Death – Page 7 – Praying Pint

14.g. “For we have made lies our refuge, and in falsehood we have taken shelter”

Malachi 3:13 “Your words have been hard against me, says the Lord. But you say, ‘How have we spoken against you?’ You have said, It is vain to serve God. What is the profit of our keeping his charge or of walking as in mourning before the Lord of hosts? And now we call the arrogant blessed. Evildoers not only prosper but they put God to the test and they escape.’”

Exodus 5:2    But Pharaoh said, “Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and moreover, I will not let Israel go.”

Isaiah 28:14-15    Therefore hear the word of the LORD, you scoffers, who rule this people in Jerusalem!  Because you have said, “We have made a covenant with death, and with Sheol we have an agreement, when the overwhelming whip passes through it will not come to us, for we have made lies our refuge, and in falsehood we have taken shelter”;

Psalms 73:8-13    They scoff and speak with malice; loftily they threaten oppression.  They set their mouths against the heavens, and their tongue struts through the earth.  Therefore his people turn back to them, and find no fault in them.  And they say, “How can God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High?”  Behold, these are the wicked; always at ease, they increase in riches.

Zephaniah 1:12     At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps, and I will punish the men who are complacent, those who say in their hearts, ‘The LORD will not do good, nor will he do ill.’

Psalms 10:3   For the wicked boasts of the desires of his soul, and the one greedy for gain curses and renounces the LORD.

Psalms 73:12     Behold, these are the wicked; always at ease, they increase in riches.

When our eyes to our hearts see things of this world that are pleasing they need to be viewed through the lens of God’s Word. It is easy to get lost and off-path with our lives when this lens is set aside. This lens of God’s Word keeps us revived and renewed in our walk with Him. The prince of this world would love to blind us with the glory and riches of this world. Sad to say but many are easily distracted and set aside God’s Word for the shiny things of this world. The void that is created is filled with things that seem right but are just right in the eyes of the prince of this world and those who are led astray. The void is filled with deception, false hope, and lies of promised satisfaction apart from Jesus Christ. This void leaves the heart empty and seeking more but never finding it. This void makes promises of joy, peace, rest, prosperity, and hope but never fulfills any lasting satisfaction. This void gives the heart a false sense of purpose.

A good gage of your heart can be and is revealed in and through God’s word. Through His Word we find purpose and meaning, temporal and eternal, wrath and love, anger and mercy, helplessness and courage, weakness and strength, worldly and Godly, sin and righteousness, deception and truth, evil and holy, judgment and forgiveness, lost and found, death and life, defiance and obedience, demons and angels, Satan and Jesus Christ, immorality and morality, dishonor and honor, criticism and praise, false and truth, despising and worshiping, pride and humility, greed and giving, vanity and worthy, hate and kindness, neglect and service, rejection and acceptance, etc…… When we spend time in God’s Word our lens through which we see our lives this side of eternity will make things of this world grow dim and things of Jesus Christ grow bright. There are no shortcuts or lukewarm complacent paths to the understanding and application of God’s Word in our lives. Spend time in His Word, seek it with a desire to know Him, and ask that your eyes to this world be opened to see all of its lies and deceptions.

14.e. “All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.”

Malachi 3:7 From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts. But you say, ‘How shall we return?’

Deuteronomy 9:7-21     Remember and do not forget how you provoked the LORD your God to wrath in the wilderness. From the day you came out of the land of Egypt until you came to this place, you have been rebellious against the LORD.  Even at Horeb you provoked the LORD to wrath, and the LORD was so angry with you that he was ready to destroy you.

Deuteronomy 31:20    For when I have brought them into the land flowing with milk and honey, which I swore to give to their fathers, and they have eaten and are full and grown fat, they will turn to other gods and serve them, and despise me and break my covenant.

Deuteronomy 31:27-29     For I know how rebellious and stubborn you are. Behold, even today while I am yet alive with you, you have been rebellious against the LORD. How much more after my death!  Assemble to me all the elders of your tribes and your officers, that I may speak these words in their ears and call heaven and earth to witness against them.  For I know that after my death you will surely act corruptly and turn aside from the way that I have commanded you. And in the days to come evil will befall you, because you will do what is evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking him to anger through the work of your hands.”

