Christ, it will create fractions. See 1 Timothy 2:5, Matthew 6:9

1-) Helper. The woman was created with many special gifts, built within herself. The first one is that of being a helper to man. In His plan, God saw that it wasn’t good for the man to be alone, so when God made women, He made them with this inner gift for their husbands. You have the gift to multiply and optimize your husband’s potential to the very maximum, in all spheres of life. God describes you, and your gift, as indispensable to men. The word for helper is “ezer,” which is also used to describe God when He helps us. It’s a unique and pivotal gift. Understand your husband’s vision and contribute to it, discern where he is at in life, and think about how you can uplift him—spiritually, morally, physically, intellectually, etc. Think of making his life easier the best you can. By doing this, you will fulfill your duty and gain happiness out of it. See Genesis 2:18, Proverbs 31:11–12

2-) Submissive. That word has a negative impression, mainly because of its modern misunderstanding. Secular media or modern feminism love to use it to discredit women. I don’t want you to be afraid of words. In fact, let’s use them as they are. To submit to your husband means trusting in him and following his lead. God calls the wife to put herself under his authority and leadership. Again, is the man superior to you? No. Are you secondary? No. It’s all about order, roles, and design given by God for a successful marriage. Remember, the man’s role isn’t being abusive, or being a dictator to you, nor oppressing you — but sacrificing himself and providing for you and bringing you closer to Christ. He should be Christ-like; He symbolizes Him, and you know how tender Jesus is. You, as a woman, symbolize the church, which is also called the “Body” of Jesus. While your husband gives it all for you and your well-being, God calls you to trust in your husband and follow his lead. All of this in mutual love and respect. You are a team. See Ephesians 5:22–24, Colossians 3:18, 1 Peter 3:1, Titus 2:5. Scriptures say that while you submit to him, your husband submits to Christ. See 1 Corinthians 11:3. Furthermore, we’re called to submit all to one another. See : Ephesians 5:21

3-) Home builder. God says that you also have the gift to build and organize your house and make it an amazing place. Also, you are more than capable both to work outside or inside. In the book of Proverbs, chapter 31, you have the full description of a virtuous woman. That woman can run a business and take care of her family at the same time. See Proverbs 31:16. She is extremely talented in multiple fields. I’m emphasizing this once again, for you to not think that you are “limited” in your duty as a wife. You can work outside if you want to — but it’s not an obligation. In fact, your house and family should be prior to working outside if the situation permits it. Your husband should do his best for you to not be worried about it. Taking care of God, your husband, and kids, if you have them, is already a massive amount of work. It’s good to know how to cook, clean, manage finances, and make sure everyone is feeling good in the house. See Proverbs 14:1, Proverbs 31:27, Proverbs 31:15, Titus 2:4–5, 1 Timothy 5:14. Does it mean that your husband will sit down and look at you cleaning and cooking without helping you, or doing it with you? No. See here Galatians 5:13. Remember that your husband should be like Christ. Christ served us all. Your husband should be there for you as well.

4-) Crown to your husband. Represent your husband well. Bring him honor and respect, both in private and public. Never disrespect him, shame him, mock him, gossip about him, or criticize him, both in private or in public. See Proverbs 31:12, Proverbs 12:4, The wife of Abraham respected her husband so much that she called him “My Lord.” And while it can be strange today, I encourage you to do the same. See 1 Peter 3:5–6

5-) Faithful. Same point for men. Commit to your man fully. Cultivate transparency. There is no point in seeing or texting another man alone, even if he is your friend. You should aim for zero drama from day one. You are all to him, and he is all to you. Marriage is no game at all, you want it to be a true success of God! Think of everything you can do very early to avoid anything that would contribute to fragilizing your marriage, or create tensions. See Proverbs 31:11 and Matthew 5:28.

6-) High quality sex life. Same here! Sex is beautiful, and God encourages the couple to have sex as often as possible. God says that both the husband and the wife do not have authority over their own bodies. Instead, it says that the wife has authority over her husband’s body, and the man has authority over his wife’s body. What does it mean? That you should never deprive each other of sexual intimacy. Your man desires sexual intimacy with you? It is your moral duty to give it to him. Do you need sexual intimacy with him? It is his moral duty to give it to you. All of this within mutual respect, love, and understanding. Sex is very serious; it should not be overlooked. As said above, God says that sexuality is also a reason for marriage. A constant and happy sex life will cultivate your bond strongly. See 1 Corinthians 7:3–5, Genesis 2:24, Proverbs 5:18–19, 1 Corinthians 7:9, Song of Solomon 2:3, Song of Solomon 4:16,

7-) Demonstrate. It’s true, don’t be afraid to show him how much you love him both in words and action. If your husband feel respected, loved and cherished, you can be certain that it will develop him even more, towards God and you. Proverbs 18:22

Note to my Christian sisters: If you are a virgin, cherish it. Don’t give it to no one except the man God has for you. Understand how being a virgin is pure excellence and elegance. Cherish it jealously for God! If you aren’t a virgin, God loves you the very same. Become a virgin again. Don’t do casual sex, practice sincere and true celibacy before God, and prepare to meet your future husband. If we don’t do it, it will send some very bad signals, and can become a massive turn-off for men of God, searching for serious wives. I encourage you to not go clubbing, nor going to the bars. Also, respectfully clean your entourage. Not everyone is your true friend. Some people can be jealous of you and want to drag you into their lifestyles. Act like you are already married. I’m not saying here that you cannot have a social life anymore, but aim for excellence, purity, and high standards, in humility. It’s better to go to some good restaurants, or museums, or cafés, rather than the places mentioned above. Practice the points even in your celibacy. Do you have little brothers or sisters? Act like they are your own kids. Take care of your own home. Help your parents the best you can. It’s good to know how to cook, clean, and manage your own house as early as you can. Try to optimize all the time you have at hand to pray, to know God and the Bible. Watch good sermons online. Follow good christian content online. Optimize yourself the best you can and relax in God. I’m saying this to not delay your romantic life, to make it the smoothest possible, so that you can enjoy it and take deep pleasure early in it. Avoid porn and erotic literature, switch instead to the good and only erotical standard that you can find in the Bible in the book Song of Songs, and meditate its depth. Take care of yourself, physically, morally, spiritually move in faith. God loves you!

Rendez-Vous À Golgotha: dove passerai l’Eternità? (2 minuti per scoprirlo)

Ciao a tutti!

Sono profondamente grato a Dio di poter condividere con voi un nuovo lavoro intitolato “Rendez-Vous À Golgotha”, che in italiano significa “Appuntamento al Golgota”. La prima stesura della musica è arrivata nel 2021, ma a causa di altri lavori non ho potuto approfondirla. Se siete arrivati qui per la prima volta, benvenuti. Mi chiamo Efisio Cross, sono un compositore francese di musica neoclassica di 34 anni. Scrivo soprattutto musica che ha temi biblici per le contemplazioni. 

“Rendez-Vous À Golgotha” è collegato a un altro brano, in uscita nel 2023, intitolato “Are You Saved?”. Questi due brani sono stati composti direttamente per suscitare domande sul proprio destino sulla Terra e sulla propria Eternità. Sono articolati come segue: Se muori, dove andrai? In Paradiso o all’Inferno? Da quale parte dell’Eternità atterrerai? Conosci l’amore di Dio per te? Sei salvato?

Ma prima, cos’è il Golgota?

È un luogo sinistro dove Gesù Cristo di Nazareth morì per tortura e crocifissione 2.000 anni fa. Per il suo aspetto è chiamato anche “Luogo del Teschio”.

Perché Gesù è dovuto morire sulla Croce?

Gesù ha detto che Dio è Santo e Giusto. Ciò significa che Dio non può tollerare l’ingiustizia e la malvagità. In altri termini, Dio dovrà punirla. Il problema è che voi e io abbiamo già accumulato una grande quantità di malvagità e un giorno saremo obbligati a passare davanti al Giudizio di Dio. Davanti a un Dio così santo, quale sarà la nostra condanna? Il tribunale di Dio non è come quelli terreni. Per quanto imperfetti, anche nel nostro sistema penale, quando qualcuno infrange la legge, è molto probabile che venga condannato. Se questa persona ha ucciso o rubato o mentito o imbrogliato e viene giudicata colpevole, cosa succederà? Questa persona dirà al giudice: Sono colpevole, ma ho anche fatto delle buone azioni? Al giudice non interesserà. Il male fatto deve essere punito secondo la legge. È vero che la nostra condanna sarà la morte e l’inferno. La giustizia di Dio è troppo terribile e perfetta per evitarla, anche se abbiamo fatto tutto il bene possibile sulla terra.

Rendez-vous à Golgotha, where the fate of mankind is decided

Quindi, se siamo tutti destinati ad essere condannati, che senso ha?

Gesù ha detto che Dio è anche Amore. Ama così tanto voi e me che ha pensato a un modo per farci sfuggire al suo imminente giudizio. Come ha fatto? Invece di punire lei e me per il nostro male, Dio ha punito se stesso attraverso Gesù Cristo. Dio stesso ha pagato il prezzo per i nostri peccati. Mentre era attaccato alla Croce, i nostri peccati sono stati assorbiti nel suo Corpo. Quando Gesù è morto, anche i nostri peccati sono morti.

Perché Gesù è nato da una vergine?

Per sviluppare un po’ di più: Dio si è fatto uomo attraverso la persona di Gesù Cristo. Questo è il motivo per cui Gesù è nato da una Vergine. I cromosomi X e Y furono entrambi creati da Dio nel grembo di Maria, per non ereditare la natura e il DNA corrotti dell’umanità. Gesù Cristo era perfetto, non fece nulla di male e non commise alcun peccato, nemmeno una volta. Visse una vita moralmente perfetta – la vita che tutti noi avremmo dovuto vivere – e poi offrì la Sua vita all’età di 33 anni per salvare tutti noi.

