" PRECIOUS in the Sight of the LORD... "

     What do you hold most precious ?  Is it your husband, your children, maybe your job or education; how about your life ?  The longer I have been studying the WORD of GOD the more amazed I become at HIS inexhaustible ability to love and forgive those who have done just about every awful thing that man can think of to do.  I myself had a mouth full of vulgar words, including using my blessed LORD's name in vain. Not to get off of the subject,  but have you ever heard anyone use the devils name as a swear word ?   Just thinking !

     The very moment that the LORD came into my heart and life HE gave me a new mouth.  I was and still am not perfect and will not be til I leave this body of flesh to receive my new body either by the rapture of the Bride or by my leaving this life through the death of my body and immediately being in the presence of my precious LORD and SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST.  But my study today is about things that are precious. Let's look at what GOD holds precious and see if HIS list is the same as our list.

     The first time the word precious was used was in the Book of Genesis, but I want us to look at the next usage of the word in the Book of Deuteronomy. In the 33rd chapter, Moses is blessing the tribes of Israel before his death and in verses 13-17 were the blessing of the tribe of Joseph :

     And of Joseph he said:

Blessed of the LORD is his land, with the precious things of heaven, with the dew, and the deep lying beneath, with the precious fruits of the sun, with the precious produce of the months, with the best things of the ancient mountains, with the precious things of the everlasting hills, with the precious things of the earth and its fullness, and the favor of HIM who dwelt in the bush.  Let the blessing come on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him who was separate from his brothers.  His glory is like a firstborn bull, and his horns are like the horns of the wild ox; together with them he shall push the peoples to the ends of the earth; they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of Manasseh. 

     The story of Joseph and what he went through is such a wonderful picture of what our LORD went through when HE left the glories of Heaven and came to this sin cursed world to " HIS own, but they received HIM not ".   Precious to GOD was Josephs testimony, his witness to others about the GOD that he served.  No matter in what state we find Joseph, he trusts GOD to take care of him.  GOD prospered Joseph in all that he did.  Whoever's home he lived in, that home also prospered for Joseph's sake.  So precious, to GOD, is our witness and testimony before others; to bring HIM glory and honor while we are here.

     I will not be able to cover all the places in GOD's WORD that use the word precious, but I will try and give you the best of the best.  The next two times the word is used is in the Book of 1st.Samuel 3:1 and 26:21.  In 3:1 it says, " Then the boy Samuel ministered to the LORD before Eli. And the WORD of the LORD was precious (rare) in those days; there was no widespread revelation. "  Sadly this verse is telling us that the man of GOD, at this time, was not fully doing what GOD had called him to do.  Eli was getting old and his sons were doing great evil behind his back, but he knew about it.  The LORD blessed the prayers of Hannah, Samuel's mother, by giving her a son and she in turn had promised to give him back to the LORD after he had been weaned.  Her faithfulness in giving back to the LORD what had been given to her, from HIM, was going to be of a great blessing not only to her but to the children of Israel; because as the verse says, " the WORD of the LORD was precious (rare) in those days ".   The raising up of Samuel would change the rarity of GOD's WORD and it would once again be faithfully spoken.

     The second time it was used in 1st.Samuel was in chapter 26 verse 21.  Saul was King of Israel and his jealousy of David was getting the better of him. There was several occasions where the LORD allowed Saul to be close to David without Saul's knowledge.  This was one of those times and vs.21 says, " Then Saul said, ' I have sinned. Return my son David. For I will harm you no more because my life was precious in your eyes this day. Indeed I have played the fool and erred exceedingly.' "   In vs.23 David says that Saul was GOD's anointed and he would not harm him.  David knew that when the time was right that GOD would take Saul off of the throne and put David there.  So even though Saul was not doing what was right in GOD's eyes, David knew that Saul's life and times were in GOD's hands.

