Category Archives: Heaven and Hell

Heaven and Hell, Hope, Jesus Christ / Yeshua, Prophecy, Salvation

Find Hope In Christ Jesus

We will experience joy and suffering in this world. In the end, all of us will die. Many find this uncomfortable to think about because they do not really believe in life after death… not in the same way they believe in gravity or the wind. Even though we can not see gravity or the wind, we believe because we see evidence of it around us in daily life. It can be a bit harder to fully trust in salvation through Christ and life after death. It helps if we study the Bible, pray for God to open our eyes to His glory, and seek to apply His instructions in our lives. Then we can start to recognize the evidence of God at work in the world and our lives around us more easily.

We can trust completely in God in all things, including what He promises us about life after death for those who submit to and follow Christ… those who truly believe will reflect that belief in their actions.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-17

Those Who Died in Christ

      13But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. 14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. 15For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. 18Therefore comfort one another with these words.

Put your faith in God and trust Him in our hope of resurrection after death. Of course, we must submit to and follow Jesus in more than just words. We must do so wholeheartedly. But the faithful can take heart that no matter what this world holds for us, we will go to be with God after and when Jesus returns again, we will rise again physically to be with Him.

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Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? If you die today, do you know for sure that you would be with God in heaven? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Faith / Trusting God, Father / Yahweh, Heaven and Hell, Jesus Christ / Yeshua, Suffering / Adversity

I Go To Prepare A Place For You

When I experience pain and suffering in this world I find much comfort and joy in knowing that Jesus has prepared a place for His disciples. Scripture tells us that we will have suffering in this world, but take heart, Jesus has overcome death and prepared the way for all of His disciples to follow when we leave this world.

John 16:33

33“These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”

John 14:1-6

Jesus Comforts His Disciples

      1“Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. 2“In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. 3“If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. 4“And you know the way where I am going.” 5Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?” 6Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

There is little comfort in this statement for those who do not submit to and follow after Jesus wholeheartedly. Those who reject Jesus will go to hell when they die. For those who are disciples after Christ, it is life giving water. We will be with Him for eternity in heaven. It is an extremely important choice… and we each have to make that choice. The offer expires for each of us when we die.

Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? If you die today, do you know for sure that you would be with God in heaven? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

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Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? If you die today, do you know for sure that you would be with God in heaven? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Consequences of Sin, Father / Yahweh, Grace / Forgiveness, Heaven and Hell, Jesus Christ / Yeshua, Loving / Kind, Merciful, Sin

We Are By Nature Children Of Wrath

Contrary to what many today want to believe, we are not born holy and righteous. Human nature draws us toward sin and disobedience to Jehovah rather than submission to Him. Left on our own, we are dead in sin and will be held accountable as such by God on the day of judgment. Yes, there really is a heaven and a hell.

While this makes many uncomfortable, it is important to understand in order to have a clear picture of God’s love, grace and mercy. He displays all of it by providing a way to save us from our sin, to bridge the gap between our selfish and rebellious nature and His holiness.

God demonstrates mercy in that He is willing to withhold from us the punishment we deserve based on the gap between our behavior and attitudes and His holy standard. Further He shows grace by providing us forgiveness we do not deserve and a way to be reconciled with Him. He demonstrated love by coming to live among us and die on our behalf to pay the penalty for our sins and rebellion. He did this in the person of Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 2:1-10

     1And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, 2in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. 3Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. 4But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

It is important to remember that we are not inherently good. We do not deserve forgiveness. We can not earn forgiveness. We can never achieve God’s standard through our own works. We are saved by God’s grace, through our faith in Jesus Christ. It is a gift we do not deserve, but still we must choose to accept it. Once we accept this gift, God does indeed expect us to walk in good works as evidence of our submission to Him.

Trying to bridge the gap between us and God without accepting Jesus Christ as Lord is akin to trying to climb down into the Grand Canyon using a step ladder. We do not even come close on our own. Let us remember and remind others that God shows His great love, great mercy and great grace by the offer of reconciliation and salvation He offers in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We should praise Him and glorify Him and never take it for granted as something we do not need or something we deserve based on our own works.

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Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? If you die today, do you know for sure that you would be with God in heaven? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Am I on the path?, Heaven and Hell, Jesus Christ / Yeshua

What Does God Really Mean By “Believe”?

