woman – Praying Pint

35.k. “The LORD God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this”

Genesis 3:14 The LORD God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”

Isaiah 29:4 And you will be brought low; from the earth you shall speak, and from the dust your speech will be bowed down; your voice shall come from the ground like the voice of a ghost, and from the dust your speech shall whisper.

God passes sentence; and he begins where the sin began, with the serpent. The devil’s instruments must share in the devil’s punishments. Under the cover of the serpent, the devil is sentenced to be degraded and accursed of God; detested and abhorred of all mankind: also to be destroyed and ruined at last by the great Redeemer, signified by the breaking of his head. War is proclaimed between the Seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent. It is the fruit of this enmity, that there is a continual warfare between grace and corruption, in the hearts of God’s people. Satan, by their corruptions, buffets them, sifts them, and seeks to devour them. Heaven and hell can never be reconciled, nor light and darkness; no more can Satan and a sanctified soul. Also, there is a continual struggle between the wicked and the godly in this world. A gracious promise is here made of Christ, as the Deliverer of fallen man from the power of Satan. Here was the drawn of the gospel day: no sooner was the wound given, than the remedy was provided and revealed. This gracious revelation of a Saviour came unasked, and unlooked for. Without a revelation of mercy, giving some hope of forgiveness, the convinced sinner would sink into despair, and be hardened. By faith in this promise, our first parents, and the patriarchs before the flood, were justified and saved. Notice is given concerning Christ. 1. His incarnation, or coming in the flesh. It speaks great encouragement to sinners, that their Saviour is the Seed of the woman, bone of our bone, Heb 2:11,14. 2. His sufferings and death; pointed at in Satan’s bruising his heel, that is, his human nature. And Christ’s sufferings are continued in the sufferings of the saints for his name. The devil tempts them, persecutes and slays them; and so bruises the heel of Christ, who is afflicted in their afflictions. But while the heel is bruised on earth, the Head is in heaven. 3. His victory over Satan thereby. Christ baffled Satan’s temptations, rescued souls out of his hands. By his death he gave a fatal blow to the devil’s kingdom, a wound to the head of this serpent that cannot be healed. As the gospel gains ground, Satan falls.(Henry)

From the very beginning Satan is a tempter, liar, and searcher of souls to confound, win over, and lead away from listening to, obeying, and following God. We do well to understand nothing has changed in satan’s determination to destroy God’s communion with mankind and their devotion to Him.

35.j. “So that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs”

Genesis 3:2 He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.

Genesis 2:16-17   And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden,  but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

Job 19:21   Have mercy on me, have mercy on me, O you my friends, for the hand of God has touched me!

John 8:44    You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

Psalms 10:11   He says in his heart, “God has forgotten, he has hidden his face, he will never see it.”

2 Corinthians 2:11     so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs.

2 Corinthians 11:3  But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.

Acts 26:18   to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’

Demonic spirits evidently have the ability, under certain circumstances, to indwell human or animal bodies (Luke 8:33). On this occasion, Satan chose to indwell the body of a pre-curse serpent. “An immaterial spirit must be invisible; and therefore he must embody himself in some way or other before he can be seen. That Satan has power to enter into living bodies is clear, for he did so upon a very large scale with regard to men in the days of Christ…(Spurgeon)

Satan will often attack a chain at its weakest link, so he gets at Adam by tempting Eve. The stronger ones in a “chain” must expect an attack against weaker links and support them against those attacks. Satan’s first attack was leveled against the Word of God. If he could make Eve confused about what God said, or to doubt what God said, then his battle was partially won. From the beginning, Satan has tried to undermine God’s people by undermining God’s Word. He can undermine just as effectively by getting us to neglect God’s Word as by getting us to doubt it. (Guzik)