Cosa succede se credo in Gesù?

Se credete che Dio vi ami così tanto, se credete che Gesù Cristo ha pagato per il vostro male, che è morto e risorto per voi, congratulazioni, ora siete una persona salvata. Se morite adesso, non dovrete mai affrontare il giudizio di Dio o rispondere per ogni peccato commesso sulla terra. Al contrario, vi sarà concessa la Vita Eterna, il Paradiso e l’unità con l’essere più perfetto: Dio stesso. Questo è il motivo per cui viene chiamata “Buona Novella”.

Preghiera per accettare Gesù

Se volete accettare Gesù nella vostra vita e non sapete cosa pregare, spero che questa piccola preghiera possa aiutarvi:

Signore Gesù,

ho creduto che sei venuto qui sulla terra per salvarmi dai miei peccati e dalla perdizione.
Credo che sei morto e risorto per me, affinché io possa essere sempre con te.

Ti prego, vieni nel mio cuore, mostrami che sei reale e dammi il tuo Spirito Santo.

Te lo chiedo nel Nome di Gesù,
Amen.

L’idea principale della musica è il proprio cammino verso il Golgota. Non c’è nessuno all’infuori di voi e di Dio. I motivi di pianoforte che sentite rappresentano i vostri passi verso il Golgota. Il coro rappresenta il momento in cui vedete Gesù Crocifisso – che soffre e muore per voi.

« Rendez-Vous À Golgotha » : où passerez vous l’Éternité ? (2 minutes pour le découvrir)

Bonjour à tous!

Je suis profondément reconnaissant à Dieu de partager avec vous une nouvelle musique intitulée « Rendez-Vous À Golgotha ». La première ébauche est née en 2021, mais en raison d’autres travaux, je n’ai pas pu la continuer. Si vous découvrez le site pour la première fois, soyez le ou la bienvenu(e). Je m’appelle Efisio Cross, je suis un compositeur français de musique néoclassique âgé de 34 ans. Je compose principalement des musiques qui ont pour objet des contemplations bibliques.

« Rendez-Vous À Golgotha » est étroitement lié à une autre œuvre, sortie en 2023, intitulée « Are You Saved ? » (Êtes-vous sauvé ?) que vous pouvez écouter ici. Ces deux compositions ont été écrites dans le but de soulever des questions sur notre propre sort terrestre puis de notre destination dans l’Éternité. Elles s’articulent de la manière suivante : Si vous mourez, où irez-vous ? Au Paradis ou en Enfer ? Connaissez-vous personnellement l’amour de Dieu pour vous ? Êtes-vous sauvé ?

Mais avant tout, qu’est-ce que Golgotha ?

C’est le lieu sinistre où Jésus-Christ de Nazareth fut torturé et crucifié il y a 2 000 ans. En raison de son aspect, on l’appelle aussi le « lieu du crâne ».

Pourquoi Jésus a-t-il dû mourir sur La Croix ?

Jésus a dit que Dieu est Saint et Juste. Cela signifie que Dieu ne peut tolérer le mal et l’injustice. En d’autres termes, Dieu devra le sanctionner. Le problème, c’est que vous et moi avons déjà accumulé un grand nombre de fautes depuis que nous sommes en âge de conscience, et qu’un jour, nous serons obligés de comparaître devant la Jurisprudence de Dieu. Devant un Dieu parfaitement Saint, qui connaît toutes choses et voit toutes choses, quelle sera notre issue ? Le tribunal de Dieu n’est pas comme les tribunaux terrestres. Aussi imparfaits soient-ils, au sein même denotre système pénal, lorsqu’un individu enfreint la loi, il possède de fortes chances d’être condamné. Si cette personne a tué, volé, menti ou triché, et qu’elle est reconnue coupable, que se passera-t-il ? Cette personne dira-t-elle au juge : « Je suis coupable, mais sachez que j’ai aussi fait du bien dans ma vie ! » Le juge en restera parfaitement insensible. Le mal commis doit être sanctionné selon la loi. Il en est de même pour Dieu. Sa Justice est tellement haute qu’aucun homme ni aucune femme ne peut la satisfaire. Pour se donner un peu de perspective : un seul mensonge est suffisant pour être perdu, même une seule mauvaise pensée. Il est vrai qu’en considérant la rigueur de la Loi divine, notre sentence serait inévitablement la mort et l’enfer — quand bien même nous aurions fait tout le bien possible sur terre.

Rendez-vous à Golgotha, où se décide le sort de l’humanité

Si nous sommes tous condamnés, à quoi cela sert-il ?

Jésus a dit que Dieu est aussi Amour. Il est l’Amour Lui-Même. Il nous aime tellement, que Dieu a pensé à un moyen de nous faire échapper à Son propre Jugement imminent. Comment a-t-Il fait ? Au lieu de nous punir pour notre mal, Dieu s’est puni Lui-Même par l’intermédiaire de Jésus-Christ. Dieu Lui-Même a payé le prix de nos péchés. Alors qu’Il était attaché à la Croix, nos péchés ont été absorbés en Son Corps. Lorsque Jésus est mort, nos péchés, nos fautes, sont également morts. Les conséquences de nos fautes, sont retombées sur Lui.

Pourquoi Jésus est-il né d’une vierge ?

Dieu s’est fait homme en la personne de Jésus-Christ. C’est pour cette raison que Jésus est né d’une vierge. Les chromosomes X et Y ont tous deux été créés par Dieu dans le ventre de Marie, dans le but de ne pas hériter de la nature et de l’ADN corrompus du genre humain. Jésus-Christ était parfait. Il n’a jamais commis de mal, ni n’a commis aucun péché, pas même une seule fois. Il a vécu une vie moralement parfaite — la vie que nous aurions tous dû vivre. Il a ensuite offert Sa Vie vers l’âge de 33 ans pour sauver le genre humain.

Que se passe-t-il si je crois en Jésus ?

Si vous croyez que Dieu vous aime tant, si vous croyez sincèrement que Jésus-Christ a payé pour votre mal, toutes vos fautes, qu’Il est mort et ressuscité pour vous, félicitations, vous êtes maintenant une personne sauvée. Si vous mourez maintenant, vous n’aurez jamais à faire face au jugement de Dieu ni à répondre de chaque péché commis sur terre. Vous recevez en plus de tout cela, la Vie Éternelle, le Paradis et l’Unité avec l’Être le plus parfait — Dieu lui-même. C’est pourquoi on l’appelle ce que Jésus à accomplit “La Bonne Nouvelle”.

Prière pour accepter Jésus

Si vous voulez accepter Jésus dans votre vie et que vous ne savez pas quoi prier, j’espère que cette petite prière pourra vous être utile :

Seigneur Jésus,

Je crois que tu es venu sur terre pour me sauver de mes fautes et de mes péchés, de ma propre perdition.

Je crois que tu es mort et ressuscité pour moi, afin que je sois toujours avec toi.

S'il te plaît, viens dans mon cœur, montre-moi que tu es réel et donne-moi ton Saint-Esprit.

Je te le demande au nom de Jésus,
Amen.

L’idée principale de la musique représente le chemin de chacun vers Golgotha. Il n’y a personne d’autre que vous et Dieu. Les motifs de piano que vous entendez dès le début représentent vos pas vers le Golgotha. Le refrain représente le moment où vous voyez Jésus crucifié – souffrant et mourant pour votre vie.

Rendez-Vous À Golgotha: Where Will You Spend Eternity? (2 Minutes to Find Out)

Hello everyone!

I’m deeply grateful to God to share with you a new piece of work named “Rendez-Vous À Golgotha,” which means “Appointment at Golgotha” in English. The first draft of the music came in 2021, but due to other works, I could not lean into it more. If you arrived here for the first time, welcome. My name is Efisio Cross, I’m a 34-year-old neoclassical music composer from France. I mostly write music that has biblical themes for contemplations. 

“Rendez-Vous À Golgotha” is connected to another piece, out in 2023, called “Are You Saved?” Both pieces were directly composed to provoke questions about your own destiny on Earth and your Eternity. They are articulated as follows: If you die, where will you go? Heaven or Hell? On which side of Eternity will you land? Do you know God’s Love for you? Are you saved?

But first, what is Golgotha?

It is a sinister place where Jesus Christ of Nazareth died by torture and crucifixion 2,000 years ago. It is also called “The Place of the Skull” because of its appearance.

Why did Jesus have to die on The Cross?

Jesus said that God is Holy and Just. It means that God cannot tolerate injustice and evilness. In other terms, God will have to punish it. The problem is that you and I have already accumulated our great deal of evilness, and we will be obligated to pass by God’s Judgment, one day. Standing in front of such a Holy God — what will be our sentence? God’s court case isn’t like earthly ones. As imperfect as they are, even in our own penal system, when someone breaks the law, the person is most likely to be condemned. If that person killed or stole or lied or cheated and is found guilty, what will happen? Will this person say to the judge: I’m guilty, but I have also done good deeds? The judge will not care. The evil done needs to be punished according to the law. It’s true that our sentence will be death and hell. God’s Justice is too terrible and perfect to bypass it, even if we did all the possible good on earth.

Rendez-vous à Golgotha, where the fate of mankind is decided

So, if we are all meant to be doomed, what’s the point?

Jesus said that God is also Love. He loves you and me so much that He thought of a way to make us escape His coming Judgment. How did He do it? Instead of punishing you and me for our evil, God punished Himself through Jesus Christ. God paid the price Himself for our sins. While He was attached to the Cross, our sins were absorbed into His body. When Jesus died, our sins died as well.

Why Jesus was born from a virgin?

To develop a bit more: God became a human through the persona of Jesus Christ. That is the reason why Jesus was born from a Virgin. Chromosomes X and Y were both created by God in Mary’s womb, to not inherit corrupted mankind’s nature and DNA. Jesus Christ was perfect, and did no evil, nor committed any sin — not even once. He lived a morally perfect life — the life we should all have lived — and then offered His life at the age of 33 to save us all.

