The Books of Life

By Gary Ray

Who or what is God and Jesus? Why are we here? Why does God allow bad things to happen? How can I overcome addictions? How do I get saved and grow in Christ? How does spiritual warfare affect my life? Can I control spirits affecting my life? This little book will answer all these questions and more. Buy me and find out for yourself.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Jun 10, 2020
• ISBN: 9781098031237

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The Books of Life

Gary Ray

Copyright © 2020 by Gary Ray

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

References: King James Bible.

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

In the Beginning

The Battle Begins

The Garden of Eden

The Observation Room

A Glance at the Universe

My Home

My Mission

Idedicate this book to all who believe in Jesus Christ, who live for God every day, who struggle with the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and pride of life, especially those who have shed blood or have suffered for the cause. I pray for those not yet saved, that this book may encourage them to go toward the cross. It is better to meet Jesus today as your Savior than to meet him tomorrow as your Judge.

Acknowledgments

First John 4:2 says Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God. So if you confess this, you are of God, making you my brothers and sisters. First John 4:20 says, If a man says, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar, for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? Many people who believe certain ways do not listen to anything people believe in differently. How will they get along in heaven if they will not listen to their brothers and sisters on earth? Let us bind together and put aside every weight and sin which do easily beset us (Hebrews 12:1). If you have been saved and believe that Jesus died for you, a sinner, and you believe that Jesus was born of a virgin, Mary, and you believe that Jesus rose on the third day to our Father in heaven, you are my brothers and sisters, and I hope you see me the same way. This book may have controversial beliefs to yours, but I hope you will enjoy the book and not let menial genealogies or beliefs steal your joy while reading this book. Let us grow together!

Chapter 1

In the Beginning

As I came to, I looked around. Nothing looked familiar. I looked down at myself. I saw nothing! I mean I was not there! Where am I? I yelled.

A voice spoke out of the empty room.

So you made it, the voice said.

In response, I said, I made it…where? And where is my body? And what’s going on? As I was speaking, I looked around to find a man standing at the door. He had short, brown hair and blue eyes. He looked to be between twenty-four and twenty-eight years old, wearing a bright white robe that hung to his feet. He was smiling at me.

And who are you? I asked.

Whoa, wait a minute, the other guy said. I can answer only one question at a time. First, you are in heaven…you made it! Second, you are the same person you were, only this is your spirit, you see…or don’t see. However, you look at it. He felt pretty good with a coy look as he chuckled and smiled.

Okay, no jokes, please, I said. This is serious.

All right, already, the man said.

And what do you mean heaven? I asked. No pearly gates here. And what is this room?

In response, the other man said, Do you see the bookshelves and books in the bookshelves?

I looked around and saw three bookshelves. They were long and tall. One on each wall with a large, metal door with a window in the top half of the door in the middle of the fourth wall, where the other man stood. There was a table chest high, about three foot by four foot big in the middle of the room, near me.

Yes, I see the bookshelves and the books, I said.

This is a library! he said.

A library in heaven! Yeah, right! I said, being more quizzical than critical. As I looked at the bookshelves, I saw they were full of books. I asked him, Who are you?

He said, My name is Stephen, and you are Johnny.

As I walked up to the bookshelf across from the door, I saw a book entitled In the Beginning. I reached out to grab the book as I said, And do I walk around as a spirit forever?

Stephen said, abruptly, Watch out! These books aren’t ordinary books!

Even as he was speaking, I had taken the book, laid it on the table, and started to open the book. I opened the book to read the first page, and the whole room changed. The lit up room turned dark as night. It was so dark, it was eerie. I mean, like total emptiness. And a feeling in the room was so lonely, like nothing existed. Nothing alive.

As I paused to take in this empty feeling, I saw a bright light streak across the open void on the ceiling of the library. It was so bright, I could not make out the form, or what it was. It felt so pure and majestic, I felt so…little. The bright streak was bright, like lightning.

I closed the book, saying What?

As soon as the book was closed, the room went back to normal.

I tried to tell you, Johnny! Stephen said. "These books are not ordinary books. These books are called The Living Books! This book in particular is called In the Beginning. Johnny, what do you think this book, In the Beginning, will be about?"

I said, I guess it will be about the beginning.

Stephen said, The beginning…of what?

I said, I don’t know. The beginning of all things…time, the universe…everything.

Do you know what was created first by God in the beginning of Genesis? asked Stephen.

I spoke up and said, Let me think…in the beginning…God created…the heaven and the earth.

Stephen said, The creation of the heaven and the earth that God created in the beginning was His creation in all six days. The first thing God created was created on the first day.

I said in response, And God said, ‘Let there be Light!’

Then Stephen said, And what or who…was that light?

I answered, I guess the sun.

Stephen said, The sun was not created yet and will not be created until the fourth day.

I said, What was it, then?

Stephen said, Open up the book and see for yourself.

So I opened up the book to the first page and the whole room turned dark. No light, no sound. Nothing to be seen nor heard. It was strangely dark with no sound and no sign of life, or any existence, for that matter. Just total silence.

A man’s voice said, And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep.

Then I saw a streak of light flash across the open void, like lightning streaking across a dark sky. As it stopped, it was sitting on a big chair. No, more like a majestic throne. The being of light was so bright, I could hardly make out the form of the being or the throne. The being looked like a person, but so pure and majestic, you could feel the qualities of His being. He was the essence of love, joy, and peace all wrapped together. He was so majestic, one could feel nothing of its equal in power and strength.

As I saw Him look to His left, then to