     In the Book of Psalms there are many great examples of GOD's use of the WORD precious. Let me list some of them for you:

Psalm 49:6-8 " Those who trust in their wealth and boast in the multitude of their riches; None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to GOD a ransom for him -- For the redemption of their souls is precious (costly), and it shall cease forever "

Psalm 72:13-14 " HE will spare the poor and needy, and will save the souls of the needy. HE will redeem their life from oppression and violence; and precious shall be their blood in HIS sight. "

Psalm 72:15 " Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of HIS saints. "

Psalm 126:6 " He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing precious seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. "

Psalm 133:All " BEHOLD ! how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity ! It is like the precious oil upon the head running down on the beard, the beard of Aaron, running down on the edge of his garments. It is like the dew of Hermon, descending upon the mountains of Zion; for there the LORD commanded the blessing -- Life forevermore.

Psalm 139:17 " How precious also are YOUR thoughts to me, O GOD ! How great is the sum of them ! "

     The Book of Proverbs talks about how precious GOD's wisdom and knowledge is to those who are trained by them.  Ecclesiastics 7:1 talks about a good name is precious. The Book of Isaiah, GOD uses the word precious 5 times, one of them was in 28:16 which says, " Therefore thus says the LORD GOD: ' Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; Whoever believes will not act hastily.' "

The word is also used in Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel and in Daniel which for time sake I won't give, because I want to get to some places in the New Testament, which give very good examples of what GOD holds as precious.

     Matthew and Mark both give the story of Mary anointing JESUS with a precious (costly) oil of spikenard, getting HIS body ready for burial.  The next time the word is used is in 1st.Corinthians 3:12 when Paul is talking about building upon the foundation of CHRIST, our CHIEF CORNERSTONE with anything other than gold, silver, precious stones that will endure; or wood, hay or straw that will be burned up.  The lasting value of our works, done in CHRIST, are precious in the sight of GOD and will be rewarded.

     James chapter 5 shows us something else that is precious in the sight of GOD, our patient endurance by faith. 7-8 states, " Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the LORD. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the LORD is at hand. "

     1st.Peter also has 5 uses of the word precious, all of which are great examples to us. 1:6-9 states, "In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of JESUS CHRIST, WHOM having not seen you love. Though now you do not see HIM, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith, the salvation of your souls."  and again in 1:18-19 it says, " knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, BUT with the precious(priceless)blood of CHRIST, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot."  2:4,6 & 7 also show the preciousness of our spiritual sacrifices unto GOD through the LORD JESUS.

     I am going to end this study of what is "precious" to GOD with 2nd Peter 1:1-4, " Simon Peter, a servant, and Apostle of JESUS CHRIST, to those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our GOD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST; grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of GOD and of JESUS our LORD, as HIS divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of HIM WHO called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust."

     Precious to GOD is the blood shed for us. Precious to GOD is the death of HIS Saints. Precious to GOD is our testimony, our faith, our endurance, what building materials we use, our love for the brethren. Precious to GOD are the promises that HE has given to us that cannot be broken. Precious to GOD is HIS WORD to us and it will not return to HIM void but will accomplish what HE sends it out to do. As I stated above, I am amazed each time I do any specific word study.  GOD brings so much to my mind that I cannot type fast enough.  HE is so precious to me, but many times I feel I fall short of what HE wants me to do; but I keep pressing forward toward the mark, not looking back nor listening to the deceiver who always has a negative word to whisper.

     For those who have read this post and have made it all the way to the bottom,  you are precious to me and I hope that this blog will bring you closer to GOD and HIS WORD and to HIS SON, the LORD JESUS CHRIST.  HE said in John 14:1a,  " Let not your heart be troubled, believe, ".   Keep looking up, our new mansions are just about ready and keep your ear to the wind for HIS call !!!

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie

     

" I'LL DO IT TOMORROW "

 " Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth. "   Proverbs 27:1

Many people live their lives as if they have " all the time in the world ".  Some of these people we call procrastinators and they will continue to put off things until they have no more time to do the project and then they run around like a chicken with their heads cut off trying to get it done.