What happens if I believe in Jesus?

If you believe that God loves you this much, if you believe that Jesus Christ paid for your evil — that He died and rose again for you, congratulations, you are now a saved person. If you die right now, you will never have to face God’s Judgment or respond for each sin you committed on earth. Instead, you will be granted Eternal Life, Heaven, and unity with the most perfect being: God Himself. That is the reason why it is called the “Good News”.

Prayer to accept Jesus

If you want to accept Jesus into your life, and don’t know what to pray, I hope this little prayer can help:

Lord Jesus,

I believed that you came here on earth to save me from my own sins and perdition.
I believe that you died and rose again for me, so that I can always be with you.

Please, come into my heart, show me that you are real, and give me your Holy Spirit.

I ask this in Jesus’ Name,
Amen.

The main idea of the music is your own path to Golgotha. There is no one but you and God. The piano motifs you hear at 01:00 represent your steps toward Golgotha. The chorus at 01:41 represents the moment you see Jesus crucified — suffering and dying for you.

THE TASTE OF YOUR LIPS : A Guide To Biblical Sexuality

Hello everyone! I hope that you are all doing great! I’m deeply grateful to God to share with you a new piece called « The Taste of Your Lips ».

It is a musical contemplation of Biblical Sexuality and its importance. As many of you come from different backgrounds, I will try to share my thoughts in a simple way. (I will write a second part down below if you want to investigate the topic more). Pardon me, it is far from perfect, but I hope you catch the thought behind!

Disclaimer : Here, I only share the Biblical Ideal of sexuality. I will only stick to Scriptures. If you aren’t aware of theology, you might think, for instance, that the catholic theology is identical to the Biblical one. Both are different — even though they share identical teachings. That is why I only stick to the Original framework, so that we can all have the same foundation while studying it.

Disclaimer II : I’m not saying, that, if this description doesn’t match your life, your love isn’t true or sincere! The purpose — if it resonates with someone — is to encourage everyone to aim for a higher standard of sexuality.

(PART I)

Sexuality — according to Scriptures — is incredibly important. It is for many reasons. There is a whole book in the Bible, glorifying the very act of falling in love and making love. It is called, « The Song of Songs », (written by Solomon, the son of King David, the one that slayed Goliath). It is crucial for the reason that it was intended and created by God — both for pleasure and for having children.

It is this considerable that God desires to protect it with Marriage, I will explain later. I have found that, there is a whole level of sacredness, meaning and depth — regarding it — that cannot be found anywhere in the secular world but in Scriptures.

New layers, that takes sexuality to a whole new dimension of appreciation and beauty. The main layers can be resumed as such : origin — meaning — sacredness — structure. If sexuality is from God, you automatically have foundation for it: «Origin ». If God made it , then He did it for a reason, so you by default have « Meaning ». If God created sexuality then you also have «Sacredness», for the reason that God is the Ultimate Being. And finally, if God made it, He must have given «Structure» to make it full.

Aren’t we amazed when we see a beautiful painting? We already are in that very basic stage. Now imagine that the painter comes next to us and start to explain the meaning out of it : the choice of that or this color, the shades achieved here and there, or that human expression hidden in the background, wouldn’t we be more amazed? Now that we understand the painting fully, our pleasure increase. It is the exact same thing with Biblical Sexuality. There is a time of understanding that unlocks this level of appreciation and pleasure.

I mentioned marriage and protection above, because it is connected to two other spiritual layers that are not well known. For the first one, God says that, when we make love, we become one with the person — not only physically, but spiritually. Not metaphorically — but in reality — and it can become a great danger. God wants us to become one with one person only, and not many.

It says for instance, that if one makes love with a prostitute, the person becomes the prostitute. That is why the Bible is against the practice of «Fornication », not to make us miserable, not to irritate us, not to private us, but to elevate us and avoid us great dangers. Source. I underlined a spiritual layer here, but we already know from a natural perspective that it also avoids us a great deal of sickness or diseases. Marriage sets automatically a high standart in making your choice and act like a protection from non-serious persons.

The second one is the most important layer of all. It symbolizes the whole purpose of Salvation achieved by The Lord Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Jesus calls — all the one that believes in Him — His bride. God wants us — not only as children — but as bride. God Himself is searching a Spouse to marry and to become one with! That is why the union between a man and a woman has infinite depth, once you see it as God sees it. The very purpose of it reveals the greatest desire of God’s heart!

God’s plan for mankind is to find one life-long perfect husband or wife. (I mean by perfect, someone that fits you well, and vice-versa). And within that structured relationship constant, protected and beautiful sexuality, lived in fullness.

That’ the purpose of the track, to embrace it with all your heart, and to not despite it, to not private yourself from it, to not see it as unholy or ungodly. In that second part, I will let the Bible speaks so that you can catch the intensity intended.

PART II

In the Bible, In the book of Proverbs, written by Solomon, it goes : « May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth. A loving doe, a graceful deer— may her breasts satisfy you always, may you ever be intoxicated with her love. ». Source

See only here — how much the physical is important — and the intensity described with the following expressions :

1) « be intoxicated with her love ». The Hebrew word for « intoxicated » is « shagah » which means « to wander » in her love. It also has a meaning of «wandering in drunkness». Source

2) « May her breasts satisfy you always » The Hebrew word for « satisfy » is : « ravah » which means : to be drunk, to saturate, to drink in full. In another term, to be drunk of sexuality with your wife. That’s the intensity presented in Scriptures. Source

3) Obverve the words « always» and « ever be», demonstrating how constant sexuality must be within the married couple!

In the Book of « Songs of Songs », it goes:

« How fair and pleasant you are, O love, with your delights! Your stature is like a palm tree, your breasts are clusters of fruit. I said, “I will climb the palm tree; I will take hold of its fruit.”May your breasts be like clusters of the vine, the fragrance of your breath like apples, and your mouth like the finest wine. Source

Another verse from the woman perspective :

« My beloved is to me a sachet of myrrh resting between my breasts. ». Source

« Come into your garden, my love; taste its finest fruits. ». Source

Still in the Bible, Paul, discisple of Christ, talking about sexuality writes :

 « Let the husband render unto the wife her due: and likewise also the wife unto the husband. » Source

 « Defraud ye not one the other, except it be by consent for a season, that ye may give yourselves unto prayer, and may be together again, that Satan tempt you not because of your incontinency. » Source

Paul says that the couple should always practice their sexuality, and not to stop it, except for a time, if they both want to concentrate more intensely on praying and fasting.

« The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife. » Source

What Paul is saying here is, If the woman has sexual needs, the husband should never private or frustrate her. And vice-versa, observe the intensity described here! How sexuality is important in the whole Bible!

Jesus-Christ says : « And the two shall become one flesh’; so then they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate. » Source

« MOÏSE PARTAGE LA MER ROUGE » : POURQUOI VOTRE VIE N’A PAS ENCORE COMMENCÉ

Moïse est l’un de mes personnages préférés de la Bible. Sa vie est unique, à de nombreux niveaux. Il a commencé sa vie avec une condamnation de mort au-dessus de sa tête. ( au passage, si vous pensez que vous êtes en retard dans la vie, essayez de rester avec moi tout au long du texte).

Si vous découvrez ce site pour la première fois, soyez les bienvenus ! Je m’appelle Efisio Cross, je suis un compositeur de musique néoclassique originaire de France. La plupart de mes compositions ont pour contemplation des thèmes bibliques, et cette nouvelle composition ci-dessus concerne Moïse !

Vers 1526 avant J.-C., le pharaon de l’époque, effrayé par la croissance démographique des Hébreux, tuait tous les nouveaux-nés mâles et opprimait le reste du peuple par un intense esclavage. La mère de Moïse, par la foi, mit son bébé dans un panier de roseau et le laissa partir sur le Nil. La Providence Divine fit que le bébé arriva jusqu’à la fille même de Pharaon qui se baignait dans le fleuve au même moment. Pleine de compassion pour le jeune garçon, elle décida de l’adopter et de l’élever. (Livre de l’Exode, chapitre 2)

Moïse fut élevé dans un palais royal et accéda naturellement à un rang très important au sein de l’empire égyptien. Il fut instruit dans toutes les connaissances égyptiennes et fut puissant tant en sagesse qu’en paroles. Vers l’âge de 40 ans, il décida de visiter la dure condition de son peuple. Témoin des violences subies par un Hébreu, battu par un Égyptien, Moïse s’interpose, tue l’Égyptien puis cache son corps sous le sable. Se rendant compte de son erreur — car l’acte était déjà connu en Égypte — il s’enfuit du pays. Il arriva au pays de Madian. (probablement le nord-ouest de l’Arabie saoudite moderne). Il rencontrera là bas sa femme et deviendra berger pour son beau-père, pendant plus de… 40 ans !

Pendant 40 ans, il ne se passe rien de spécial dans la vie de Moïse. Moïse savait probablement, au fond de lui, que sa vie était différente. Lorsqu’il tua l’Égyptien, il imaginait défendre son peuple. Toutefois, toute l’exécution était une erreur. Ce n’était pas l’œuvre de Dieu, mais la sienne. L’heure de son destin n’était pas encore arrivée. Mais, est-il vrai que rien ne se passa pendant 40 ans ? Non, je crois qu’il s’est effectivement produit beaucoup de choses, mais au sein du cœur et la personnalité de Moïse. Dieu travaillait certainement et intensément l’intérieur pour le préparer à son futur.

Vous pensez peut-être que vous avez « raté le coche » dans la vie. Permettez-moi de vous dire ceci : Vous n’avez rien raté si vous prenez la décision de suivre Dieu dans votre coeur. Je l’expliquerai plus tard. Imaginez le cœur de Moïse pendant ces années. Il s’est peut-être dit : « Ça y est ! Je serai berger pour le reste de ma vie et je jouirai d’une vie simple (un si grand contraste par rapport à sa vie royale égyptienne !). Après tout, je ne suis peut-être pas bâti, ni choisi pour délivrer ou secourir quiconque de mon peuple, et en plus, j’ai tué un Égyptien ! Il estimait peut-être que sa vie était finie.