When Satan attacks we are not to have a discussion with him about it, but rather say, “The Lord rebuke you”. He is cunning and crafty in his speech and thoughts. When the Holy Spirit gives you discernment about such an attack then it is prudent to not have a discussion about it but rather rebuke it immediately. Why is it when we hear and know what God says about certain sins and temptations to avoid, that we want to get close enough to it to touch it and even eat of it? All of these will be exploited by Satan for sure, and only those grounded in His Word and that have a desire to wholly honor and glorify Him will be able, through the leading and strengthening of the Holy Spirit, to discern it and turn away from it. Satan’s attacks come at us through our minds. It is here where the battle begins. Fiery darts shot singly or in multiples are flung at us from every possible angle. They can come in the form of lust, greed, pride, etc… They can be subtle or obvious. They can come from within our minds or planted there by another person being used by Satan. This is why we must always be on guard. Having an overwhelming desire for God’s Word and feeding upon it with an equally deep desire to honor and glorify Jesus Christ in all we think, say, and do, and with a heart seeking to be led by the Holy Spirit, and with ears open to the quiet whispers of leading, it is then we will have the discernment to see all of the cunning and crafty attacks of Satan in our lives. It is good for us to have a Christian community with other believers, for where we might be deaf and blind they hear and see the fiery darts of temptation and strengthen us in our resolve to fight it off. No one is immune to these attacks, and for certain no one in their own power is able to stand against them. It is only through the indwelling Holy Spirit and our openness to listen and obey that we are able to stop the attacks. Oh, that we would have hearts and minds like David when he said; thoughts: “Examine me, O God, and know my mind; test me, and discover my thoughts. Don’t let me follow evil ways, but lead me in the everlasting way.”

35.d. “A prudent wife is from the LORD”

Genesis 2:18 Then the LORD God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” Now out of the ground the LORD God had formed every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. And whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper fit for him. So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. And the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. Then the man said, “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.” Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.

Proverbs 18:22    He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the LORD.

1 Corinthians 11:11-12    Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man nor man of woman; for as woman was made from man, so man is now born of woman. And all things are from God.

Proverbs 19:14   House and wealth are inherited from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the LORD.

Hebrews 13:4    Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.

A new and final need of man is stated. The Creator himself, in whose image he was made, had revealed himself to him in language. This, among many other effects, awakened the social affection. This affection was the index of social capacity. The first step towards communication between kindred spirits was accomplished when Adam heard and understood spoken language. Beyond all this God knew what was in the man whom he had formed. And he expresses this in the words, “It is not good for the man to be alone.” He is formed to be social, to hold converse, not only with his superior, but also with his equal. As yet he is but a unit, an individual. He needs a mate, with whom he may take sweet counsel. And the benevolent Creator resolves to supply this want. “I will make him a helpmeet for him” – one who may not only reciprocate his feelings, but take an intelligent and appropriate part in his active pursuits. “Barnes“

God, as her Father, brought the woman to the man, as his second self, and a help meet for him. That wife, who is of God’s making by special grace, and of God’s bringing by special providence, is likely to prove a help meet for a man. See what need there is, both of prudence and prayer in the choice of this relation, which is so near and so lasting. “Matthew Henry“

“Help meet,” which has become a recognized English word, fails to give the full sense of this passage from which it is derived. Man will find help from that which is in harmony with his own nature, and, therefore, able adequately to sympathize with him in thought and interests. It is not identity, but harmony, of character which is suggested. “Cambridge Bible“

The expression, “Help meet”indicates that the forthcoming helper was to be of similar nature to the man himself, corresponding by way of supplement to the incompleteness of his lonely being, and in every way adapted to be his co-partner and companion. All that Adam’s nature demanded for its completion, physically, intellectually, socially, was to be included in this who was soon to stand by his side. Thus in man’s need, and woman’s power to satisfy that need, is laid the foundation for the Divine institution of marriage, which was afterwards prescribed not for the first pair alone, but for all their posterity. “Pulpit Commentary“

God ordained man should be created first, and then the woman from the body of the man. By this the priority and superiority of the man, and the dependence of the woman upon the man, are established as an ordinance of divine creation. This ordinance of God forms the root of that tender love with which the man loves the woman as himself, and by which marriage becomes a type of the fellowship of love and life, which exists between the Lord and His Church. “Keil and Delitzsch “

Men thought ages have certainly perverted this which was ordained to be a holy union into a self-serving relationship of Master and servant rather than husband and wife. Men and women alike have perverted their God-given roles and purpose. All of this foolishness about transgender, homosexuality, gay pride, and lesbianism that is being discussed, promoted, and approved by cultures and societies is not of God nor of God’s purpose for mankind. Any confusion about this comes from arguments made by men to justify their sin and rejection of God. Scripture is more than clear on God’s plan and purpose for men and women, male and female. Rest assured perversion of this is all of man’s doing and has no hand of God in it.