I find myself in this category at times, especially when it comes to dusting.  Ladies  I don't know about you but dusting just seems to be one of those senseless things that we do and the moment something is dusted, you turn around and the dust is falling right back in its place. The dusting in our home does not get done nearly enough and I will be the first to admit it.

Not dusting on a regular basis does not have eternal ramifications but putting off one's eternal destiny does.  I have come across many people who say, " When I am old then I will worry about GOD. "  Or they say that " religion " is for old people. 

The city I live in is close in proximity to another city and combined they have more than 1/2 a million people.

Everyday at least one person is reported dead from one reason or another; and I am absolutely positive that none of them knew it would be their last few hours on earth.  Now understand, these are the ones that are reported, usually because it is a violent death attributed to a horrible auto accident, gun violence, domestic violence, house fires, drownings and the like. Local news only has a certain amount of time to give to these deaths and from what I found out there are many deaths that are never reported on air.

What I am getting at is we may not have the time to put off where we are going to spend eternity.  When GOD created man in Genesis 1:27a  HE said,  " Let US make man in OUR image, according to OUR likeness,".  This means that just as GOD has three distinct persons : GOD the FATHER, GOD the SON and GOD the HOLY SPIRIT in ONE GOD; we as humans have three distinct parts :  first is soul, second is spirit and the third is our body.

When man was first created, Adam and Eve had open and unrestricted fellowship with GOD and they would walk and talk with HIM in the cool of the day per Genesis 3:8.  But when Adam chose to sin and eat of the forbidden fruit that unrestricted fellowship with GOD was broken and Adam's sin plunged the whole human race into a downward spiral spiritually and physically. Before the fall of Adam, man was made to live forever in full and complete fellowship with the GOD that created them.  But  then ........

Sin happened and all that changed.  Adam and Eve no longer walked with GOD but were tossed out of the Garden of Eden so that they would not eat of the tree of life.  Sin fell to every human that was ever created, in which GOD gave a soul. To the baby in the womb whether they were born or died before birth, sin fell to everyone. But GOD knew we would. HE knew and HE prepared for it before the foundation of the world.

You see, GOD created time for us, but HE HIMSELF is not restricted by nor does HE see time by the day. HE sees all of time, that HE created for us, all at once. When HE reviews history and the present and the future, HE sees it all at once, kind of like a panoramic view.  HE sees Adam at one end and HE sees our day as it progresses and HE can also see the Great White Throne Judgement of man as it is happening in our future.  This is why nothing can surprise HIM, HE knows it all before it even happens.

So before one piece of sand was created, GOD the FATHER, GOD the SON and GOD the HOLY SPIRIT planned our redemption in full, without any contingency plans nor plan B's.  There was one way made for everyone, whether rich or poor, whether educated or not, whether young or old because everyone is a sinner.  We are not sinners because we sin but we sin because we are born sinners.  Look at a very young child; ask him or her if they broke their toys and what answer do you get ?  That's right they will tell you NO to your face.  You don't have to teach a child how to lie because they were born with a sin nature and  SO  WERE  YOU.

GOD's plan of Salvation is not a suggestion of what you might do to go to Heaven; it is the only way that one can go to Heaven.  In HIS love and mercy HE sent HIS only SON to earth, born of a virgin, the LORD JESUS CHRIST.  JESUS lived a sinless life " and JESUS increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with GOD and men. " Luke 2:52   JESUS was 100% GOD but also 100% man.  HE physically had a body but since it was NOT of Adam's line as far a being part of the sin cursed line, HE was without sin and could not sin because HE was also 100% GOD and GOD cannot sin; it is not in HIS nature.