Vous pourriez penser la même chose. Mais Dieu dit le contraire. Après 40 ans de silence, saviez-vous qui a rencontré Moïse, face à face ? Dieu Tout-Puissant — dans un buisson enflammé qui ne se consumait pas. Comment cela s’est-il produit ? Moïse s’occupait des troupeaux. Il acomplissait ses taches quotidiennes et Dieu l’a rencontré. Vous connaissez peut-être la suite de l’histoire. Dieu a ordonné à Moïse de délivrer son peuple de l’esclavage égyptien, par des miracles colossaux et massifs. Et c’est ce qui s’est passé. La vie de Moïse a commencé à 80 ans. Vous aussi, vous avez un but à atteindre sur cette terre et il n’est pas trop tard, peu importe votre âge. Dieu vous a créé dans un but précis, et c’est à vous de l’accepter ou non. Vous et moi avons le choix. Nous pouvons vivre cette vie avec ou sans Dieu.

Moses Parts The Red Sea - Why Your Life Hasn't Started Yet
Moses Parts The Red Sea – Why Your Life Hasn’t Started Yet

Selon Jésus, Dieu est Saint et Juste. Il ne peut tolérer le mal et le punira. Cependant, vous et moi avons déjà accumulé notre lot de mal et de mauvaises actions, depuis que nous sommes en âge de conscience. Même si nous aurions fait de bonnes choses, le mal est là et doit être sanctionné. (avons-nous menti, haï, volé, triché, maudit, et j’en passe,). En effet, le paiement ultime pour satisfaire la Justice et la Sainteté de Dieu, c’est la mort. Nous méritons tous la mort à cause de nos péchés. Nous ne pouvons pas entrer dans l’Éternité à venir. Dieu est trop Saint et Pur.

Mais, selon Jésus, Dieu est aussi Amour. Plus précisément, Dieu est l’Amour lui-même. Dieu ne veut pas que nous soyons condamnés et que nous mourions. Au lieu de nous punir, Dieu s’est fait Homme, en la personne de Jésus-Christ de Nazareth, et a vécu une vie moralement parfaite. Il n’a jamais péché, ni commis le moindre mal. La vie de Jésus était parfaite et plaisait à Dieu dans tous les domaines possibles. Au lieu de nous punir, vous et moi, Dieu s’est puni lui-même sur la Croix du Calvaire.

Lorsque Jésus a été arrêté, torturé et crucifié, il a payé le prix de nos péchés. En mourant sur la Croix, Il a absorbé dans Son Corps toutes les fautes que vous et moi avons commises. Tous nos péchés ont été transférés dans Son Corps. Lorsque Jésus est mort, nos péchés sont également morts dans Sa Personne. Vous avez menti ? Ils ont été transférés dans son corps. Vous avez haï, tué, volé, triché, convoité ? Ils ont été transférés dans Son Corps.

Jésus dit que, si vous croyez, sincèrement de tout votre coeur, que Il est mort à votre place, et qu’Il est ressuscité pour vous sauver de vos péchés et de la punition éternelle, vous serez sauvé. Que signifie « être sauvé » ? Cela signifie que vous n’aurez jamais à subir le jugement de Dieu. Dieu ne vous jugera jamais, ni ne vous punira pour vos péchés. Ils ont été détruits et payés entièrement par le Sacrifice de Jésus-Christ. Dieu vous voit parfait et propre. Comme si vous n’aviez rien fait de mal. Il vous voit complètement lavé et brillant. C’est ainsi que Dieu nous a aimés, vous et moi. De plus, la Vie Éternelle vous sera accordée.

Si vous voulez accepter l’Amour de Dieu pour vous, si vous voulez être sauvé, c’est très simple, vous pouvez aller dans un endroit calme et dire ces mots :

« Cher Seigneur Jésus,

J'ai entendu parler de toi, mais je ne te connais pas personnellement. J'ai entendu dire que tu es mort pour payer le prix de mes fautes, de mes péchés, pour t'assurer que je serai avec toi, sur terre et dans la vie Éternelle à venir. J'accepte ton sacrifice dans mon cœur. Je crois que tu es mort et ressuscité pour me sauver. S'il te plaît, révèle-toi à moi, montre-moi que tout cela est vrai et montre-moi combien tu m'aimes,

Je te le demande au nom de Jésus-Christ,
Amen ».

Si vous avez été sincère, vous êtes maintenant sauvé. Je vous encourage à vivre avec Dieu chaque jour de votre vie. Il veut votre cœur. Il veut vous entendre en permanence. Il veut que vous deveniez un avec Lui. Lisez les Écritures autant que vous le pouvez, car Dieu les a données à l’humanité pour qu’elle Le connaisse mieux et qu’elle vive selon Son Cœur. Vous n’avez pas besoin de faire partie d’un groupe ou d’un mouvement. Vous devez seulement faire partie du Coeur de Dieu et de ses Écritures. Il vous guidera et vous aidera à vivre correctement en vous donnant ce qu’Il appelle « Le Saint-Esprit » (son propre Esprit à l’intérieur de vous), et à éviter le péché. Si vous tombez en chemin, ne fuyez pas Jésus. Au contraire, courez encore plus vite vers Lui. Il ne vous abandonnera jamais. Priez pour trouver d’autres croyants qui seront une bénédiction pour votre marche chrétienne, car Dieu nous à aussi appelé à être en communauté avec ses enfants !

Moïse a été appelé à libérer son peuple de l’esclavage égyptien. De la même manière, vous êtes appelé à libérer les gens des ténèbres et de l’esclavage de Satan. En leur montrant à votre tour, le chemin vers Dieu, vous accomplirez aussi votre destinée. Demandez à Dieu de vous montrer le but de votre vie et soyez patients !

Je vous aime tous beaucoup !

Efisio

“MOSES PARTS THE RED SEA” : WHY YOUR LIFE HASN’T STARTED YET

Moses is one of my favorite figures from The Bible. His life is unique, at so many different levels. He started life with a death sentence above his head. (by the way, if you think that you are late in life, try to stay with me through the text.).

But before, If you came here for the first time, welcome ! My name is Efisio Cross, I’m a neoclassical music composer from France. Many of my compositions have for contemplation Biblical themes, and this new one above is about Moses!

In circa 1526 BC, The Pharaoh of his time, afraid of the Hebrews demographic growth, was killing all the newborn male, and oppressing the rest of the people, through intense slavery. Moses’s mother, by faith, put her baby in a basket, made of reed, and let him go on the Nile River. God’s Providence made the baby arrived to the actual daughter of Pharaoh who was taking a bath in the river in the same moment. Full of compassion for the young boy, she decided to adopt him and raised him. (Book of Exodus, Chapter 2)

Moses was raised in a royal palace and became naturally a very high rank in the Egyptian empire. He was taught in all the Egyptian knowledge and was powerful both wisdom and words. Around the age of 40, he decided to visit the hard condition of his own people. Witnessing an Hebrew being hard-beaten by an Egyptian, Moses interposed, killed the Egyptian and hide his body under the sand. Realizing his mistake — as the act was already known in Egypt — he fled the country. He arrived in the land of Midian. (probably the north-west of modern Saudi Arabia). There, he found his wife and became a shepherd for his father in law, for more than… 40 years!

Nothing special happened in Moses life for 40 years. Moses probably knew, inside of him, that his life was different. When he killed the Egyptian, he demonstrated that he had in heart to be a defense for his own people. But, how he displayed it was a mistake. It was not God doing, but his own. The time for his destiny had not arrived yet. But, was it true, that nothing happened for 40 years? No, I believe a lot happened, but within Moses’s Heart and personality. God was certainly and intensely working on the inside.

You might think you have «missed it» in life. Permit me to say this : You haven’t missed anything if you take the decision to follow God. I’ll explain later. Imaging Moses’s heart during those years. Maybe he thought : «That’s it! I will be a shepherd for the rest of my life and will enjoy a simple life. After all, I might be not be built, nor chosen to deliver or help anyone, furthermore I do have killed an Egyptian!». Maybe he believed that his life was over.

You could think the same. But God says otherwise. After 40 years of silence guess who encountered Moses, face to face? God Almighty — within a Burning Bush. How? Moses was tending the flocks. He was doing his everyday thing and God encountered Him. You might know the rest of the story. God commanded Moses to deliver His people from Egyptian bondage, with colossal and massive miracles. And it happened. Moses’ life started at 80 years old.

You too, have a goal on this earth to accomplish. God created you for a purpose, and it’s up to you to embrace it or not. You and I have the choice. We can live this life with, or without God.

According to Jesus, God is Holy and Just. He cannot tolerate evil and will punish it. The problem is that, you and I already have accumulated our own deal of evil since the age of consciousness. Even if we did good things, the evil is there, and needs to be punished. (have we lied, hated, steal, cheated, cursed, you name it). The ultimate payment to satisfy God’s Justice and Holiness is death. We all deserve death because of our sins. We cannot enter Eternity to come. God is too Holy.

But, according to Jesus, God is also Love. More accurately — God is Love itself. God does not want you and me to be punished and to die. Instead of punishing you and me, God became a man, through the Persona of Jesus-Christ of Nazareth and lived a morally perfect life. He never sinned, nor did any kind of possible evil. Jesus’s Life was Perfect and God-Pleasing in all possible area. Instead of punishing you and me, God punished Himself at the Cross of Calvary.

When Jesus was arrested and put to torture and Crucifixion, He was paying the price of our sins. While dying on The Cross, He absorbed within His body, all the wrongs you and I did. All of our sins were transferred in His Body. When Jesus died, our sins died in His Person as well. You lied? Transferred in His Body. You hated, kill, steal, cheated? Transferred in His Body.