Often times we find ourselves using words that can have a range of meanings depending on context. When the words are spoken in conversation face to face in our own culture we often have an easier time immediately connecting with the correct meaning. Sometimes we do not even think about it. Other times, we must consider more carefully the context of the word to understand the proper meaning. In most cases, if we don’t get the context exactly right, but we get the general idea, it is sufficient.

One example that is fairly obvious by context is if you request someone to “kill the lights“. Obviously you do not want to kill what is not alive, but rather to “turn them off”. However, at times the distinction of the meaning of the word is of great importance and the context may be more subtle to understand the meaning. We may miss it if we are not careful.

There is one such example in scripture where properly understanding one word is pivotal in getting the understanding correct. The stakes are no less than eternal salvation or damnation… Heaven or Hell.

John 3:16-21

 16“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. 17“For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. 18“He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19“This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. 20“For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21“But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.”

Far too many people today misunderstand the meaning of “believe” in the scripture we just read. They take verse 16 and run with it. Then they conclude that simply acknowledging Jesus is God is sufficient for salvation. They need never actually submit to Him or change their behaviors and attitudes to reflect His commands. They “believe“, or so they tell themselves.

A more careful study of context brings greater clarity. In particular as we continue to read through verse 21. It is not a head knowledge of knowing that Jesus is God. Even Satan and the demons know Jesus is God! True belief will be reflected in our actions. If we believe Jesus is God, then how we live will be a reflection of this belief. Believing in Jesus as God is not like believing that Antarctica exists. I can believe Antarctica exists and it really does not affect my life much at all. It would not be observable. But believing in Jesus Christ as God… that changes everything. It is not something I do… it is a way of doing everything! I either come to the Light, or I do not.

Let us look for confirmation both in the Bible and also in the observable behaviors in the world around us.

James 2:14-26

      14What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? 15If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, 16and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? 17Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.

      18But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” 19You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. 20But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless? 21Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? 22You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected; 23and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “AND ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS,” and he was called the friend of God. 24You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25In the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? 26For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.

This scripture we just read in James is difficult for many to accept because they have been taught, and feel very comfortable, to just accept that if you say you believe in Jesus, you are saved. Not so. This is dangerous and misleading and such a careless examination of scripture lays a trap that leads many to Hell through complacency in just assuming the grace of Christ will cover whatever they do because they say they believe in Jesus Christ.

A simple example we should all be able to get our mind around is as follows. If I truly believe in gravity… then my actions will reflect as much. I do not say I believe in gravity and then step off a roof, do I? No! Because I believe in gravity you will see me be very careful in my actions to avoid falling.  I use the handrail when going up the stairs… because I believe in gravity. I do not plan a picnic when I believe it will rain.  My true beliefs affect my observable behaviors.

Did Jesus warn us about this vulnerability for misunderstanding  salvation? Absolutely. In fact, Jesus specifically tells us we are to judge (or discern) false prophets from true followers of Christ by their actions… by their fruit. We are not to judge based on what they say. Words are often lies, but the observable behaviors reveal the truth.

Jesus went on to warn us that some are even deceiving themselves! They will be surprised when the stand in judgment before Christ and He tells them that He did not know them!

Matthew 7:15-23

 15“Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16“You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? 17“So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 18“A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. 19“Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20“So then, you will know them by their fruits.

      21“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 22“Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ 23“And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’

It is crucial that we understand “believe” correctly and apply this in our lives as a validation of our relationship with Christ by observing our behaviors, not our intent, to test against what Jesus commands. If we tell ourselves that we put God first… that sounds great. Examine your own actions and priorities for time and money. If you love God first and above all else, why do you spend one hour a week in church (or none at all), but spend every weekend watching 12 hours of football and baseball and basketball! Why is it you know the statistics from all your favorite players and teams but do not know the scriptures? There is nothing wrong with sports in particular. This is just a common example in our society today that demonstrates a point. Observable actions provide true insight into whether or not we really believe Jesus is God and that really matters.

Start by testing yourself the way James suggested, by demonstrating your faith through your works. Track how you spend your time and money for a few weeks or a month. Write it down. At the end, evaluate what things you are doing out of obedience to God because you believe Jesus is Lord. How does that list compare to everything else you are doing. Be careful not to give yourself too much credit based on intent, because Jesus warns us that many of us will fool even ourselves to thinking we believe Jesus is Lord.