26.m. “When we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world”

Galatians 4:3 In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world. But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.

The idea of the “elementary principle knowledge of the universe” is important. If there is any “elementary principle knowledge of the universe” that we must break free from, and that is stressed in pagan religion just as much as Jewish law, it is the principle of cause and effect. One may call it karma or “you get what you deserve” or something else, yet it rules nature and the minds of men. We live under the idea that we get what we deserve; when we are good we deserve to receive good and when we are bad we deserve to receive bad.

Paul told the Galatians to go beyond this “elementary principle knowledge of the universe” into an understanding of God’s grace. Grace contradicts this “elementary principle knowledge of the universe,” because under grace God does not deal with us on the basis of what we deserve. Our good cannot justify us under grace; our bad need not condemn us. God’s blessing and favor are given on a principle completely apart from the “elementary principle knowledge of the universe.” His blessing and favor are given for reasons that are completely in Him and have nothing to do with us.

The “elementary principle knowledge of the universe” is not bad in itself. We do and must use it in life, and God has a proper place for it. But we must not base our relationship with God on this principle. Since we are now under grace, He does not deal with us on the principle of earning and deserving. Because this is such an elementary principle, it is so hard for us to shake this kind of thinking. But it is essential if we will walk in grace. When we live on the principle of earning and deserving before God, we live in bondage under the elements of the world. In Jesus, we die to the elemental principles of the world. (Guzik)

Think about this, “Did Jesus Christ die for the best of you or the worst of you. “While we were yet sinners Christ died for us”. In Jesus, the elementary principle knowledge must find its proper place. I did nothing good enough, or have been good enough to deserve or earn the grace, mercy, and love of Him. Too often we keep a mental ledger book of the good things we do in hopes to outweigh the bad, when in fact God tells us to confess and drop these elementary principles of earning or deserving, and trust in Him alone for forgiveness. How many people will find their eternal destiny in hell when they die with the thought they are good enough to enter heaven on their own merits? How many people will not surrender these thoughts and humbly rely on trust in, and cling to Jesus Christ’s redemption, salvation, and forgiveness, by faith, rather than the elementary principle knowledge of this world?

7.l. And a great sign appeared in heaven:

Revelation 12:1 And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. She was pregnant and was crying out in birth pains and the agony of giving birth. And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven diadems. His tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child he might devour it. She gave birth to a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne, and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which she is to be nourished for 1,260 days.

Who is this woman identified in verse 1? The woman is the nation of Israel. Genesis 37: 9 “Then he dreamed another dream and told it to his brothers and said, “Behold, I have dreamed another dream. Behold, the sun, the moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to me.” Joseph had this dream. Clearly there is a reference here that has to be taken seriously. There are a few other thoughts out there claiming the “Woman” represents the “Church or the Virgin Mary. The Great Red Dragon is none other than Satan Wanting to devour the child that was to come out of Israel. God has granted to Satan great power of activity on earth. Jesus said that Satan was a murderer from the beginning. John 8:44 – “You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” The Dragon description emphasizes his intense cruelty. There is much to come in future chapters that give a more clear understanding of 7 heads and 10 horns. Just know that these give us understanding to the antichrist, the nations that become his tool against Christ, and the indwelling and rule of Satan over the antichrist.

I read a comment on this chapter by Theodore Epp which seems to be worth sharing. “Only a small portion of chapter 12 fits into the sequence of events during the Tribulation. The chapter is really an inset providing necessary information about the past, present and future events concerning Christ, Israel, and Satan. One cannot understand the entire Book of the Revelation unless he understands the 12th chapter. The truth revealed in Revelation 12 reaches backward to Abraham and forward to the end of the Tribulation. The chapter needs to be where it is in the book so the reader might understand the future unfolding events of the Tribulation.”