Jesus says that, if you believe, sincerely from you heart, that He died at your place, and Resurrected to save you from your sins and eternal punishment, you will be saved. What does « being saved » mean? It means that you will never have to endure God’s Judgement. God will never judge you, nor punish you for your sins. They have been destroyed and paid fully by Jesus-Christ’s Sacrifice. God sees you Perfect and Clean. Like you did no evil at all. He sees you completely washed and bright. This is how God loved you and me. Furthermore, you will be granted Eternal Life.

If you want to accept God’s Love for you, if you want to be saved, it’s very simple, you can go in a quiet place and say those words :

« Dear Lord Jesus,

I have heard about you, but I don’t know you personally. I have heard that you died to pay the price of my evil, sins and mistakes, to make sure that I will be with you, on earth, and in the Eternal Life to come. I accept your Sacrifice into my heart. I believe that you died and resurrected to save me. Please, reveal yourself to me, show me that all of this is true and show me how much you love me,

I ask this in the name of Jesus Christ,
Amen »

If you’ve been sincere, you are now saved. I encourage you to live with God everyday of your life. He wants your heart. He wants to hear you all the time. He wants you to become one with Him. Read The Scriptures as much as you can, because God gave them to mankind to know Him better, and live according to His heart. Yon don’t have to be part of any group or movement. You only have to be part of God’s Heart and His Scriptures. He will guide you and help you to live right by giving you what He calls “The Holy Spirit” (His Own Spirit inside of you), and avoid sin. If you fall on the way, don’t run from Jesus. Instead, run even faster to Him. He will never abandon you. Pray to find other believers that will be a blessing to your Christian walk.

Moses was called to liberate his people from Egyptian bondage. In a similar way, you are called to liberate people from darkness and Satan’s bondage. By showing them the way to God, you will fulfilled your destiny! Ask God to show you the purpose of your life and be patient!

Love you all so much!

Efisio

“LE COURAGE DE RUTH”‘ : Découvrez les 9 vertus de Ruth: guide de la féminité et masculinité Biblique

Bonjour à tous ! J’espère que vous allez tous bien. Je suis reconnaissant à Dieu de vous retrouver, et de partager avec vous une nouvelle musique nommée « Le Courage Ruth ».

Il y a beaucoup de femmes dans la Bible, qui se démarque et brille de par leurs riches vertus et qualités morales. Ruth est l’une d’entre elles. D’un passé douloureux et sinistre à un futur victorieux, Ruth devint un réel symbole de victoire au milieu des épreuves.

Elle devint en même temps un important archétype moral féminin. Les femmes en quête de féminité, vertu et développement biblique peuvent s’identifier à elle, et croitre en suivant ses traces. Les hommes également peuvent la prendre comme exemple tant sa vertu excelle.

Ruth est une jeune Moabite. Un peuple qui n’existe plus aujourd’hui. Le pays de Moab se trouvait en Jordanie actuelle. L’histoire de déroule plus de 1000 ans avant Jésus-Christ. La jeune femme se développe naturellement dans le paganisme de son pays et n’est pas encore croyante au Dieu de La Bible. Elle rencontre son époux “Mahlôn”, un Hébreu, ainsi et sa belle famille dans les plaines de Moab (car il y avait eu alors une grande famine en Israël, forçant l’exil pour trouver du travail).

Après quelque temps, son époux, son beau-frère, son beau-père meurt, hormis sa belle maman, Naomi. Ruth est frappée sur multiple front de douleurs profondes, sa vie vire au cauchemar. Quelque temps après, Naomi, apprend que Dieu avait béni de nouveau son pays natal, en le délivrant de la famine. Elle décide d’y retourner pour y vivre et encourage Ruth à refaire sa vie à Moab. Ruth extrêmement attachée à elle, loin de l’écouter, décide de tout quitter pour la suivre : son pays, sa famille, son peuple et ses dieux, et de surcroit se converti à Dieu.

Arrivée en Israël, Ruth se propose d’aller travailler au champ pour subvenir au besoin de sa belle-mère ainsi qu’elle-même. La Providence Divine fit que le champ dans lequel Ruth se mit à travailler appartenait à un membre de la famille de Naomi, « Boaz », un riche entrepreneur, profondément croyant.

Voyant cette jeune fille et ses grandes dispositions morales, il lui donne une place de choix pour travailler. Ruth est touchée par la gentillesse de l’homme puis continue de travailler. Naomi, constatant la bonté et piété de Boaz, encourage Ruth à faire le premier pas avec ce dernier, sollicitant une demande de mariage. Ruth acquiesce, va et se couche aux pieds de Boaz pendant une sieste.

Boaz comprend naturellement le geste et accepte de la prendre pour femme, de prendre soin d’elle et de sa belle famille. Ruth devient par la suite, l’arrière-grand-mère du Roi David, et plus encore, une ancêtre du Christ Lui même. En choisissant Dieu, en plein milieu d’une vie cauchemardesque, privilégiant l’amour de sa belle maman et la fidélité, elle voit sa vie se propulser à un tel niveau de gloire, qu’elle disposera de son propre livre dans la Bible — lu et prêché plus de trois millénaires plus tard. Aurait-elle imaginé un tel futur ?

Peut-être vous trouvez-vous dans une position similaire à Ruth, avec vos propres lots d’épreuves et de souffrances. Dieu vous voit. Comme Il a honoré la vertu de Ruth, Dieu honora la vôtre, sans même que vous puisez-vous en rendre compte dans un premier temps !

Puisse ce petit texte vous encourager à donner votre cœur à Christ et à Sa Parole. Si vous êtes une femme, peu importe votre âge, je vous encourage à absorber les vertus de Ruth en toutes choses. Si vous êtes célibataire, priez pour rencontrer un homme de Dieu tel que Boaz. Priez, et faites le premier pas. Servez sa vision, et il s’occupera de la vôtre. Nous trouverons toujours plus de jouissance dans la vertu que dans le vice. Évitez les relations mondaines, selon les modes de ce monde ! Priez et agissez !

Voici une liste des 9 vertus de Ruth

1 – Sa nouvelle foi placée en Dieu : Elle aurait pu s’accrocher à ses dieux païens, ou se détourner du Seigneur à cause des souffrances qu’elle a endurées. Au lieu de cela, elle donna son cœur à Dieu.

2 – La fidélité dans l’épreuve : C’est une chose d’être fidèle quand tout va bien. C’en est une autre quand la tempête arrive. Ruth a été fidèle même au milieu de la douleur et de la souffrance.

3 – La compassion : Elle comprenait parfaitement la douleur de sa belle-mère qui avait perdu son mari et ses deux fils.

4 – Le sens du sacrifice : Elle a tout abandonné pour soutenir sa belle-mère. Elle fait passer Naomi avant elle-même.

5 – Le courage : Elle est allée vers l’inconnu. Une nouvelle foi en Dieu à partir d’un nouveau pays, à travers un nouveau peuple et une nouvelle culture.

6 – Travailleuse : Elle prend l’initiative de travailler pour elle-même et pour sa belle-mère.

7 – Humble : Elle se prosterne devant Boaz, reconnaissant qu’elle est étrangère.

8 – Obéissante : Elle écoute Naomi lorsqu’elle l’encourage à demander à Boaz de l’épouser.

9 – Audacieuse : elle fait le premier pas en montrant ses sentiments pour Boaz.

Si vous voulez donner votre cœur à Jésus-Christ. J’espère que ce petit texte vous aidera.

Selon Jésus, Dieu est Saint. Cela signifie que Dieu ne peut pas tolérer le mal et qu’Il le punira un jour. Le problème, c’est que vous et moi avons déjà accumulé notre propre somme de mal et de mauvaises actions. ( « Parcourez votre passé et votre cœur et essayez de vous souvenir de vos erreurs aussi loin que vous le pouvez, d’un simple mensonge à la haine vis-à-vis de quelqu’un, en passant par le vol de quelque chose, et j’en passe). Même un petit mensonge ou une mauvaise pensée suffit pour que Dieu agisse. En d’autres termes, cela signifie qu’un jour, nous serons jugés par Dieu pour nos erreurs et nos mauvaises actions.

Mais, selon Jésus-Christ, Dieu est aussi Amour. Dieu ne veut pas que nous soyons jugés et punis pour le mal que nous avons fait. Il nous aime tellement qu’il est devenu un être humain, l’un de nous, par l’intermédiaire de Jésus-Christ, et qu’Il a vécu une vie moralement parfaite. Au lieu de nous punir, vous et moi, Il s’est puni Lui-Même en étant torturé et attaché à la croix. Lorsque Jésus est mort sur la Croix,Il a absorbé tous les péchés et toutes les erreurs que vous et moi avons commis. Lorsque Jésus a expiré, nos péchés ont expiré et sont morts aussi dans son corps. Lorsque Jésus est ressuscité, il a prouvé qui il prétendait être : Dieu.

Non seulement Jésus-Christ a payé le prix de nos péchés, mais Il nous a promis que nous ne ferions jamais face au jugement de Dieu. De plus, Il nous a promis de nous offrir la Vie Éternelle. Si vous voulez accepter l’amour de Dieu pour votre vie, si vous voulez accepter personnellement Son Salut dans votre cœur, et si vous voulez vivre selon Ses Propres principes, vous pouvez aller dans votre chambre et dire cette courte prière :

« Cher Jésus, j’ai entendu parler de Toi, mais je ne te connais pas ainsi que Ton Amour personnellement. J’ai entendu dire que Tu es venu sur terre pour mourir pour moi. S’il te plaît, révèle-toi à moi de manière à ce que je puisse savoir que ces choses sont vraies. Je te demande pardon pour mes propres péchés et erreurs, passés et présents, commis consciemment ou involontairement. Je crois que tu es mort et ressuscité par Amour pour moi. Je te le demande en ton Nom, merci. »

Amen.