Living in true faith that Jesus Christ is Lord is not just revealed in things we accomplish or do. It is also demonstrated in how we do things. Do we control our tongue or lash out and hurt people? Do we give time and money to obey and honor God or to just appear that way to others? Do we respond in anger and lose our temper when things don’t go our way or do we remain cool and calm and work things out? When you make a mistake, do you acknowledge that and seek to repent and ask forgiveness or do you blame someone else and rationalize why you were right all along… even when you were wrong? The most effective way to consider evaluating your “fruit” in this regard is to get a close trusted person who can serve as your accountability partner to point out where you may be struggling.

We must also be vigilant to remember that works will not garner salvation, but is simply an external observable result of true faith. Doing works in order to be good enough to look like you believe in Jesus as Lord leads nowhere. You believe Jesus is Lord and as a result, you obey His commands and your faith is evident in your works and in how you live.

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Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? If you die today, do you know for sure that you would be with God in heaven? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Faith / Trusting God, Heaven and Hell, Promises

God Will Do What He Says… Every Time… In His Timing

Do you find that you sometimes struggle to believe in the promises of God? I know we all want to jump to say “not me”, but truly it can be a challenge at times as we face real life difficulty and trials. Often God’s timing is not our timing. We wish for a microwave solution to fix something or deliver a promise right away, but God may have a different plan in mind. He may be preparing us in a crock pot instead of a microwave… it takes longer, but the end result is much better.

Let us look to Joseph, a righteous man indeed, who trusted God through many difficulties in his life. As Joseph faced death, he was not bitter or angry or afraid. He did not count up his years of life and complain that they were shorter than his brothers, who were not as faithful to God.  He was peaceful and calm. He began to think of others who would remain behind him and how to help them. He believed in God’s promises even when they were not fulfilled in his lifetime and encouraged others to trust in God as well.

Genesis 50:22-26

Death of Joseph

      22Now Joseph stayed in Egypt, he and his father’s household, and Joseph lived one hundred and ten years. 23Joseph saw the third generation of Ephraim’s sons; also the sons of Machir, the son of Manasseh, were born on Joseph’s knees. 24Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will surely take care of you and bring you up from this land to the land which He promised on oath to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob.” 25Then Joseph made the sons of Israel swear, saying, “God will surely take care of you, and you shall carry my bones up from here.” 26So Joseph died at the age of one hundred and ten years; and he was embalmed and placed in a coffin in Egypt.

All of us will face death. Joseph was prepared in his relationship with God for what would come next. We should be asking ourselves much earlier than our death beds if we are prepared as well. The day will come and we know not when. Joseph trusted in God’s promises even when he could not see them fulfilled yet. We should follow his example!

In what areas of your life are you doubting God’s promises revealed in the Bible? Are you having doubts about specific promises you feel He has spoken to you in your life? Study the scriptures, seek God humbly in prayer, submit your life to Him and transform your life to obey His commands… all of them. Trust in Him to fulfill His promises.

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Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? If you die today, do you know for sure that you would be with God in heaven? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Heaven and Hell, Suffering / Adversity

Allow Yourself (And Others) To Grieve For Those You Love

All of us either have experienced the loss of a loved one or will experience one. Death comes to all of us. Not to make to light of it, but the thing about life is that no one gets out of it alive. My point is simply that death is inevitable for all of us. We should thus prepare ourselves and our families. As we face death, we lean heavily on God to help us face our own or that of someone we love.

Joseph was clearly a man who had a strong relationship and faith in God as demonstrated by how he faced and overcame much suffering and difficulty in his life. Israel, too, had a strong relationship with God. Israel recognized and prepared for his death and to help those who survived him prepare in the chapters preceding Genesis 50. We see in Genesis 50, that Joseph allowed himself quite a bit of time to grieve for the loss of his father. This is not a sign of weakness or lack of faith necessarily, but perhaps of love for the one we have lost. Naturally it is also important to get closure on the grieving process and move on with our lives after a time of mourning.

Genesis 50:1-11

The Death of Israel

      1Then Joseph fell on his father’s face, and wept over him and kissed him. 2Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father. So the physicians embalmed Israel. 3Now forty days were required for it, for such is the period required for embalming. And the Egyptians wept for him seventy days.