Nehemiah 9:16-17    “But they and our fathers acted presumptuously and stiffened their neck and did not obey your commandments.

Acts 7:51-52     “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you.

Psalms 78:8-10    and that they should not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation whose heart was not steadfast, whose spirit was not faithful to God.

Ecclesiastes 11:9    Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes. But know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.

Romans 10:3     For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.

Isaiah 65:2    I spread out my hands all the day to a rebellious people, who walk in a way that is not good, following their own devices;

James 4:8     Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

Jeremiah 3:12-14   Go, and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, “‘Return, faithless Israel, declares the LORD. I will not look on you in anger, for I am merciful, declares the LORD; I will not be angry forever.  Only acknowledge your guilt, that you rebelled against the LORD your God and scattered your favors among foreigners under every green tree, and that you have not obeyed my voice, declares the LORD.

Romans 10:21   “All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.”

When I think about COVID and all the fear that has been instilled by continual over-reporting and misreporting from virtually every national news outlets and how the nation, states, cities, businesses, and people have reacted, I wonder if this is all it takes to turn reason and logic into fear, anger, worry, panic, stress, tension, unrest, suspicion, nervousness, etc…. Continually spreading and broadcasting pessimistic, gloomy, alarmist, hopeless, and despairing news appears to be all it takes to move nations, states, cities, businesses, and to get people to think un-rational and illogical. At some point, individuals begin to believe it so much that anyone who thinks differently than this narrative is censored, ostracized, ignored, banished, shut out, and rejected.

So I sit here this morning and wonder what it would be like if the Word of God was broadcasted, reported, declared, distributed, transmitted, and spread in the same way and manner? Would people’s hearts, minds, and souls be moved and turned toward God? Would people believe in Jesus Christ? Would people repent? Would people fear God? Would they lose interest in things of this world and have their hope and trust in Jesus Christ and eternity? Would truth, justice, mercy, grace, and love become a way of life and the “New Normal”? If nations, states, cities, businesses, and people can be led by lies, half-truths, and fear would they just as easily be led by truth?

People want the truth so bad that they will believe lies to think they have it. It is as if they will believe lies and half-truths easier and much faster than truth. In fact, it appears as if they choose lies over truth. And such it is with mankind where there is an intentional choice to deny, defy, neglect, and reject the truth. Some of this denial, defiance, and rejection come from and out of a want for truth but rather than listening to the truth they turn away from it and choose to believe lies. However, the real reason there is denial, defiance, and rejection of the things of God is within the heart of man. I think this is why there are so many warnings in the bible to seek Jesus Christ first. When He is first everything else can be viewed within the context of worldly and heavenly, present and future, right and wrong, truth and lies. There should be no fear, worry, helplessness, pessimistic thoughts, panic, anger, panic, and unrest in the hearts of those who trust in Jesus Christ. Do not let things of this world blind your hearts, minds, and souls from the truth that is eternal life-giving. Seek Jesus, for today is the day of salvation, hope, joy, peace, power, and courage.

14.a. “They scoff and speak with malice; loftily they threaten oppression They set their mouths against the heavens”

Malachi 2:17 You have wearied the Lord with your words. But you say, “How have we wearied him?” By saying, “Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and he delights in them.” Or by asking, “Where is the God of justice?”

Psalms 95:9-10     when your fathers put me to the test and put me to the proof, though they had seen my work.  For forty years I loathed that generation and said, “They are a people who go astray in their heart, and they have not known my ways.”

Isaiah 43:24     You have not bought me sweet cane with money, or satisfied me with the fat of your sacrifices. But you have burdened me with your sins; you have wearied me with your iniquities.

Jeremiah 15:6    You have rejected me, declares the LORD; you keep going backward, so I have stretched out my hand against you and destroyed you— I am weary of relenting.