Maintenant, soyez attentifs et patients, car si vous avez prié sincèrement, Dieu se révélera à vous. Je ne sais pas quand, ni comment, mais Il le fera ! Je vous encourage à prendre une Bible et à commencer par le Nouveau Testament. Vous pouvez commencer par Matthieu, Marc, Luc ou Jean. Si vous n’avez pas de Bible à la maison, n’hésitez pas à la chercher sur Amazon. Je vous recommanderais une version très facile à lire (Louis Segond 1910, ou récente), et une Bible Ostervald ou David Martin quand vous en aurez l’occasion. C’est de loin les versions les plus exactes en français. Si vous avez été sauvé, n’hésitez pas à m’envoyer un message !

Je vous aime tous énormément !

Que Dieu vous bénisse !

“LE COURAGE DU RUTH” : A Path to Biblical Womanhood And Feminity.

Hello everyone! I hope you’re all well. I’m very grateful to God to be able to gather with you again, by sharing a new piece of music entitled “Le Courage De Ruth” (Ruth’s Courage).

There are many women in the Bible who stand out and shine for their rich virtues and moral qualities. Ruth is one of them. From a painful and sinister past, to a victorious future, Ruth became a true symbol of victory in the midst of trials. At the same time, she became an important female moral archetype. Women seeking femininity, virtue and biblical development can identify with her, and grow by following in her footsteps. Men, too, can look to her as an example of virtue.

Ruth was a young Moabite. A people who no longer exist today. The country was located in modern Jordan. The story takes place over 1000 years before Christ. The young woman grew up naturally in the paganism of her country, and was not yet a believer in the God of the Bible. She meets her husband “Mahlon”, a Hebrew , and his family-in-law, in the plains of Moab (for there had been a great famine in Israel at the time, forcing exile to find work).

After a while, Ruth’s husband, Mahlon, her brother, and father-in-law die, except for her mother-in-law, Naomi. Ruth is suddenly stricken on multiple fronts with deep pain, and her life turns into a nightmare. Some time later, Naomi, her mother in-law, learns that God has blessed her homeland (Israel) again, delivering it from famine. She decided to return and live there. In the mean time, Naomi encourages Ruth to rebuild her life in Moab. Ruth, extremely attached to her — far from listening — decides to leave everything behind to follow her mother-in-law : her country, her family, her people and her gods, and moreover converts to God on the way.

Arriving in Israel, Ruth sets out to work in the field to support herself and Naomi. The field in which Ruth begins to work belongs to a member of Naomi’s family, “Boaz”, a wealthy businessman, deeply committed to God. Noticing the young woman and her high moral standards, he gives her a prime spot to work. Ruth is touched by the man’s kindness and continues to work.

Naomi, seeing Boaz’s goodness and piety, encourages Ruth to make the first move with him, soliciting a marriage proposal. Ruth agrees, goes and lies at Boaz’s feet during a nap. Boaz naturally understands the gesture, agrees to take her as his wife and to care for her and Naomi. Ruth went on to become the great-grandmother of King David, and even more so, an ancestor of Jesus-Christ Himself. By choosing God, in the midst of a nightmarish life, prioritizing the love of her mother-in-law, loyalty, she sees her life propelled to such a level of glory that she has her own book in the Bible — read and preached over three millennia later. Could she have imagined such a future? Perhaps you find yourself in a similar position as Ruth, with your own share of trials and suffering. God sees you. Just as He honored Ruth’s virtue, God will honor yours, without you even realizing it at first!

May this little text encourage you to give your heart to Christ and His Word. If you’re a woman, whatever your age, I encourage you to absorb Ruth’s virtues in all things, if you are a man, I encourage you the same. If you’re single woman, pray to meet a man of God like Boaz. Pray, and don’t be affraid to be initiative. Serve his vision, and he’ll serve yours. If you’re a single man, commit to God and His Word, lock-in with Him, and grow in virtue as well. Pray to find a woman like Ruth! We will always find more pleasure in virtue than in vice. Avoid worldly relationships, according to the fashions of this world! If you want to know more about finding the one for you, there are two articles I wrote, both for men and women.

Here’s a list of 9 virtues that we can learn from Ruth

  • 1) Her new faith placed in God: She could have held on to her pagan gods, or turned against the Lord because of the suffering she went through. Instead, she gave God her heart. Source
  • 2-) Faithful in the storm: It’s one thing to be faithful when things are going well. It’s quite another when the storm comes. Ruth was faithful even in the midst of pain and suffering. Source
  • 3-) Compassion: She understood perfectly the pain of her mother-in-law who had lost her husband and two sons. Source
  • 4-) Sense of sacrifice: She abandoned everything to support her mother-in-law. She put Naomi before herself. Source
  • 5-) Courage: She went into the unknown. A new faith in God from a new country, through a new people and a new culture. Source
  • 6-) Hard-working: She takes the initiative to work for herself and her mother-in-law. Source
  • 7-) Humble: She prostrates herself before Boaz, acknowledging that she is a foreigner. Source
  • 8 -) Obedient: She listens to Naomi when she encourages her to ask Boaz to marry her. Source
  • 9-) Bold: She takes the first step, showing her feelings for Boaz. Source

If you want to give your heart to Jesus Christ. I hope the little text will help you.

According to Jesus, God is Holy. It means that God cannot tolerate evil and will punish it someday. The problem is that, you and I already have accumulated our own deal of evil and wrong doings. (scan your past and your heart and try to remember your own mistakes as far as you can go, from a simple lie, to hating someone, through stealing something, you name it.) Even a small little lie or even a bad thought is enough for God to take action. In others terms, it means that One day, we will be judged by God, for our mistakes and wrong doings.

But, according to Jesus Christ, God is also Love. God does not want us to be judged and punished for the evil we did. He loved us so much, that He became a human, one of us, through Jesus-Christ and lived a morally perfect life. Instead of punishing you and me —He punished Himself while He was tortured and attached on the Cross. When Jesus died on the Cross, He absorbed all the sins and mistakes you and I did. When Jesus expired, our sins expired and died in His body too. When Jesus resurrected, He prove who He claimed to be : God. Not only Jesus-Christ paid the price of our sins, but He promised us that we will never face God’s Judgement. Furthemore, He promised us to offer Eternal Life. If you want to accept the Love of God for your life, If you want to personally accept His Salvation into your heart, and want to Live according to His own Standards, you can go into your room and say this short prayer:

"Dear Jesus, I have heard about you, but I don't know you and your love personally. I have heard that you came to earth to die for me. Please, reveal yourself to me in a way that I can know that those things are true. I ask you pardon for my own sins and mistakes, past and present, did consciously or unaware. I believe that you died and resurrected by Love for me. I ask this in your name, thank you. "

Amen.

Now, pay attention and be patient, because, if you have prayed sincerely, God will reveal Himself to you. I don’t know when, nor how, but He will do it! I encourage you to grab a Bible and start with the New Testament. You can start with Matthew, Mark, Luke or John. If you don’t have any Bible at home, feel free to look on Amazon. I would recommend you a very easy version to read, and a “King James Bible” whenever you can have it. It is by far the most accurate version in English. If you have been saved, feel free to message me!

Love you all a ton!

God bless you!

IL TRIONFO FINALE DI SANSONE

Ciao a tutti, spero che stiate tutti bene, malgrado i tempi difficili che stiamo vivendo!

Sono profondamente grato al mio Signore, Creatore e Salvatore, Gesù Cristo di Nazareth, di poter condividere con voi un nuovo lavoro intitolato “Il trionfo finale di Sansone”. Più di un mese fa, stavo leggendo nella Bibbia il libro dei Giudici. All’interno di quel libro, si trova la storia di un eroe chiamato Sansone, noto per avere un’immensa forza fisica. La sua vita è estremamente potente e contrastata, e si conclude con una tragedia trionfale.

Per riprendere brevemente la storia. Dio liberò gli Ebrei dalla schiavitù egiziana attraverso Mosè. In seguito, Dio – dopo aver stabilito la sua Alleanza (la Legge) con il popolo – lo stabilì nella terra d’Israele. Purtroppo, dopo aver vissuto nella Terra Promessa per alcuni anni, gli Ebrei abbandonarono rapidamente l’Alleanza di Dio e cominciarono ad adorare altri dei e a fare il male. Per questo motivo, Dio permise ai loro nemici di dominare su di loro. Nella nostra storia attuale, i nemici erano “i Filistei”. Un popolo antico che non esiste più. Le Scritture dicono:

« Gli Israeliti tornarono a fare quello che è male agli occhi del Signore e il Signore li mise nelle mani dei Filistei per quarant'anni. » — Libro dei Giudici, capitolo 13
Disegnato a mano da Adriana Line

Poiché gli Ebrei stavano soffrendo molto a causa dei Filistei, iniziarono a pentirsi e a chiedere a Dio misericordia e aiuto. Dio, pieno di compassione, decise di aiutarli e mandò loro un uomo di nome Sansone. La sua venuta fu molto speciale, e questo fin dalla sua nascita.

Un angelo di Dio, attraverso le sembianze di un uomo, si presentò a sua madre e le annunciò che stava per rimanere incinta. La madre dovrà seguire una dieta speciale, poiché il bambino è già consacrato a Dio. In questa dieta, non le sarebbe stato permesso di bere alcun tipo di vino o di alcol, né di mangiare alcun tipo di cibo impuro. Perché? Perché Sansone è già stato sottoposto a un voto di alleanza speciale. Questo voto si trova nella legge di Mosè e si chiama: voto nazarita.

Dice che quando una persona vuole consacrarsi completamente a Dio – qualunque sia il periodo di tempo – non le è permesso di bere alcolici né di mangiare cibi impuri. Inoltre, il punto chiave che vorrei che ricordaste è questo: Lasciare crescere i capelli e non tagliarli mai.