      4When the days of mourning for him were past, Joseph spoke to the household of Pharaoh, saying, “If now I have found favor in your sight, please speak to Pharaoh, saying, 5‘My father made me swear, saying, “Behold, I am about to die; in my grave which I dug for myself in the land of Canaan, there you shall bury me.” Now therefore, please let me go up and bury my father; then I will return.’” 6Pharaoh said, “Go up and bury your father, as he made you swear.”

      7So Joseph went up to bury his father, and with him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his household and all the elders of the land of Egypt, 8and all the household of Joseph and his brothers and his father’s household; they left only their little ones and their flocks and their herds in the land of Goshen. 9There also went up with him both chariots and horsemen; and it was a very great company. 10When they came to the threshing floor of Atad, which is beyond the Jordan, they lamented there with a very great and sorrowful lamentation; and he observed seven days mourning for his father. 11Now when the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, saw the mourning at the threshing floor of Atad, they said, “This is a grievous mourning for the Egyptians.” Therefore it was named Abel-mizraim, which is beyond the Jordan.

We should give ourselves and others much latitude on how they grieve for those they love. Some, strong in faith, will confidently move forward with their lives, relying on God for guidance and support. They may appear not to be grieving or at least not the way many expect. Others may seek a longer time of mourning for their loss as Joseph did. To some it may seem they lack faith in God to spend so much time mourning. Let us mourn with them and support them however they deal with their loss. Let us not try to evaluate how they mourn but rather just mourn with them. Then look for opportunity to help them gain closure and continue with their lives in a positive direction and remain focused on the Lord.

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Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? If you die today, do you know for sure that you would be with God in heaven? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Blessed, Courage / Fear, Faith / Trusting God, Heaven and Hell, Praise / Worship / Glorify God, Thankfulness

Reflections On Life, From One Who Nears The End

Many have rightly observed that as someone approaches the end of their life, they often have increasing insight into what was really most important… about what they did right and what they should have done differently. Sometimes even those who spent their whole lives pursuing some idol, such as money and power, begin to realize how empty that pursuit really was. How much more wisdom can we gain, then, from listening to a righteous man as he reflects on his life and walk with God.

Genesis 48

Israel’s Last Days

      1Now it came about after these things that Joseph was told, “Behold, your father is sick.” So he took his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim with him. 2When it was told to Jacob, “Behold, your son Joseph has come to you,” Israel collected his strength and sat up in the bed. 3Then Jacob said to Joseph, “God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me, 4and He said to me, ‘Behold, I will make you fruitful and numerous, and I will make you a company of peoples, and will give this land to your descendants after you for an everlasting possession.’ 5“Now your two sons, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you in Egypt, are mine; Ephraim and Manasseh shall be mine, as Reuben and Simeon are. 6“But your offspring that have been born after them shall be yours; they shall be called by the names of their brothers in their inheritance. 7“Now as for me, when I came from Paddan, Rachel died, to my sorrow, in the land of Canaan on the journey, when there was still some distance to go to Ephrath; and I buried her there on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem).”

      8When Israel saw Joseph’s sons, he said, “Who are these?” 9Joseph said to his father, “They are my sons, whom God has given me here.” So he said, “Bring them to me, please, that I may bless them.” 10Now the eyes of Israel were so dim from age that he could not see. Then Joseph brought them close to him, and he kissed them and embraced them. 11Israel said to Joseph, “I never expected to see your face, and behold, God has let me see your children as well.” 12Then Joseph took them from his knees, and bowed with his face to the ground. 13Joseph took them both, Ephraim with his right hand toward Israel’s left, and Manasseh with his left hand toward Israel’s right, and brought them close to him. 14But Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on the head of Ephraim, who was the younger, and his left hand on Manasseh’s head, crossing his hands, although Manasseh was the firstborn.

15He blessed Joseph, and said,
“The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked,
The God who has been my shepherd all my life to this day,

      16The angel who has redeemed me from all evil,
Bless the lads;
And may my name live on in them,
And the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac;
And may they grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.”

      17When Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on Ephraim’s head, it displeased him; and he grasped his father’s hand to remove it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head. 18Joseph said to his father, “Not so, my father, for this one is the firstborn. Place your right hand on his head.” 19But his father refused and said, “I know, my son, I know; he also will become a people and he also will be great. However, his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his descendants shall become a multitude of nations.”