JESUS was born for one thing and one thing only; to come and die and be raised from the dead to pay your sin debt and mine.  While HE was here HE healed people and raised people from the dead. HE gave sight to the blind and hearing to the deaf and healed all kinds of diseases, BUT that was not what HE mainly came for. SIN is what brought our SAVIOR here to pay the price for our sin and sin does have a cost, " for the wages of sin is death, BUT the gift of GOD is Eternal life through CHRIST JESUS our LORD. " Romans 6:23

So what does this have to do with " TOMORROW " ?  " For HE says: ' In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of Salvation I have helped you.' Behold, NOW is the accepted time; behold NOW is the DAY of SALVATION. "  You are not promised any more time than the moment you are in. Remember above I said that there was at least one violent death each day, and that is what is reported in my area.  Multiply that 1000's of time each day and in 1000's of cities and in 100's of countries. The average age of those who die quickly and violently is relatively young, in their 20's and 30's, but children and young people drown or are killed in car accidents.  Not even they are promised more than the moment they are living in..........

If you are reading this now, it is not a coincidence. GOD is trying to get your attention, NOW.  Don't put it off, you may not have tomorrow.  GOD planned our Salvation before any of us were ever created. HE was ready and in HIS grace and mercy HE saved us by the death, burial and resurrection from the dead of HIS only SON the LORD JESUS CHRIST.  As a sinner we have no way of saving ourselves. Ephesians 2:8-9 state, " For by grace you have been saved through faith and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of GOD, not of works, lest any man should boast."

We are sinners and cannot save ourselves. We cannot work to save ourselves. We cannot join a church to save ourselves. We cannot be cleansed from our sin through baptism or communion or any other work of man.  JESUS paid our debt in full and in JESUS we must believe.........

" For GOD so loved the world ( us ) that HE gave ( free gift ) HIS only begotten SON (a costly perfect gift ) that whosoever ( anyone ) believes on HIM shall not perish ( no eternity in hell ) but have everlasting life ( with HIM in Heaven ). "  John 3:16

TOMORROW has NOT been promised to you or to me and we go about each day not knowing if we will walk through the door of our homes at the end of the day. " Come now, you who say, ' Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow.  For what is you life ?  It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away."  James 4:13-14

Romans 10:9-14 says, " That if you confess with your mouth the LORD JESUS and believe in your heart that GOD has raised HIM from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes to righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, 'Whoever believes on HIM will not be put to shame.' For there is no distinction between Jew and Gentile, for the same LORD over all is rich to all who call upon HIM. For whoever calls upon the name of the LORD shall be saved."

TODAY, THIS MOMENT IS ALL YOU HAVE !!! If you would like to be saved this moment, earnestly, by faith pray this simple prayer or one like it:

     Dear GOD,  I know that I am a sinner. I have sinned against you and cannot do anything to save myself.  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and I believe that you sent JESUS to die and you raised HIM from the dead to pay the price for my sin. I ask JESUS to come into my heart and save me and help me to live for you always.   In JESUS's name I pray,

                                                                  AMEN

If after reading this blog you have made a decision for CHRIST  or  still have lingering questions, please let me know.  For TODAY IS STILL THE DAY OF SALVATION !!!

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie

" The Whole Creation Groans "

Romans 8:18-25 " For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.  For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of GOD.  For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of HIM WHO subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of GOD.  For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.  And not only they but we also who have the firstfruits of the SPIRIT, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.  For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees ?  But if we hope for what we do not see, then we eagerly wait for it with perseverance. "

There has been a lot of controversy about what our world is going through as far as the so-called climate change or weather issues. Everyone does seem to be in agreement that the weather, though we have always had weather, seems to be getting more extreme.  You have the far left fanatics telling us that we must cut emissions and pollution to save our planet.  Many have admitted that since the majority of the world is not on board with pollution cutting measures there is very little that a single or couple of countries can do to make even a small difference in what they view as the extreme weather occurrences that have shown themselves in the last 10 years or so.