Ezekiel 16:43    Because you have not remembered the days of your youth, but have enraged me with all these things, therefore, behold, I have returned your deeds upon your head, declares the Lord GOD. Have you not committed lewdness in addition to all your abominations?

Psalms 73:3-15    For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.  For they have no pangs until death; their bodies are fat and sleek.  They are not in trouble as others are; they are not stricken like the rest of mankind.  Therefore pride is their necklace; violence covers them as a garment.  Their eyes swell out through fatness; their hearts overflow with follies.  They scoff and speak with malice; loftily they threaten oppression  They set their mouths against the heavens, and their tongue struts through the earth.  Therefore his people turn back to them, and find no fault in them.  And they say, “How can God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High?”  Behold, these are the wicked; always at ease, they increase in riches.

Ecclesiastes 8:11    Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily, the heart of the children of man is fully set to do evil.

Do you ever wonder if we are just continually asking things of God and forgetting to honor, worship, and glorify Him? Don’t get me wrong it is good to seek the Lord with all those troubles and concerns that affect us or the ones we love. Is it possible in all of this asking we lose sight of honor, glory, and praise to Jesus Christ? Do we weary Jesus with this continual asking and minimal praise and worship? Do we spend enough time in His Word to know of His greatness, power, knowledge, wisdom, might, grace, mercy, and love? Do we spend enough time in His Word so that we recognize that which is worldly and that which is holy, true, just, and right? Do we put God’s patience to test by confusing worldly cultural beliefs with those of God? Is our heart astray? Are we always going backward? Are we calling evil good? Think about this. Many across our country approve of abortion, protest riots and looting, gay lifestyle, pornography, gay marriage, etc….. Is our country going backward? Have our leaders abandoned Jesus Christ? Has our country become ice-cold to Jesus Christ? There can be no compromise in our hearts and minds. There cannot be room for the cultural beliefs of what is right and wrong to coexist with things of God. Our foundation, rock, and steadfast truth are found in the Word of God, Jesus Christ’s redemption, and the indwelling Holy Spirit. When we neglect God’s Word, deny honor and worship to Jesus Christ, and resist the Holy Spirit’s leading, that which is worldly is given space to root and it will easily confuse us in our understanding of what is right and wrong. Just take a good look at what people are calling right and wrong right now and compare it with the Word of God and what it calls right and wrong. We will do well to continually worship, honor, praise, and glorify Jesus Christ, studying His Word, and following, trusting, obeying, and relying on Him every day.

13.c. “I am very angry with the nations that feel secure.”

Zachariah 1:14 Then the angel who was speaking to me said, “Proclaim this word: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘I am very jealous for Jerusalem and Zion, and I am very angry with the nations that feel secure.

Isaiah 47:7-9     You said, “I shall be mistress forever,” so that you did not lay these things to heart or remember their end.  Now therefore hear this, you lover of pleasures, who sit securely, who say in your heart, “I am, and there is no one besides me; I shall not sit as a widow or know the loss of children”:  These two things shall come to you in a moment, in one day; the loss of children and widowhood shall come upon you in full measure, in spite of your many sorceries and the great power of your enchantments.

Amos 6:1    “Woe to those who are at ease in Zion, and to those who feel secure on the mountain of Samaria,

Revelation 18:7-8    As she glorified herself and lived in luxury, so give her a like measure of torment and mourning, since in her heart she says, ‘I sit as a queen, I am no widow, and mourning I shall never see.’  For this reason her plagues will come in a single day, death and mourning and famine, and she will be burned up with fire; for mighty is the Lord God who has judged her.”