20He blessed them that day, saying,
“By you Israel will pronounce blessing, saying,
‘May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh!’”
Thus he put Ephraim before Manasseh.

21Then Israel said to Joseph, “Behold, I am about to die, but God will be with you, and bring you back to the land of your fathers. 22“I give you one portion more than your brothers, which I took from the hand of the Amorite with my sword and my bow.”

Israel found his relationship with God to be of highest importance. He reflected back on the promises God made and spoke of them in complete confidence that they would come to pass even though he did not yet see it with his own eyes. There is no hint of regret or lack of faith that God’s promises were not yet fulfilled as of the end of Israel’s life. Rather there is a confident faith that they are in the process of being fulfilled.

Israel valued family… in particular the family he had once lost and then had restored. He did not complain to God that Joseph had been lost, but rather gives glory to God that he was able to see not only Joseph again but also his children.

It was of high importance to Jacob to pass along his blessing to Joseph and Joseph’s sons. Once again, this demonstrates strong faith in the multi-generational promise of God.

There is no bitterness or fear in Israel. He reflects on the loss of Rachel and the sorrow he experienced in that, but gives every confidence from this record in scripture that he is prepared for death, prepared to continue his journey with God beyond the confines of this earthly life.

Reflect on your life for a few moments. Do not rush it. Does your life reflect the values that Israel reflected on at the end of his life? Are you satisfied you are living for God and obeying His commands? Does your life reflect God’s will or your own? Do you have a relationship with God in which you hear His specific directions for your life? Do you seek Him in prayer, study His word, and give honor, praise and thanks to Him consistently?

Are you satisfied with your family relationships?

Do you hold any bitterness or resentment toward others or God?

What changes do you think God wants you to make?

Whether you find yourself nearing the end of this life or anticipating decades yet to come, take time to evaluate your life. Humble yourself to be willing to admit, to yourself and to God, that you should make some changes and then go about making those changes while you still have time. None of our tomorrows are promised to us, no matter what are age and health may be.

Are you ready for what comes next after you die in this world?

Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? If you die today, do you know for sure that you would be with God in heaven? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

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Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? If you die today, do you know for sure that you would be with God in heaven? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Faith / Trusting God, Heaven and Hell

Death Is Just Another Door, One Through Which We All Must Pass

Surely none of us lives a perfect life, for that is left only to Jesus Christ, God Himself who humbled Himself to walk among us and die for us and was resurrected again. Those of us who submit to and follow Christ are on an imperfect journey throughout the entirety of our lives to be more and more like Christ and less like our own sinful nature and less like the world. Eventually, we all face death. How we face death can be a wonderful reflection of our walk with God and will provide some insight into what we really believe about life after death.

Jacob, now Israel, had a long life by our standards, but not as long as those who preceded him.

Genesis 47:9 9So Jacob said to Pharaoh, “The years of my sojourning are one hundred and thirty; few and unpleasant have been the years of my life, nor have they attained the years that my fathers lived during the days of their sojourning.”

We should be careful not to misinterpret Jacob as being overly negative here or complaining. In the very next verse, he blesses Pharaoh.

Genesis 47:10 10And Jacob blessed Pharaoh, and went out from his presence.

He is not bitter over his life. Jacob was, it appears, just sharing honestly with Pharaoh that he had experienced a difficult life, and one that was shorter than his “fathers”. We gain more insight into how Jacob at the end of Genesis 47.

Genesis 47:27-31

    27Now Israel lived in the land of Egypt, in Goshen, and they acquired property in it and were fruitful and became very numerous. 28Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years; so the length of Jacob’s life was one hundred and forty-seven years.

      29When the time for Israel to die drew near, he called his son Joseph and said to him, “Please, if I have found favor in your sight, place now your hand under my thigh and deal with me in kindness and faithfulness. Please do not bury me in Egypt, 30but when I lie down with my fathers, you shall carry me out of Egypt and bury me in their burial place.” And he said, “I will do as you have said.” 31He said, “Swear to me.” So he swore to him. Then Israel bowed in worship at the head of the bed.

Jacob did not live in denial that he would face death… but rather he prepared for it. Jacob was not bitter or afraid that he would die… he was planning for it and helping his family prepare for his funeral arrangements. Jacob was not angry at God as he faced death… he bowed in worship to God even as he was discussing his own death.