I have a Scriptural answer for those who worry that our planet will not survive mankind living on it. GOD is still on the throne and in complete control of everything. But having said that, we also know that when man fell into sin, the world was also cursed. Let us look at what happened not only to man at the fall but also our world and the creatures that share it with us.  Genesis 3:14-19

 " So the LORD GOD said to the serpent: ' Because you have done this, you are cursed more than all cattle, and more than every beast of the field;  on your belly you shall go, and you shall eat dust all the days of your life. And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her SEED; HE shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise HIS heel.'   To the woman HE said: ' I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; in pain you shall bring forth children; your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.'   Then to Adam HE said, ' Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, ' You shall not eat of it ':   Cursed is the ground for your sake; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, and you shall eat the herb of the field. In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread. Till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken. For dust you are, and to dust you shall return. "

Before man fell into sin he would walk with GOD in the cool of the day (Genesis 3:8).The earths temp. was constant and comfortable for the young couple in their beautiful garden that the LORD had put them in.  Adam was the one that GOD gave the responsibility to name each of the animals as GOD brought them around to him (Genesis 2:19- 20).  There was no eating of meat, either by Adam nor by any of the animals, everything was in complete peace with the other. The fall had not yet happened.  While naming the animals GOD saw that it was not good for man to be alone and there was no animal found that could be a helper comparable to Adam. So GOD put Adam into a deep sleep and took a rib from Adam's side and created the woman, Eve. GOD brought Eve and gave her to Adam in the very first marriage, and all was still peaceful (Genesis 2:20-25),  but that was about to all change.

Chapter 3 of Genesis starts out, "Now the serpent was more cunning..."  and he still is. The devil used the very first lie in the garden and he still uses it today. " Has GOD indeed said ?" especially still he says it to women and they are still falling for it; but that is talked about in another blog.  Eve sinned because she was deceived, BUT Adam sinned by choice.  When Eve brought the forbidden fruit to him to eat, he was already very in love with her and he knew if he did not eat of the fruit that she would die and he would be without her, his choice was to sin, but the deed cost mankind dearly and started a downward spiral that mankind is still reaping and so is all of creation.

From the fall of mankind the curse of sin fell on everyone who has ever lived and who will ever live and on all of creation.  The "birth pangs" that was spoken of in the book of Romans was talking about our world and everything to do with our world; weather, lands, seas, oceans, mountains, the lower heavens which is our atmosphere, the animals; all is under the curse and as a woman in labor can tell you, you don't just sit still while having a baby. As a woman in labor writhes in anguish and pain; she also is in great expectation of the child that will be born. So too, is our world writhing in anguish and pain from the curse that mankind's sin put upon it. So too, is the creation looking forward to deliverance as Romans 8:21-23 tells us.

Even in the book of Jeremiah 12:4,11 we read: " How long will the land mourn, and the herbs of every field wither ? The beasts and birds are consumed, for the wickedness of those who dwell there, because they said, "HE will not see our final end.'  They have made it desolate; desolate, it mourns to ME; the whole land is made desolate, because no one takes it to heart."

So those of us who know and have accepted the LORD's gift of Salvation, who are Truly Born Again by the HOLY SPIRIT and the WORD of GOD should not fall into this human view of " global warming" or "climate change" for all things are "working together for good to those who love GOD, to those who are the called according to HIS purpose." Romans 8:28 and " HE WHO did not spare HIS own SON, but delivered HIM up for us all, how shall HE not with HIM also freely give us all things ?" Romans 8:32

There is nothing that is out of GOD's control, even when man has free will GOD knows what he will choose and works it all together for our good. We may see terrible weather phenomenon that seems to point to something that man is currently doing, but it is not what he currently is doing but what Adam and Eve did in the Garden of Eden. We are not to fear nor plan nor try and change what cannot be changed, as GOD said to Job in Job 26: 7-14,  " HE stretches out the north over empty space; HE hangs the earth on nothing, HE binds up the water in HIS thick clouds, yet the clouds are not broken under it. HE covers the face of HIS throne, and spreads HIS cloud over it. HE drew a circular horizon on the face of the waters, at the boundary of light and darkness. The pillars of heaven tremble, and are astonished at HIS reproof. HE stirs up the sea with HIS power, and by HIS understanding HE breaks up the storm. By HIS SPIRIT HE adorned the heavens; HIS hand pierced the fleeing serpent. Indeed these are the mere edges of HIS ways, and how small a whisper we hear of HIM !! But the thunder of HIS power, who can understand ? "