Living at rest, secure, and in luxury has a way of leading people down paths of neglect and complacency. It has a way of blinding us from things of God, the need for God, and mindful of how to live for Jesus Christ. Jesus is worthy of how we live, think, and act all of the time. It is hard sometimes because we get comfortable with life when things are at ease. We seem to gravitate toward thinking that our security is in the ease and luxury of life. No matter how many times we are reminded in God’s word that life will have no meaning, no satisfaction, to peace, no joy, or no lasting purpose apart from Jesus Christ and humbly serving, honoring, following, praising, worshiping, obeying, and trusting Him. God has demonstrated over and over again He will not sit silent. He will not sit idle. He will call everyone into account. Be mindful of what your life was like prior to February 2020. The economy was strong, unemployment was low, and people were busy buying and selling. There was not much to worry about other than the political mudslinging. However, there were other things in the wind as well. More and more educators, government officials, and media editors were becoming bolder and bolder in their denial and defiance of things of God. Sitting idly by, not speaking up, and living as though this has no effect on a society that was founded on Christian principles is not God-honoring. You have to wonder how far society has to fall away and turn away from God before He will intervene. He is all-powerful and will call into account people and nations who defy and deny Jesus Christ. Look around, do you think all of this fear, hatred, and confusion, just happens on its own? No, it does not. God is in control and is at the root of all of this, calling all of mankind to humbly repent and turn back to Him.

12.e. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.

Habakkuk 2:5 “Moreover, wine is a traitor, an arrogant man who is never at rest. His greed is as wide as Sheol; like death he has never enough. He gathers for himself all nations and collects as his own all peoples.”

Proverbs 27:20     Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied, and never satisfied are the eyes of man.

Ecclesiastes 2:10-  And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil.  Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.

1 John 2:16    For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.

I was intrigued by the verse: “His greed is wide as hell, and like death, he never has enough” Two things are said to be never satisfied, death and sin. The appetites of the carnal mind for profit or pleasure are always desiring more. Hell and destruction are never full; the grave devours all the bodies which are put into it, and is always ready to receive and devour more and more without end. The eyes of man are never satisfied – As the grave can never be filled up with bodies, nor hell with souls; so the restless desire, the lust of power, riches, and splendor, is never satisfied. Out of this ever unsatisfied desire spring all the changing fashions, the varied amusements, and the endless lusts for money and things of this world, prevalent in every age, and in every country.

Those whose eyes are ever toward the Lord, are satisfied in Him. And yet, while we know this, attractions and temptations of this world still try to get us to glance away. Satan knows if he can get us to take our eyes off Jesus Christ his battle is won. It won’t be long before our sinful nature takes hold and rationalizes what we are doing and convinces us that it is ok. The change is very subtle and slow but rest assured it’s end is never satisfying and leaves us wanting more and more. It is a dangerous path to take in life. The moment the Word of God is neglected something else will fill that void. We become complacent, careless, and content in things of this world. Look around at what is happening in the US right now. What is driving the actions of government officials? What is driving the protesting? Will any of them be happy if they got what they were trying to acquire? Maybe for a short period but then there would always be something more. More power, more money, more and more, yet never satisfied. People are grabbing onto the hand of Satan and he is leading them straight to hell. It is not as though they are unaware of Jesus Christ and the gift of God, but they choose to deny what He has to offer in eternity for something temporal here and now. The Word of God is the bread of life and the Holy Spirit is the living water indwelling us to feed and water our lives on earth until we are reunited with our Lord, Redeemer, Savior, King of Kings, Jesus Christ. Let us hunger for this bread and thirst for this living water like never before and live and speak in such a way that Jesus Christ is honored and glorified and praised, and worshiped.

9.z. ““Behold, I am setting a plumb line in the midst of my people “

Amos 7:7 This is what he showed me: behold, the Lord was standing beside a wall built with a plumb line, with a plumb line in his hand. And the Lord said to me, “Amos, what do you see?” And I said, “A plumb line.” Then the Lord said, “Behold, I am setting a plumb line in the midst of my people Israel; I will never again pass by them; the high places of Isaac shall be made desolate, and the sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid waste, and I will rise against the house of Jeroboam with the sword.”

2 Samuel 8:2    And he defeated Moab and he measured them with a line, making them lie down on the ground. Two lines he measured to be put to death, and one full line to be spared. And the Moabites became servants to David and brought tribute.

2 Kings 21:13    And I will stretch over Jerusalem the measuring line of Samaria, and the plumb line of the house of Ahab, and I will wipe Jerusalem as one wipes a dish, wiping it and turning it upside down.