« L'angelo del SIGNORE apparve alla donna, e le disse: «Ecco, tu sei sterile e non hai figli; ma concepirai e partorirai un figlio. Ora guardati dunque dal bere vino o bevanda alcolica e non mangiare nulla di impuro.  Poiché ecco, tu concepirai e partorirai un figlio, sulla testa del quale non passerà rasoio, perché il bambino sarà un nazireo, consacrato a Dio dal seno di sua madre, e sarà lui che comincerà a liberare Israele dalle mani dei Filistei ». 

— Libro dei Giudici 13, versetto 3.

Sansone crebbe e divenne immensamente forte. Forte fisicamente. Al punto da essere in grado di sconfiggere eserciti da solo. La Bibbia insegna che l’aumento fenomenale della forza fu dovuto ai suoi capelli, che simboleggiano la sua chiamata e il suo rapporto con Dio. Cominciò a sconfiggere i filistei in modo notevole. I filistei erano stupiti dalla sua forza e si chiedevano da dove venisse. Sansone non rivelò mai a nessuno il suo segreto.

Non solo Sansone era immensamente forte, ma era anche profondamente tenero e amorevole. Purtroppo, mostrava amore e tenerezza alle persone sbagliate. E questo lo portò a fare scelte dannose. Si innamorò di diverse donne straniere. Donne che non erano di Israele, soprattutto della sua fede. Erano tutte dei Filistei. E purtroppo nessuna di queste donne straniere lo amava.

L’ultima – pagata dalla sfera politica dei Filistei – lo ingannò, svenendo per amarlo, per conoscere il segreto della sua forza. E venne il giorno in cui Sansone glielo rivelò. Ella tagliò i capelli di Sansone e allora Sansone divenne debole. I Filistei lo attaccarono e lo catturarono, gli trafissero i due occhi e lo misero in prigione. Passò un certo periodo di tempo e i capelli di Sansone ricrebbero. La sua forza tornò. Un giorno, i Filistei stavano celebrando il loro falso dio e, nel desiderio di umiliare Sansone, lo presero dalla prigione e gli chiesero di “divertirli”. Era nel loro tempio. Era pieno di gente.

Disegnato a mano da Adriana Line
« Lei gli disse: «Come fai a dirmi: "Ti amo", mentre il tuo cuore non è con me? Già tre volte mi hai beffata, e non mi hai detto da dove viene la tua gran forza».  La donna faceva ogni giorno pressione su di lui con le sue parole e lo tormentava. Egli ne fu rattristato a morte  e le aperse tutto il suo cuore e le disse: «Non è mai passato rasoio sulla mia testa, perché sono un nazireo, consacrato a Dio, dal seno di mia madre; se mi tagliassero i capelli, la mia forza se ne andrebbe, diventerei debole e sarei come un uomo qualsiasi».  

Dalila, visto che egli le aveva aperto tutto il suo cuore, mandò a chiamare i prìncipi dei Filistei e fece dire loro: «Venite su, questa volta, perché egli mi ha aperto tutto il suo cuore». Allora i prìncipi dei Filistei salirono da lei, e portarono con sé il denaro. Lei lo fece addormentare sulle sue ginocchia, chiamò un uomo e gli fece tagliare le sette trecce della testa di Sansone; così giunse a domarlo; e la sua forza lo lasciò. Allora lei gli disse:

«Sansone, i Filistei ti sono addosso!» Egli, svegliatosi dal sonno, disse: «Io ne uscirò come le altre volte, e mi libererò». Ma non sapeva che il SIGNORE si era ritirato da lui. I Filistei lo presero e gli cavarono gli occhi; lo fecero scendere a Gaza e lo legarono con catene di bronzo. Ed egli girava la macina nella prigione. »

— Libro dei Giudici, capitolo 16

Sansone chiese a Dio di vendicarlo per i suoi due occhi. Era in mezzo a due colonne. Con tutta la forza di Dio, le schiacciò così forte che il tempio cadde su se stesso, uccidendo tutti i filistei e… Sansone!

« Allora Sansone invocò il SIGNORE e disse: «SIGNORE mio Dio, ti prego, ricòrdati di me! Dammi forza per questa volta soltanto, o Dio, perché io mi vendichi in un colpo solo dei Filistei, per la perdita dei miei due occhi».  Sansone tastò le due colonne di mezzo, che sostenevano la casa; si appoggiò a esse: all'una con la destra, all'altra con la sinistra e disse:  «Che io muoia insieme con i Filistei!» Si curvò con tutta la sua forza e la casa crollò addosso ai prìncipi e a tutto il popolo che c'era dentro; così quelli che uccise mentre moriva furono di più di quanti ne aveva uccisi durante la sua vita. »

— Libro dei Giudici capitolo 16 versetto 28

Analizzeremo entrambi i punti, ma prima di andare avanti, anche se la mia musica ha contemplazioni bibliche – è molto importante per me dirvi che è per tutti, sia credenti che non credenti. Tutti sono i benvenuti! Se non conoscete ancora Dio personalmente e volete conoscerlo, vi incoraggio a leggere fino alla fine!

Torniamo all’applicazione morale della storia di Sansone. Prima di tutto, non siamo migliori di Sansone. Siamo tutti soggetti alla stessa fragilità, ma Dio ci aiuterà a vivere bene e a fare le scelte giuste. Spesso ricordiamo gli errori di Sansone, ma troppo spesso dimentichiamo che egli ha guidato Israele per 20 anni. Quegli anni furono moralmente buoni. Questo la dice lunga su che tipo di leader fosse.

Prima lezione morale: non frequentare persone estranee alla propria fede.

Faccio una precisazione: questo tipo di affermazione può sembrare molto dura per l’età di oggi! Naturalmente si tratta di coppie che si amano, anche se uno dei due è un non credente. La Bibbia lo riconosce e incoraggia le coppie sane a rimanere insieme (guarda cui nel versetto 12) : La lezione morale non prescinde da questo. Ma il piano di Dio per voi e per me è trovare qualcuno che abbia la stessa fede e un amore genuino per Cristo Gesù. Questo è il piano iniziale di Dio. Se sei single, sii paziente e cerca di onorare Dio con la tua vita, perché Dio ti onorerà e ti benedirà al momento giusto.

Seconda lezione morale: non siate mai troppo sicuri del dono che Dio vi ha fatto. Dio vi benedirà con molti doni, ma vuole che li usiate molto bene, per Lui e per la Sua gloria, per il Suo bene. Il dono di Sansone era una forza enorme per difendere il Suo popolo, era un dono di servizio. Era così sicuro di sé che iniziò a giocare con il fuoco, con i nemici di Dio. Come possiamo applicare questo principio nella nostra vita quotidiana? Non mischiatevi a cose mondane e non usate i vostri doni in modo sbagliato. Evitate luoghi e persone pericolose, che possono rovinare la vostra vita e la vostra vocazione. Amate tutti, ma vivete in modo santo!

Se volete conoscere Dio personalmente ed essere salvati, cercherò di rendervi le cose molto semplici. Gesù dice che Dio esiste e che l’Essenza di Dio è costituita da due pilastri morali. Il primo pilastro è la santità. Dio è puro, giusto e santo. Ciò significa che non può tollerare il male e lo punisce. Se Dio non punisce il male, non è giusto. Per la sua natura, è tenuto a distruggerlo. Il problema è che io e voi abbiamo già fatto la nostra parte di male. Davanti a un Dio così santo, non possiamo sfuggire alla sua giustizia finale: anche un solo piccolo peccato deve essere punito. Abbiamo mentito? Abbiamo imbrogliato? Abbiamo bestemmiato? Abbiamo idolatrato? Abbiamo odiato? Abbiamo rubato? Facciamo un’introspezione su noi stessi per trovare i nostri peccati e i nostri errori. Se io e voi moriamo stanotte e ci troviamo di fronte a Dio per rendere conto della nostra vita sulla terra, saremo colpevoli davanti a Lui o giusti? Colpevoli, i nostri peccati ci sbarrano la strada verso l’Eternità e la Vita futura, molto più bella di questa. Come possiamo fare per essere giustificati?

Il secondo pilastro della natura di Dio, secondo Gesù Cristo, è la misericordia. Dio sa che voi e io siamo creature imperfette. Sa che siamo deboli. Dio ha amato così tanto voi e me che ha pensato a un modo legale per salvarvi dal pagare il prezzo dei vostri peccati. Invece di morire e andare in perdizione, Dio è sceso sulla terra, ha creato per sé un corpo umano, ha vissuto una vita moralmente perfetta (quella che avremmo dovuto vivere noi), ha sofferto ed è morto al vostro posto. Invece di punire voi per i vostri errori e peccati, Dio ha punito se stesso. È diventato il Sostituto. Mentre Gesù era sulla croce, tutti i vostri peccati ed errori sono stati assorbiti dal suo corpo. Quando Gesù è morto sulla croce, anche i vostri e i miei peccati sono morti nel suo corpo. Quando Gesù è risorto, ha dimostrato chi ha sempre dichiarato di essere. Dio onnipotente.

Gesù dice che, se credete sinceramente e personalmente in Lui, dal vostro cuore, credendo che Gesù è morto al vostro posto, prendendo la punizione dei vostri peccati, e che è risorto dai morti, ora siete un essere umano salvato. Avete creduto ai doni di Dio per voi. Dio vi vede puliti. Il sangue di Gesù Cristo è così potente che distrugge letteralmente i peccati. Dio vi dà un nuovo inizio. E quando lascerete questa terra, eviterete persino il giudizio di Dio. Non dovrete rispondere dei vostri peccati perché credete che l’Amore di Dio li ha distrutti tutti nel Suo Corpo, sulla Croce, per salvarvi.

Se volete accettare Gesù Cristo nel vostro cuore, trovate un posto tranquillo e dite questo:

Caro Gesù,

non ti conosco personalmente. Ho sentito parlare di te, ma non ti conosco. Ho imparato che sei venuto sulla terra per me. Sei venuto perché mi hai amato così tanto che non volevi che morissi e mi separassi da te.