As I said, to those of us, who have been Truly Born Again by the SPIRIT and the WORD, we should have no fear of what is happening to our world.  It has been cursed because of the sin of mankind and there is nothing that we as mere humans can do to change even one inch of shoreline as we try to recover the shoreline with millions and millions of dollars and billions of tons of relocated sand. We regulate industries to the point of bankruptcy which causes the loss of jobs. Now don't yell at me that we shouldn't do anything, but we are to be good and wise stewards of what GOD has given us. We need GOD's wisdom to know what we can fix and what we cannot fix.  Boiled down, this world and the continuance of this world, does NOT depend on man, GOD holds this world in HIS hands and all things are under HIS control and HE will do with it all that has been foretold in 2nd Peter 3:13 which states, " Nevertheless we, according to HIS promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. " which goes with Revelation 21:1 which says, " And I(John)saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea."

There will come a day when we will all sit together, once again without fear. No wars, no death, no hatred, no evil, NO SIN.

But there are some who may be reading this that have never been Truly Born Again by the SPIRIT and the WORD of GOD. For you this all probably sounds ridiculous and I'm sure a bit scary.  But you don't have to be in fear because GOD made a way for all mankind to be forgiven of their sin debt.  Yes, you owe a debt to GOD for your sin. Romans 6:23a says, " for the wages of sin is death," and you owe HIM for your sin debt, because in Romans 3:23 it says, " for ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of GOD."  GOD sent HIS only begotten SON, the LORD JESUS CHRIST to earth to die and pay your sin debt in full. Romans 5:8 says, "But GOD demonstrates HIS own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, CHRIST died for us."  It is GOD's love for us, while we were still in the middle of our sin, that sent HIS SON to die on the cross at Calvary. HE died to pay the price of our sin, HE was buried and rose again for our justification. I know that is a really big word but what it means here is that if JESUS's sacrifice for our sin would not have been enough to satisfy GOD the FATHER's requirement for the payment of our sin, then JESUS would not have raised from the dead and we all would be condemned to an eternity in hell as John 3:36 states, " He who believes in the SON has everlasting life; and he who does NOT believe the SON shall not see life, BUT the wrath of GOD abides on him."

So GOD has given you a way out of your sin debt as Romans 10:9-11 states, " That if you confess with your mouth the LORD JESUS and believe in your heart that GOD has raised HIM from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes to righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made to Salvation. For the Scripture says, 'Whoever believes on HIM will not be put to shame."  And in Romans 10:13 it says, " For whoever calls upon the name of the LORD shall be saved."

Now you have a decision to make. It is your choice. If you want the promises of everlasting life in Heaven then believe in your heart and confess with your mouth in prayer to GOD either with this prayer or one like it.

     Dear GOD,  I know that I am a sinner and I cannot do anything to save myself. I truly believe that JESUS came and died for my sin and raised from the dead and is sitting at your right hand. Please forgive me of my sin, come into my heart and help me to live for you always.

                                     In JESUS's name,  AMEN.

If you have made a decision for CHRIST after reading this blog, please let me know so that I can REJOICE !!! along with the angels in Heaven over one sinner that repents.

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie

http://wordoftruthlighthouse.blogspot.com 

Part # 2 of 2 " If A Man Die, Shall He Live Again ? "

   

      Yesterday we ended Part 1 with, " Next GOD is going to tell us about those who remain. " For this we say unto you by the WORD of the LORD, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the LORD shall not prevent them which are asleep." And so we continue........