Jacob faced death with dignity and faith. He prepared for it, both the specific arrangements for his burial, but also remaining in right relationship with God. Jacob knew he would go to be with God when he died. His last wishes of where he was to be buried may even reflect his faith in God’s promise as Canaan was the land of promise God revealed to Jacob and that was where he wished to be buried.

Are you prepared for the reality that each of us will face death? One might even say statistics prove that 5 out of 5 people die. Are you prepared now? There are no guarantees as to how long you may have. Death is not something to fear for the faithful who submit to and follow Jesus Christ. It is, however, something to prepare for both spiritually by truly living your life according to God’s instruction and physically in terms of preparing your loved ones for your death and preparing as best you can so that they will be properly cared for when you die.

Do not live your life in fear of death, but rather recognize death for what it is… another door through which we all must pass. It is important to know where you will go when you walk through that door… heaven or hell.

If you have already submitted wholeheartedly to Christ, take great comfort and continue on your path to grow closer to Him and prepare to help others who will carry on after you die.

If you have not yet fully submitted your heart and life to Christ then I urge you to do so urgently. You will never regret it! Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

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Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? If you die today, do you know for sure that you would be with God in heaven? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Heaven and Hell, Jesus Christ / Yeshua, Salvation, Suffering / Adversity, Trinity

Where I Go, You Cannot Follow Me Now; But You Will Follow Later

When someone we love tells us they are leaving, perhaps dying, we generally find ourselves dealing with a strong emotional response. We don’t want them to go. We want to be with them. We want to see them again. So it was with Jesus’ disciples when Jesus told them, again, that He was going to be betrayed by one of their close circle of disciples and then die.

John 13:36

 36Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, where are You going?” Jesus answered, “Where I go, you cannot follow Me now; but you will follow later.”

While it must have been encouraging to hear that they could follow later, there is not doubt it was an emotional moment for Jesus and His disciples. But Jesus loves all of us who follow Him so much, He saw fit to encourage us as we continue to deal with the struggles and difficulties of this world and what seems at times like a world bound and determined to reject the one, true God at every turn. The direction Jesus gave His disciples applies to His followers today as well. He reassured us how to follow where He went.

John 14:1-6

1“Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. 2“In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. 3“If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. 4“And you know the way where I am going.” 5Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?” 6Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

It is amazing to me how so many want to rationalize that “all religions” can be equal paths to heaven and to living for God. This concept is born out of ignorance or outright denial of what most religions teach. Certainly when it comes to Christianity, Judaism, and Islam they all clearly identify that they are mutually exclusive. (In other words, they all identify the others as false religion.) Yet people insist on believing Satan’s lie that somehow all paths can lead to God.

For any who genuinely submit to Jesus, He was clear. You can not accept Jesus as God and rationally also deny what He taught…. that He is the only way to the Father, to heaven. “No one comes to the Father but through Me.” He taught similar principles elsewhere throughout scripture as well.

Matthew 7:13

13“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. 14“For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.

Jesus clearly taught that most people, sadly, reject God and follow the wrong path. Most people do not find their way to God or to heaven. Only those few who genuinely follow and submit to Jesus will make it to rejoice with Jesus in heaven. All others will find themselves in a tortuous and miserable existence of their own choosing… hell.

Many who claim to follow Jesus do not really follow Him. They go to church and say His name, but they have not transformed their lives to submit to and follow Him. They live for the world and drop His name every once in awhile… this will not be enough.

Matthew 7:21-23

 21“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 22“Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ 23“And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’

We do not rejoice in knowing that most will end in hell. Quite the opposite. This knowledge should motivate true followers of Christ to demonstrate the love of Jesus and the truth of God’s word to others with a sense of urgency and importance that transcends the daily activities we engage in during our daily lives. We do not show love by staying silent and accepting political correctness or condoning the sinful behaviors of others. We show love by proclaiming the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ! How can people follow Jesus, truly, if the truth is not taught clearly?

Romans 10:14-15

14How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? 15How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO BRING GOOD NEWS OF GOOD THINGS!”

Pray God would strengthen your courage to proclaim Him boldly. Prepare by studying the word humbling yourself in prayer daily.  Make sure that you are a disciple, a learner, following behind Christ so that you can lead others as well.