Know this: Satan is the father of all lies, is a roaring lion seeking those whom he can destroy, and is the great deceiver. If we think about how he is able to lead many down paths of self-centered, speed-satisfying, and self-reliant lives how much more so when the church (people who have chosen to give all their heart, mind, soul, and strength – and believed in, trusted, followed, and obeyed Jesus Christ) is raptured out of earth and is no longer present with the Holy Spirit) The time is coming and is now here when people will no longer give thought to the need of salvation, repentance, and forgiveness. They will see no need because they have been deceived into thinking God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit are nothing more than a fairy tale and only the weak need something like this in their life. There awaits a shocking reality to these people upon their death when they enter eternity (forever) in a place of torment awaiting the final judgment of God where they are cast into the Lake of Fire where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth forever and ever. Now is the Day of Salvation.

Behold this was the guilt

“while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived”

Genesis 19:1  The two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them and bowed himself with his face to the earth and said, “My lords, please turn aside to your servant’s house and spend the night and wash your feet. Then you may rise up early and go on your way.” They said, “No; we will spend the night in the town square.” But he pressed them strongly; so they turned aside to him and entered his house. And he made them a feast and baked unleavened bread, and they ate. But before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both young and old, all the people to the last man, surrounded the house. And they called to Lot, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us, that we may know them.”

Leviticus 18:22     You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.

Leviticus 20:13    If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them.

Judges 19:22    As they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, worthless fellows, surrounded the house, beating on the door. And they said to the old man, the master of the house, “Bring out the man who came into your house, that we may know him.”

Isaiah 1:9    If the LORD of hosts had not left us a few survivors, we should have been like Sodom, and become like Gomorrah.

Isaiah 3:9    For the look on their faces bears witness against them; they proclaim their sin like Sodom; they do not hide it. Woe to them! For they have brought evil on themselves.

Jeremiah 6:15     Were they ashamed when they committed abomination? No, they were not at all ashamed; they did not know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; at the time that I punish them, they shall be overthrown,” says the LORD.

Matthew 11:23-24    And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.  But I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you.”

Romans 1:23-24     and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.  Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves,…. 26  For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature;  and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error

1 Corinthians 6:9    Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality,

Jude 1:7     just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.

Truth from God’s word. Warning with a promise of punishment given to man to give them choice. Choosing a life path contrary to God’s word will have consequences. Choosing to teach and speak as though God’s word and promises are but fairy tales and false hopes will have eternal consequences. Just because all are doing it or tolerating it, does not make it right.

The sin of Sodom was clear and stated in Ezekiel 49 “Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had pride, excess of food, and prosperous ease, but did not aid the poor and needy.” We also know what this led too, an entire city with like mind where the natural course for man was perverted.

Do you ever wonder where it starts or how it starts? How could everyone be on the same page? How could they not know it was wrong? It all starts with one step, in one moment, on a single day where someone chooses to abandon following God. It could be a parent leading their children astray, which could lead to another generation moving one step further away and the impact of one generation after another each stepping further and further away from God until they give no thought of Him or honoring Him, or serving Him.

Do you ever ask yourself what am I doing to ensure my children are not caught up in the culture of liberation, entitlements, truth is just what you make of it, God is not real and does not exist? Do you ever wonder if your children see a difference in the way you live, think, act, and speak?

I am convinced now more than ever we need people who call themselves christians need to be more than intentional in their walk with God. More intentional in prayer. More intentional in reading and thinking about God’s word.. More intentional in living to honor, serve, worship, follow and obey God. Maybe we save our family, our towns, our nation. It all starts with one person in one family to live seeking God’s plan and purpose with all their heart, mind , and soul.

So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits

“man breathes his last, and where is he?”

Psalms 103:15 As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field; for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more.

Psalms 90:5-6 You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream, like grass that is renewed in the morning: in the morning it flourishes and is renewed; in the evening it fades and withers.

