Posted on 12/08/2014 7:07:06 AM PST by Kaslin
“The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.”
– 1 John 2:17
It’s getting ugly out there.
Indeed, the world is dying. Not in a false-alarmist, “OMG-global-warming-is-going-to-kill-us-all!” sort of way. Rather, this world is passing away in a Romans 1, “The-wrath-of-God-is-being-revealed-from-heaven” sort of way. How very unsettling and confusing this must all be for those absent “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding” (see Philippians 4:7).
A spirit of death and devastation has blanketed our globe. The enemy knows that his time is short. While nobody can say exactly when it will occur, it holds true that, as 2 Peter 3:10 reveals, “The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.”
Here’s the bright side: You will live forever.
Well, it can be a bright side.
For all who acknowledge the reality of Jesus Christ as Lord and savior, and both believe upon and surrender to Him, the fact that we are created as eternal beings is brighter than the brightest star.
For those who deny Him, this reality is an unfathomable curse.
I had an epiphany the other day. It’s such an elemental truth that I’m a bit embarrassed by it. Every human being who has ever been conceived and then suffered physical death is, at this very moment in time, and beyond time, fully conscious, alert and self-aware.
Right now, Alexander the Great is sentient.
As you read this line, Adolf Hitler is alert and, as scripture declares, experiencing each interminable instant of the unimaginable torment that shall befall all who reject Christ Jesus.
And even as I write, the Apostle Paul is bathed in, and fully cognizant of, the indescribable glory that is the presence of the Holy Savior.
The late C.S. Lewis who, likewise, is presently experiencing what world renowned Christian apologist Hank Hanegraaff calls “heightened awareness,” is credited with once saying, “You don’t have a soul. You are a Soul. You have a body.”
Your body is mortal. It’s an earth suit for your immortal soul. It is, quite literally, and as modern science affirms, molded from clay. You are a bag of dust and water. “And the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it” (Ecclesiastes 12:7).
The very instant we die, we will each stand in spirit before God and face judgment (Hebrews9:27). For those of you with the Holy Spirit, those who are faithful Christ followers, to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord (see 2 Corinthians 5:6-8). For those of you who remain unbelievers, even unto to the end of your earthly life – for those who reject Christ – physical death means eternal separation from God, which, again, is, quite literally, a living hell (Luke 16:22-23).
Still, until Jesus’ triumphant and quite conspicuous final return, and until our ensuing final resurrection, those believers who have already passed away in the earthly sense will come together with Christ in an “intermediate” heaven, or, as He called it from “that rugged cross,” “Paradise” (see Luke 23:43 and 2 Corinthians 12:4). Alternatively, and tragically, those who have rejected Him will be held apart from Christ in a very ugly place – in a “temporary hell” – called Hades (seeRevelation 1:18 and 20:13-14).
Upon Christ’s final return, those believers who, in spirit, were together with Him in Paradise, will, once again, along with those believers who remain here on earth, join Him in both spirit and with glorified physical bodies, in the new heaven and upon the new earth (see Revelation 21:1). Those who were deceived by the antichrist spirit, those whose names are “not found written in the book of life,” will be cast, along with Satan and his many demon helpers, into a lake of fire. There, they (you?) will suffer a very real, very conscious and never-ending living hell (Revelation 20:11-15).
These are weighty matters of eternal significance. These are your only two choices. Whether you are an atheist, Muslim, Hindu or Jew, Wiccan, agnostic, Buddhist or Mormon, you must either accept Christ or deny Christ.
Heaven or hell.
While you may deny Him until the day you die, after that, you will deny Him no more. Hate Him you may still, but deny Him you will not. Philippians 2:10-11 assures us, “that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
You will bow, and you will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Whether you do so now, in joy, or later, in horror, is up to you.
Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26)
I believe it.
Not a bad 'all' to have as a last resort. You can still talk about Jesus. Read Romans 10. As for your son asking you not to talk to your grandkids about Jesus, how much do you want to see them in heaven? They have to hear about Him to believe.
The answer is the change He’ll complete in us. In heaven, we won’t be able to sin. Our will will precisely conform to God’s will. We’ll praise Him for His mercy for us and our fellow saved, and praise Him for His perfect justice for those who aren’t with us. Sitting around grieving for those who aren’t there would be sin, implying God’s justice isn’t justice at all. And, as stated above, we’ll be incapable of sin, so we’ll be incapable of such thoughts.
That is a good question. In our heart of hearts we want - need - to be where love is. The family was designed to mirror God's love for us - and hopefully it does. But when family members are living in rebellion against God, there is no true love. Perhaps you have already experienced this in their rejection of you along with your faith. Would we want to spend eternity in a place where there is no love? Let us not forget that Hell is not populated with those who earnestly desire to love and serve God (desperately wishing for another chance to do so), but by those who are eternally confirmed in their rejection of Him. We could never be happy among those who hate God.
You are you..... an individual
Let your family KNOW that it is NOT how YOU live that matters, but that your FAITH in what Jesus has done, that does!
YOU are a really poor example!
Just like me!
Psst... it's not an odd question all all. But I know of no one that has an answer to it.
Leave it in God's hands.
The Mormons have created an 'answer' to it with their 'Forever Family' stuff.
Too bad that Mormonism cannot even convince more than about 15% of it's own members to do the things required to attain it!!
I'd like to see this; for what I find in Scripture; Hitler is awaiting the last trump of GOD.
THEN will folks get to assemble at the Great White Throne and be judged.
A clever ploy indeed. I chose to believe the Bible rather than inveterate womanizers like Joseph Smith and his successor Brigham Young.
“Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? Do you not know that the saints will judge the world?... And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters?... Do you not know that we shall judge angels?... How much more, things that pertain to this life?.. If then you have judgments concerning things pertaining to this life, do you appoint those who are least esteemed by the church to judge ? (1 Corinthians 6:1-5).
Many commands of God require the exercise of righteous judgment.
“But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us” (2 Thessalonians 3:6).
“And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother” (2 Thessalonians 3:14,15).
“Teach and exhort these things. If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, useless wrangling of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself” (2 Timothy 6:2b-5).
“Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple” (Romans 16:17,18).
All these commands require the careful exercise of righteousness judgment. Do not be deceived by smooth words and flattering speech. Beware of wolves who come to you with a sheep’s skin.
We must be careful not to make unqualified judgments. But we must judge appropriately when commanded to do so.
“Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.” (John 7:24).
Revelations. “He will dry every tear.”
bump
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.