             HE  ENCOURAGES
           Those  Who  Remain

     "...We which are alive and remain..." Those who remain are the ones that are alive today. The LORD wants to help and encourage us who are alive and remain.

          Our  life  must  go  on.

     First HE tells us not to " sorrow...as others which have not hope."  HE is not saying that there is no sorrow in the loss of loved ones. The LORD JESUS wept at the grave of Lazarus in John 11:35. HIS heart was broken, and HIS eyes were filled with tears. Yet HE knew that Lazarus was alive, and HE knew where he was.

     Truth will not keep your heart from breaking, but it will give you a reason to go on. It is impossible not to have a broken heart when someone we love and care for dies. However, we must remember in our sorrow that our life goes on. There are others who need us. Our sorrow and heartache is real, but we must not be carried away to where we lose all hope.

Sometimes the survivor of a terrible accident in which a loved one was taken has a hard time understanding why they were not taken and others spared. When a family member is stricken with sickness, and their life is cut short, we often question, "Why ? Why them and not me ?"

     I came across a poem that was a blessing to me about suffering and death written by O.Ray Burgess in 1949 called "Why  She  Suffered"

So you asked me why she suffered
All the days and all the hours,
And I know I cannot tell you;
This lies only in GOD's powers.
Someday when this life is ended
And the veil of tears has passed, 
And we sail into the Harbor
Of GOD's promises at last.

Then we'll know the hidden secrets
HE kept back from us a while,
And we'll find our greatest triumph
In the sunshine of GOD's smile.
In this life we find our trials,
And we suffer through the years,
Often we are disappointed
And we weep with scalding tears.

But someday when HE has called us
To that land of Brighter Day,
We will then be glad we suffered
For it all will pass away.
So you asked me why she suffered
And I still cannot tell why,
But we'll know someday, rejoicing,
In that Blessed By and By.

Death cannot take the memory and love we have for people. We are left with precious memories and, in many cases, great lessons of life that can be passed on to the next generation.

     The Apostle Paul said, " I thank my GOD upon every remembrance of you, " and then he said, " because I have you in my heart " in Philip.1:3,7. Our lives are forever touched and blessed by the people we love and by those who love us.

     If their life truly influenced our life for good, then we will become their crown of rejoicing at the Judgement seat of CHRIST in 1st.Thes.2:19.  Their influence never ends if we carry their memory with us. They could say, " For now we live, if ye stand fast in the LORD " in 1st.Thess.3:8

We have something to look forward  to.

     The LORD reminds us that when HE returns, " we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the LORD in the air: and so shall we ever be with the LORD."

     HE says, " Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning " in Psalm 30:5. The joy that HE is talking about is when we are reunited with our loved ones. We truly have something to look forward to. That something is the great resurrection day.

Anyone who has ever waited on a loved one to arrive at the airport knows the excitement felt when the plane lands and the passengers start walking toward the waiting area. What joy when they see the one they love and have been waiting for ! Can you imagine the joy we will have when we see the LORD coming in the air with the ones who have gone on ? We have a reason to live, and we have something to look forward to.

We have others to encourage and help.

     The LORD said that we should " comfort one another with these words." What is hard for us to understand while we are going through darkness is that one day our experience of grace will be used to comfort and help others who are going through the same valley.

" Blessed be GOD, even the FATHER of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, the FATHER of mercies, and the GOD of all comfort; WHO comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of GOD " in 2nd.Cor.1:3-4. We will one day take what we have learned about the grace of GOD and help others.

     Many of our great hymns of faith were written in an hour of sorrow. GOD draws near to us in these times of heartache and gives us " in the night HIS song " in Psalm 42:8.  One such song is, " It is Well with My Soul " by H.G.Spafford and Phillip P.Bliss. The first and second stanzas go:

When peace like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, THOU hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.

And LORD haste the day
When my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll,
The trump shall resound
and the LORD shall descend,
"Even so"--it is well with my soul.

