Out of all the wonders that I have experienced, heard of, or seen in my life, the greatest wonder of all has been death. Some people die young, and some people die old. Some people die very sick, and some people die healthy as healthy can be. I have found from the numerous individuals of which I have had the privilege to hold their hands as they left this world, death is indiscriminate. Death affects us all, and as the Bible states, “... it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (Hebrews 9:27) We all will die, and John the apostle gives us the greatest promise and hope as he continues his discussion with us about having fellowship with God. He wrote in First John chapter two and verse twenty-five:
And this is the promise that he hath promised us, [even] eternal life.
We learned yesterday from John in First John chapter two and verse twenty-four:
Let that therefore abide in you, which you have heard from the beginning. If that which you have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, you also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.
Today we see there is a promise for allowing the Son of God to continue in us: we have the promise of eternal life. The benefits to having Jesus as our Savior goes beyond this life and extends beyond the grave. Though our bodies will indeed die, our spirits will go on to be with the Lord. Death is not the end. Everyone will go on living beyond the grave. It is just a matter of where we will be. Jesus stated it this way in the book of Matthew chapter twenty-five and verse forty-six:
And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
And in the gospel of John chapter three and verse sixteen through eighteen Jesus said:
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believes on him is not condemned: but he that believes not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
God's desire is to have fellowship with us not only in this life, but also in the life to come. God knows the plight of us, and He knows that life on this Earth is limited. Sin caused death, and God sent His Son Jesus into the world to pay the price for our sin so that we may live forever with Him. Those who receive Jesus' sacrifice for their sins receive the promise of eternal life with God. Those who reject Jesus' sacrifice “shall go away into everlasting punishment”.
Oh that all who read these words would understand the gravity of what has just been written. May all who see these words simply admit their sins, call out to God for forgiveness, receive the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, and inherit the promise of eternal life.
Next time we will look at a reason that people reject the good news of Jesus Christ. I'll give you a clue, “seducers are out there”, so read ahead, and we will share together then.
Until tomorrow...there is more...
Look for the new devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ; www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore
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