Isaiah 28:17    And I will make justice the line, and righteousness the plumb line; and hail will sweep away the refuge of lies, and waters will overwhelm the shelter.”

Isaiah 34:11    But the hawk and the porcupine shall possess it, the owl and the raven shall dwell in it. He shall stretch the line of confusion over it, and the plumb line of emptiness.

If you have ever done any construction “plumb line” would mean something to you. A plumb line is a weight suspended from a string used as a vertical reference line to ensure a structure is centered. As they always find the vertical axis pointing to the center of gravity, they ensure everything is right and centered. Of course, now we use lasers to do this but the end result is the same, finding the center between two vertical points. David used a horizontal line to say who was to live and die amongst the Moabites. In Isaiah, we see a line of justice and a plumb line of righteousness.

This got me to thinking about what we use to ensure we are centered in relation to God’s righteousness. How can we know? The Word of God will and does center us. The problem is I think we wait until we are way too far from the center before we seek center. Too often we use the plumb line of worldly expectations and definitions of what centered means. Health, wealth, prosperity, busyness, and ease of life seem to scream out this is what being centered means. God says, seek and desire me with all your heart, all your mind, all your soul, and all your strength. Love your neighbor, help the orphan and widow, and humbly serve honor, follow, obey, trust, and rely upon Me. Our center is found in His Word when our hearts, minds, and ears are opened with a hunger and thirst for its leading in our lives. To be centered with God requires an intentional surrender of self and an intentional choice to keep focused on Him alone. Grab hold of the plumb line and never let go. Keep centered. Rely on, cling too, and trust in Him alone.

9.x. “For we have made lies our refuge”

Amos 5:18 Woe to you who desire the day of the Lord! Why would you have the day of the Lord? It is darkness, and not light, as if a man fled from a lion, and a bear met him, or went into the house and leaned his hand against the wall, and a serpent bit him. Is not the day of the Lord darkness, and not light, and gloom with no brightness in it?

Isaiah 28:15-22 Because you have said, “We have made a covenant with death, and with Sheol we have an agreement, when the overwhelming whip passes through it will not come to us, for we have made lies our refuge, and in falsehood we have taken shelter”;

Malachi 4:1 “For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble. The day that is coming shall set them ablaze, says the LORD of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch.

There is a time for all men to be aware of the Day of the Lord. A dark time will come and expose all the lies we have made into a false sense of refuge. Prosperity and ease of life seem to draw us away into these lies and further away from God. What will it take for us to recognize the absolute need to honor and glorify God in all that we think, say and do? How many days go by where our desire to satisfy self is put in higher regard than honoring and glorifying God? Far too many, I think. We get sucked into the vortex of the busyness of life and before we know it God is but a distant thought. We do have time now. Time to set aside self and to start learning what it means to humbly serve and honor and glorify God. We have time right now to intentionally choose to set aside time for growing and seeking God in new and mature ways. We have time to reflect on both sin and forgiveness, weakness and power, fear and courage, and eternity. We have time to spend in His Word. Turn back to Him and determine to stay close. Determine to listen for His Spirit to guide you. And above all give honor and glory to Him. He is worthy of all honor, glory, and praise.

7.n. But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!”

Revelation 12:7 Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!”

The roaring lion, father of lies, deceiver, accuser, tempter, murderer, destroyer, stumbling block, crafty, and schemer all describe Satan. He is now cast out of heaven and turned loose on earth. He knows his end is near and comes in great wrath. Can you imagine what it will be like on earth with the Holy Spirit removed and Satan turned loose? We will see in later chapters what it will be like for those who are living during this period of the tribulation time. Everything God had done previously in terms of His anger and wrath was done by His power and might. Now He has released Satan for a time on earth, and earth will experience his wrath too.