     The LORD has left us here to be a blessing and a comfort to others. HE will make it possible for our life to cross the path of someone who needs the great truth GOD has given us, someone for whom we can be a brook by the way. " Wherefore comfort one another with these words."

                 HE  CARES  FOR
             Those  Without  Hope

     The third group we are told about is " others which have no hope." How sad to think of hurting people going through the loss of a friend or loved one and " having no hope, and without GOD in the world " as Ephesians 2:12 tells us.

     Maybe you are one of those who are without GOD in this world. To die without hope and without GOD means to be separated from GOD forever.

     But the LORD cares for you. HE wants you to have hope and everlasting life. HE tells us in John 3:16:  " For GOD so loved the world, that HE gave HIS only begotten SON, that whosoever believeth in HIM should not perish, but have everlasting life."

     The LORD wants you to know that you are loved. He said, " For GOD so loved the world..." You are part of this world, and GOD loves you.

     HE also wants you to know that you are of worth. You are so precious to GOD that "...HE gave HIS only begotten SON..."  He gave HIS SON to pay your sin debt.
   
     The Bible teaches us that we are all sinners, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of GOD" in Romans 3:23. And sin must be paid for. " For the wages of sin is death..." in Romans 6:23.

     The Good News is that the LORD JESUS paid our sin debt in full. " For HE hath made HIM to be sin for us..." in 2nd.Cor.5:21. HIS payment for our sin was accepted by GOD, and it satisfied GOD's requirement for forgiveness.

     You may ask, " How can GOD forgive sin ?"  HE can do that because of what JESUS did for us. "...While we were yet sinners, CHRIST died for us " in Romans 5:8.

     GOD wants you to have hope. HE said "...that whosoever believeth in HIM should not perish..."This means that when someone who knows the LORD dies, they are not separated from GOD. They go to Heaven. The LORD wants all of us to have hope.

     GOD wants you to have a purpose in life. HE says that we " should not perish but have everlasting life."  Everlasting life is ours when we turn to the LORD JESUS CHRIST in repentance and faith and receive GOD's payment for our sin. You may ask, "How do I do this ?" The answer is as simple as ABC.

A--Admit that you are a sinner, "for all have sinned and come short of the glory of GOD "in Romans 3:23

B--Believe that JESUS died for you, for "CHRIST died for our sins according to the Scriptures" in 1st. Cor.15:3.

C--Call upon the LORD to save you, "for whosoever shall call upon the name of the LORD shall be saved" in Romans 10:9-13.

     Receive CHRIST today. HE has promised, " Him that cometh to ME I will in no wise cast out " in John 6:37. Come to the LORD JESUS for Salvation. If you would like to know CHRIST as your personal SAVIOR and have hope in this world, I invite you to pray this prayer and receive CHRIST today......

          LORD, I know that I am a sinner, and I
          believe YOU died and rose again for me.
          I am trusting YOU to forgive me. Come
          into my heart and save me, and help me
          to live for YOU.  In JESUS' name,  AMEN.

     Everlasting life begins when we receive CHRIST as our personal SAVIOR.

" These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the SON of GOD; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the SON of GOD " in 1st.John 5:13.

If you have received the LORD JESUS as your personal SAVIOR, " there is joy in the presence of the angels of GOD."  Your loved ones in Heaven at this very moment are rejoicing over your decision. And you have a great reunion to look forward to.
                                    
The question that has been on the hearts and minds of every person from the beginning of time is this:

   If a man die, shall he live again ?

The LORD JESUS answered this question and pulled back the veil of Heaven to show us a glimpse of life after death.                    
                                 Tom Sexton

Five Star Publications. A ministry of Gulf Coast Baptist Church,  312  SE 24th.Ave., Cape Coral, FL 33990  (239)574-STAR  
www.FiveStarChristianPublications.com
info@5scp.com

This publication was reshared to you, in its entirety, by me so that you would have a better understanding of Heaven and Life after Death.
Your servant in CHRIST,
Julie

http://wordoftruthlighthouse.blogspot.com