Please consider reading the following teachings to help yourself get started on the path as a disciple:

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Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? If you die today, do you know for sure that you would be with God in heaven? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Heaven and Hell, Hebrew Roots / Commands / Law, Jesus Christ / Yeshua, Salvation, Share the Good News

The Building Is On Fire, We Must Warn Others!

Imagine for a moment that you are working in or visiting a large building complex with many people. Everyone is going about doing every day tasks, completely unaware that a fire rages within the building complex. Some see the smoke and recognize the coming peril. They try to warn others, but many do not want to hear it. They are busy. They do not believe the building is on fire. They mock and discourage those who are trying to warn everyone. They ignore even the fire alarm, assuming it is a drill, malfunction, or prank.

You are a fool. We don’t believe you.

You are just trying to ruin our day and make our life difficult.

The God I believe in would not allow fires in buildings with people.

If it is on fire, leave yourself then. Quit bothering us.

A few listen, heed the warning and consider the danger… eyes opened to the smoke they begin to try to save others or just run out of the building themselves.

The first reaction many of us have is that this is silly. It would never happen. Of course people would heed the warning. But there is a much greater danger for all of those who do not yet accept the truth of Jesus Christ as God… an eternity of suffering in Hell for rejecting Jesus Christ. Many who serve Jesus Christ are and have been for centuries trying to warn others about the impending danger. We are mocked, persecuted, and sometimes killed for our effort. We are seldom welcomed with open arms and thanked for bringing the good news of the gospel… of salvation through Jesus Christ. Sometimes it is even the church itself that is persecuting those who bring the true message of the gospel to the people. There are countless examples including the religious leaders of Israel and the Catholic church over many centuries.

The message of Christ is at once very simple such that a child can understand it, and yet very difficult in that we must change to move away from our sinful ways of doing things our way and turn toward Jesus and doing things God’s way. (Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.)

No matter the suffering or risk to ourselves as followers of Jesus, He wants us to tell everyone about the truth of the gospel! We know this because of how Jesus lived out His earthly ministry and how His disciples lived and died to share the gospel after Jesus had returned to Heaven. Jesus made a point of highlighting this, not as a request, but as a command, to His disciples and the command is still in effect for all true followers of Jesus Christ today.

Mark 16:15 15And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.

Many have become complacent about the urgency of sharing the gospel.

Christ has not returned yet in judgment, perhaps He never will.

Maybe all will go to Heaven because God loves us.

Yet Peter highlights to us even thousands of years ago the flaw in that thinking. God is patient. His timing is not our timing. But, the end will come and will come suddenly. Those who are not prepared will end up in Hell for eternity due to their rejection of Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 3:9-11 9The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. 10But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.

Consider from a slightly different perspective as well. Although the end of the age has not come and Jesus has not returned in judgment as yet, countless generations of people have died and most of them did not know when they would die ahead of time. We must be prepared in accepting and submitting to Christ wholeheartedly before our time on this earth ends either by our death or by Jesus’ return.

Our Lord commands us to tell as many as we can about the salvation He offers through faith, by grace. He does not ask us to do so “if convenient”. He commands us to go to all the world… decidedly loving and sacrificial, but certainly not convenient.

If we picture ourselves back in the opening story… in a building complex that was on fire. Would we just leave quietly? Would we not tell others? How much more so should we be urgently proclaiming the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ when the eternal salvation or damnation of people’s souls are at stake!

Study God’s word daily. Pray humbly before God daily. Ask Him to prepare you and prepare people to hear the message when you share it. Pray as Peter and John did that God would give you the boldness to proclaim the gospel in all situations to all audiences everywhere around the world.

Acts 4:23-31

23When they had been released, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24And when they heard this, they lifted their voices to God with one accord and said, “O Lord, it is You who MADE THE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH AND THE SEA, AND ALL THAT IS IN THEM,

25who by the Holy Spirit, through the mouth of our father David Your servant, said,
‘WHY DID THE GENTILES RAGE,
AND THE PEOPLES DEVISE FUTILE THINGS?

      26‘THE KINGS OF THE EARTH TOOK THEIR STAND,
AND THE RULERS WERE GATHERED TOGETHER
AGAINST THE LORD AND AGAINST HIS CHRIST.’

27“For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined to occur. 29“And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Your bond-servants may speak Your word with all confidence, 30while You extend Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders take place through the name of Your holy servant Jesus.” 31And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness.

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Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? If you die today, do you know for sure that you would be with God in heaven? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

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