Isaiah 40:6-8 A voice says, “Cry!” And I said, “What shall I cry?” All flesh is grass, and all its beauty is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades when the breath of the LORD blows on it; surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.

James 1:10-11 and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.

Job 14:1-3 “Man who is born of a woman is few of days and full of trouble. He comes out like a flower and withers; he flees like a shadow and continues not.

Job 20:9 The eye that saw him will see him no more, nor will his place any more behold him.

1 Timothy 6:17 As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.

1 John 2:17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

James 4:14 yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.

What do we strive for? What is it that we are trying to obtain? What is our end game? I imagine: some sort of recognition, enough money to live without worry, health, sound mind, known for some skill or accomplishment, beauty, know for something tangible that we own, know for something we have written or said…etc. When you think about this and the scripture above, how important is it really? All of the time we spend alive in this body is but a flower that blooms and then is gone. We have little wisdom understanding eternity (time without end) and this side of eternity (time with end). Do you think it is possible that our end game is only focused on this side of eternity? What should our end game focus be: honoring, glorifying, serving, following, obeying, proclaiming, believing, trusting, relying on, clinging to, loving, praising, worshiping, listening to, and meditating on, God. Our endgame should include wanting others to pass from death to life rather than death to judgement and damnation. Jesus Christ is our savior, redeemer, and is coming again to gather His own into forever presence with Him. I love the hymn that has a verse: Turn your eyes to Jesus, look full into His wonderful face, and the things of this world will grow strangely dim, in the light of his glory and grace.

A passing shadows

“Man is like a breath; his days are like a passing shadow.”

Psalms 89:47 Remember how short my time is! For what vanity you have created all the children of man! What man can live and never see death? Who can deliver his soul from the power of Sheol? Selah

Job 7:7 “Remember that my life is a breath; my eye will never again see good.

Job 9:25-26 “My days are swifter than a runner; they flee away; they see no good. They go by like skiffs of reed, like an eagle swooping on the prey.

Job 10:9 Remember that you have made me like clay; and will you return me to the dust?

Psalms 39:5 Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath! Selah Surely a man goes about as a shadow! Surely for nothing they are in turmoil; man heaps up wealth and does not know who will gather!

Job 14:1 “Man who is born of a woman is few of days and full of trouble.

James 4:14 yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.

Ecclesiastes 3:19 For what happens to the children of man and what happens to the beasts is the same; as one dies, so dies the other. They all have the same breath, and man has no advantage over the beasts, for all is vanity. All go to one place. All are from the dust, and to dust all return.

Ecclesiastes 8:8 No man has power to retain the spirit, or power over the day of death. There is no discharge from war, nor will wickedness deliver those who are given to it.

Hebrews 9:27 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,

John 8:51 Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.”

Psalms 49:15 But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me.

2 Corinthians 4:14 knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence.

Sometimes I wonder if we live without thinking about our end. There is an end to life as we know it. What then? Eternal life or eternal death (a death without being dead – a death of total separation from anything good – a death without the presence of God). We hear of people saying things like -“well most of my friends will be in Hell so it won’t be lonely for me”, – Or “I’ll see you in Hell”, – Or “All the fun people will be in Hell so it won’t be all that bad”. Lies!! Separation for God while we are alive might be a sliver of what it will be like – no peace, no hope, always striving for something more but never getting that which satisfies the soul. This is what a life this side of death without Jesus Christ is. It is made up of things that have no eternal value. Scripture says this life is like a passing shadow or a vapor, here one day and gone the next. It says no one has power over the day of death. Yet man listens to lies as if this day will never come and that there is no eternal judgement after death. If you live to be 100 years old, life is short in comparison to eternity. If there is lies, no satisfaction, always needing and looking for more stuff to satisfy in this short life, imagine what it will be like for eternity – Scripture says those who reject Jesus will be cast into the “lake of Fire” that burns forever and there is weeping and gnashing of teeth forever. Separation from God now is the choice people take in the presence of God, while He is near. After judgement God separates Himself from those who rejected Jesus. Come to Jesus, seek Him while He may be found, and find peace for your soul this side of eternity and forever.