There are many fictional movies that try to give a picture of what life is like at the “end of the world” scenarios. They show very hard times, murderous times, and strange happening and people in the worst conditions possible. These will not even come close to revealing what it will be like during the time of God’s wrath and the time of Satan’s wrath. Just know that these end times come upon mankind for the rejection of Christ and the intentional choice of self-sufficiency, self-reliance, and self-satisfaction. The acts of wrath that come on earth and the people of the earth will get more and more intense and severe. Each progression throughout the tribulation period will be worse than the previous. Each act of wrath brings the final judgment seat of Christ closer, where those who have been born again will live eternity in heaven and those who have rejected Him (have not sought forgiveness of their sin, redemption, and salvation through Christ, repentance) are cast into the lake of fire that burns forever and ever. where there is constant torment beyond what we can imagine forever. Denying that this will happen will not stop it from happening. Denying Christ into your life will usher in this judgment at your death and there is nothing you can do to change this outcome. Now is the time of salvation. Now is the time to seek forgiveness of sin, repent, and trust in, rely on, follow, and obey Jesus Christ.

7.h. Every charge must be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses.

Revelation 11:1 Then I was given a measuring rod like a staff, and I was told, “Rise and measure the temple of God and the altar and those who worship there, but do not measure the court outside the temple; leave that out, for it is given over to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for forty-two months. And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.”

Deuteronomy 17:6     On the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses the one who is to die shall be put to death; a person shall not be put to death on the evidence of one witness.

Deuteronomy 19:15    “A single witness shall not suffice against a person for any crime or for any wrong in connection with any offense that he has committed. Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established.

Matthew 18:16    But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses.

2 Corinthians 13:1    This is the third time I am coming to you. Every charge must be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses.

These two witnesses of God will proclaim messages of God on Jesus Christ and pending judgment. These messengers will speak the truth during a very difficult time on earth. We have already read of death, famine, pestilence, wars, earthquakes, and many other judgments from the hand of God on those who have rejected His offer of redemption through Jesus Christ. Can you imagine what it must be like to have at least 1/2 of the world’s population die and then have all of these acts of Judgment on top of that? What hope of survival is there for these people that are left behind. We must take note that these two witnesses are specifically in Jerusalem, the Holy City, which seems to have been taken over by the worship of false idols and the antichrist. They speak with the authority of God to those who remain behind. They speak to the Israelites with a message of deliverance. But like now, there are those who listen and repent and those who do not. It is clear that those who do repent will be persecuted for their belief and will die because of it. Those remaining will see the works of God through these two messengers and acts of power given to them from God.

How would we accept a message of redemption and/or judgment in a doomsday scenario? Would we accept it knowing that acceptance meant sure death or would we reject it and hope there was another way to survive? Would we look for survival and not give a thought about eternity? Would we just harden ourselves against the message and fight for our life any way possible? The truth is we would choose the very same thing we choose during a time of prosperity, grace, peace, and love. We choose to believe and seek redemption or we choose to deny the consequences/judgment of rejecting it. The outcome is still promised either way. With redemption comes eternal life. With the rejection of Jesus Christ comes eternal damnation. We intentionally choose our destiny by either believing and serving, honoring, trusting, following and obeying Jesus Christ or by rejecting this offer of grace-filled and abounding mercy through Jesus Christ.

5.o. Nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Job 13:15 Though he slay me, I will hope in him;

Psalms 23:4     Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

Proverbs 14:32    The wicked is overthrown through his evildoing, but the righteous finds refuge in his death.

Romans 8:38-39    For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,  nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Job 19:25-28  For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth.  And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God,  whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another.

Psalms 27:1   The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

You can hear the love these men of God had for God. You can hear it in their faith in God. You can hear it in their hope in God. When a person makes a life commitment to humbly serving, honoring, following, obeying, relying and trusting in God they have a deeper sense of God’s love and promises. They are certain that even in worldly death they will be victorious. They are certain of being with God upon their death. Can’t you just hear the certainty of this in “And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh, I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another.” Their hope was not in this life but in the life to come. In our Sunday morning bible study, a person said this “we don’t spend enough time in God’s Word and because of this, we miss the promises of God and only see things of the world as important” This is so true isn’t it? We are so busy that we lose sight of eternity and can only see the present. The present does not have much to offer our soul. We do well to keep our eyes on Him who is worthy and has the keys to eternity in His hands.