Credo che tu abbia preso su di te i miei peccati, i miei errori e i miei sbagli e che, invece di doverne rispondere un giorno, hai pagato il prezzo più alto, hai risposto al posto mio. Credo che sei risorto dai morti, dimostrando che sei Dio.

Ti confesso tutti i miei peccati e le mie malefatte. Ti prego, vieni nel mio cuore, salvami e riempimi con il tuo Spirito Santo. Aiutami a voltare le spalle alla malvagità e ad aprire il mio cuore e il mio spirito al bene e a ciò che ti è gradito. Cambiami, guariscimi!

Te lo chiedo nel Nome di Gesù, Amen.

La realizzazione delle illustrazioni

Per raccontarvi l’antefatto delle opere d’arte per la musica di Samson, stavo scorrendo su diversi siti web per acquistare un’opera d’arte che la illustrasse. Ho cercato per giorni un’opera decente, ma non ho trovato nulla che mi toccasse il cuore! Ho contattato dei miei amici artisti, che mi hanno gentilmente risposto, superando le mie aspettative! Una di loro era Adriana Line, un’artista che vive in Francia. Per Grazia di Dio, ha salvato la situazione e ha accettato di disegnare due opere per la musica, 100 a mano. Colgo l’occasione per invitarvi, amici, a scoprire il suo universo e il suo cuore incredibilmente gentile. Abbiamo parlato molto di Sansone e lei ha davvero capito il mio desiderio! Adriana ha condiviso con me il suo cammino spirituale ed è stato un vero piacere ascoltarla nella sua ricerca di Dio! Se avete in cuore di pregare per lei, sareste molto gentili! Che Cristo le riveli se stesso e il suo amore per lei!

Adriana Line et les dessins de Samson de la Bible
Adriana Line, Illustratrice

Ciao Adriana, potresti presentarci te stessa e il tuo lavoro?

— Sono appassionata di arte in generale e mi piace sperimentare e dilettarmi in diversi campi artistici, come l’illustrazione, con cui mi cimento da quando avevo cinque anni. Mi piace portare la suggestione e la sottigliezza nel mio lavoro in generale, nella composizione di diversi elementi rendendoli più o meno appariscenti. Disegno ciò che mi emoziona, ciò che mi parla e risuona. Mi preoccupo di ogni dettaglio e da diversi anni sono alla ricerca assoluta dell’armonia e dell’equilibrio tra pieni e vuoti, cercando di arrivare al cuore della questione. Trovo che questa sia una sfida per ogni mia illustrazione e un vero punto di forza che va oltre l’estetica. C’è una ricerca di significato, di diversi livelli di lettura, proprio come un libro, che appare congelato perché lo percepiamo come un oggetto, ma che tuttavia vive e si rianima in ogni periodo della nostra vita, a seconda del nostro stato emotivo e della nostra evoluzione personale. La vera sfida è rendere questa illustrazione viva, vibrante e instancabile. Disegno principalmente in bianco e nero e mi piace utilizzare un’intera tavolozza di retini come una tavolozza di colori, solo che creo la texture e la materia con una penna a micropunte. Di recente, sto sperimentando il colore, che cerco di addomesticare per adattarlo al mio mondo.

Perché ha deciso di fare una seconda illustrazione per la storia di Sansone?

— È stato mentre realizzavo la prima illustrazione che ho capito che dovevo rifarne una che fosse più in linea con il mio mondo. La prima illustrazione è molto buona, solo che non riuscivo a trovare il 100% di me stesso in essa; mancava la sottigliezza che sto cercando di trovare. L’illustrazione in sé è molto figurativa ed efficace, quindi non c’è alcun rischio. Ma dobbiamo per forza usare l’arte figurativa per comunicare un’idea? Ci sono altri modi per comunicare un’idea che sono altrettanto potenti, se non di più. Per me, il volto di Sansone fatto di pietra, imprigionato, è ancora più potente di Sansone in azione. Egli diventa la statua che inevitabilmente si spezza. Viene inghiottito dai resti del tempio e dalle statue che ha distrutto con la sua forza, lasciandosi alle spalle la sua vita. Allora tanto vale andare al nocciolo della questione e dare una lettura più sintetica e sottile, perché essendo questa statua incrinata, egli incarna, in un certo senso, la fine del regno dell’idolatria pagana dei Filistei. Questa ispirazione ha risuonato in me come una cosa ovvia, e sono stato perfettamente allineato artisticamente con questa visione, che è fluita naturalmente e mi ha permesso di trovare me stesso in questa illustrazione. Tuttavia, trovo entrambe le illustrazioni interessanti a modo loro, perché l’obiettivo di una storia come quella di Sansone è ovviamente quello di condividerla, di farla parlare alla maggior parte delle persone secondo la loro sensibilità, quindi in definitiva che siano figurative o sottili non ha importanza, perché non esiste una verità assoluta.

Cosa l’ha toccata in questa storia?

– La storia in sé è toccante nella sua interezza, perché alla fine penso che tutti possano identificarsi in qualche modo con Sansone, non intendo dire nella sua forza sovrumana, ma piuttosto nella sua vulnerabilità. Nonostante la sua forza, Sansone ha mostrato amore, ingenuità e innocenza verso una persona che non aveva necessariamente buone intenzioni. Ho trovato questo aspetto della sua storia molto toccante e penso che avere un buon cuore non sia sempre sufficiente se non si è perspicaci in certe situazioni. In questo caso, ha voluto credere negli esseri umani quando ha riposto la sua fiducia in Delilah, perché è stato accecato dall’amore (che lo ha reso davvero cieco!), dimenticando che lei faceva parte del popolo nemico. Perdendo la razionalità, si allontanò da Dio suo malgrado, volendo credere alla donna che amava. E questo si è rivelato fatale! Ciò che è toccante è la sua trasparenza e la sincerità del suo amore per lei, unilaterale. Anche se potrebbe essere percepito come ingenuità, il suo cuore era dritto e sincero. Lo trovo ancora più toccante. Questo ci interroga fondamentalmente sull’amore degli altri e sul nostro modo di amare, sapendo che la fiducia è un pilastro e che l’amore dovrebbe logicamente trascendere ogni pregiudizio nell’Assoluto… Ci interroga anche sulla nostra postura e sulla forza, sulla sincerità del nostro impegno. Tanto più di questi tempi, in cui la nostra epoca è governata dal disprezzo di classe, di genere e di credo. È una vera forza conservare questa bontà dentro di noi e mantenere la fede negli esseri umani e nell’Amore in tutta la sua purezza, nonostante ciò che a volte può costare. Senza allontanarci da DIO, che è l’unico che può riempirci del suo Amore assoluto, non sporcato dal vizio e dalla sofferenza che impediscono ai cuori in pena di amare veramente. In fondo, Gesù ha rappresentato l’amore e la pace. Credeva nel meglio di ognuno di noi, altrimenti non si sarebbe crocifisso per salvarci. Avrei potuto parlare del tradimento di Dalila nelle illustrazioni, ma ho scelto di illustrare la distruzione del tempio, la perdita della vista (che può essere vista simbolicamente come un allontanamento dal cammino di Dio) e la caduta dei Filistei come elementi rilevanti e significativi.

Può fare luce sui dettagli dei suoi disegni per capire cosa voleva trasmettere?

Nella prima illustrazione ho creato una composizione di diversi elementi, cercando di armonizzarli il più possibile. Volevo che l’occhio si concentrasse su ciò che accadeva al centro. Un Sansone che dispiega la sua forza per sterminare sia il leone che il tempio, prendendo due piccioni con una fava! Non ho reso il leone troppo imponente, ma piuttosto un riferimento alla storia e un potente simbolo della forza di Sansone. Il terzo livello di lettura è altrettanto potente, in quanto troviamo l’uomo al di là della sua forza nella sua più grande vulnerabilità. Egli sta pregando Dio, bendato e macchiato di sangue, simboleggiando sottilmente la perdita della vista, che può portare a una narrazione diversa per l’illustrazione: Sansone che prega, riacquista l’energia e la forza di un tempo e ruggisce come un leone per distruggere il tempio. Per questo ho fatto in modo di suggerire la ricrescita dei capelli, simbolo della sua forza leggendaria. Sta a voi interpretarlo e leggerlo come volete. Per la seconda illustrazione, ho introdotto meno elementi, ma più sottili.


Il volto di Sansone è fatto di pietre distrutte e spaccate, a simboleggiare la prigione del tempio in cui ha lasciato la sua vita e che ha distrutto. In un certo senso, egli incarna la fine del regno dei Filistei e la loro idolatria delle statue. Sansone diventa quindi una statua che simboleggia il nemico che li ha condotti alla loro fine! Una bella ironia! Ho deciso di lasciare visibile un po’ del volto di Sansone, soprattutto i suoi occhi vitrei e scintillanti che implorano Dio. Ciò suggerisce questa parte della sua umanità, che credo sia un vero punto di forza dell’illustrazione, in quanto la rende ancora più toccante e rappresenta veramente la fine della sua vita. Ecco perché ho insistito su quello sguardo vitreo, che credo non lasci indifferente nessuno. Naturalmente ho suggerito Sansone, che viene inghiottito dalle pietre, perché per me è un dettaglio importante. Ripensandoci, non so se avrebbe fatto molta differenza per la forza dell’illustrazione. L’approccio sarebbe stato ancora più astratto, ma l’illustrazione doveva comunque risuonare con la maggioranza delle persone.

Sulla costruzione della musica:

Ci sono due temi. Uno di essi, il primo, rappresenta la forza e la lotta di Sansone, mentre il secondo, il coro, rappresenta la sua caduta e la sua ascesa. Le note sono discendenti, e di nuovo scalari e discendenti, simboleggiando la sua caduta e la sua ascesa.