And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
choose the beauty of Christ
The average person makes over 35,000 decisions a day—approximately 1,500 decisions an hour if you are awake for 24 hours. From opening your eyes and getting out of bed to choosing to read this sentence, your life is composed of thousands of seemingly small decisions that shape the course of your day.
Every decision we make matters, but the most important decision we will ever make is whether to follow Jesus Christ. Believing in Jesus not only transforms our life on earth but also determines our eternal destiny. Those who believe and follow Jesus will one day join Him in heaven.
In a letter to the churches in ancient Rome, Paul writes:
“If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Romans 10:9 NIV
Choosing to believe and follow Jesus changes everything. Not only are we saved for eternity, but we also get to have a relationship with God today. We have this assurance because God lives in us, and we live in Him. God’s Word tells us that when we believe in Him, the Spirit of God dwells within us, empowering us to live according to His will.
Wherever we go and whatever we do in life, God will always be with us. Since we have a relationship with Him, we can talk with Him anytime. His Spirit grants us peace when we are fearful and grace when we make mistakes.
The first step is to begin a relationship with Jesus. As we grow in our relationship with Him, we will have opportunities to share the hope we have in Jesus with others. So be bold when those opportunities arise to acknowledge Jesus publicly. God lives in you and goes with you everywhere—you have nothing to fear. Thank Him for His presence and grace today.
Our living hope has a NAME
IMMANUEL! GOD With Us!
The light and glory of Heaven carry that name, which He wishes us to embrace.
GOD with ME. Come if you are broken. If you need healing, He is where you will find it. When we are broken, JESUS takes all our shattered pieces and creates beautiful, world-class art with them!
Jesus wants to make you new. Jesus is all about transformation for He knows the Heavenly secret of the Christian life (Rom 12:2)
There is an eloquence far more powerful than words in the quiet, consistent life of a pure, true Christian. What a person is has more influence than what they say. – HDL 7.1
The officers sent to Jesus returned with the report that no one ever spoke as He spoke. The reason for this was that no one ever lived as He lived. Had His life been different, He could not have spoken as He did. His words carried convincing power because they came from a heart that was pure and holy, full of love, sympathy, benevolence, and truth. – HDL 7.2
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus (Phil 2:5)
Why not make the decision now to choose Jesus and change EVERYTHING? Jesus will never disappoint.
It seems sometimes when we try to be silent before God and to diligently listen to His voice that so many other things start happening. Numerous cares, concerns, fears and griefs can sneak in so fast and literally ruin the precious moments with God. Job once experienced something similar. Lets look at what he said:
Job 4:16 (KJV) “It stood still… there was silence, and I heard a voice, saying…”
the flowers are here
Its amazing how a thousand other voices from within and without start to clamor for the attention when we want to get close to God and truly listen to Him. Some are our own voices. Our own questions. Our own prayers. Other voices are suggestions from the tempter, the “father of lies.” (John 8:44) Voices from the world’s turmoil will greedily vie for our attention. No sooner do we begin to pray then do we start to get pulled pushed greeted by noisy adjustments or crazy upheaval. Of course then, we deem it so necessary to answer some of the voices. To listen to them. To even give them our undivided attention. Once any of those voices get your attention, they have succeeded in stopping your effectual praying.
“Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalms 46:1) Then comes our persistent conflict of thoughts for tomorrow or for some other day. But God says simply: “be still my precious child.”
As we learn by practice to listen and obey, and shut our ears to every other sound, we will finger that the other voices cease, or we cease to hear them. Then there is left for us the still small voice in the depths of our being that begins to speak to the soul with inexpressible tenderness, power, and comfort.
As we listen. As we watch and wait, that still small voice becomes to us the voice of our heart-felt prayers. The voice of wisdom. The voice of duty. We will then not need to think so hard. To pray so hard. To trust so hard.
Everything Godly seems so hard to the struggling soul. But the still small voice is the Holy Spirits prayer in my heart. (Rom 8:26) Creator’s secret practice in the soul. Creator’s answer to all my questions. Creator’s life and strength for my whole body and soul. The very substance of all my knowledge. All my prayer. And all the blessings in my life. The Living Creator Himself as my life my all. (1 Cor 1:24, 1 Cor 1:30,Eph 1:17)
“Christ in me” ( Col 1:27) is how my spirit “drinks” in the life of our risen Lord. It’s what enables me to go forward to life’s conflicts and duties like a flower that has drawn in, through the shades of the night shadows, the cooling crystal drops of refreshing morning dew.
I must remember and rest in the fact that just as the morning dew never falls on a stormy night, so too, the sweet, revitalizing dew of God’s grace is rarely visible to the restless entrusting soul. “The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth. And of his fullness have all we received, and grace for grace.” (John 1:14) “As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” (John 1:12) Theories that do not recognize the atonement that has been made for sin, and the work that the Holy Spirit is to do in the hearts of human beings, are powerless to save. Christ lived the unpolluted life in this world to reveal to human beings the power of His grace that will be given to every soul that will accept Him as his Savior. {9MR 239.2}
When I think of the flower and the sustaining process as it rests perfectly quiet, perfectly still, in the solitude of the blackest night, I know that God us indicating to me that He wants to speak now.
He knows our lives are short, that they are like grass. He knows we are like a little wildflower that grows so quickly,
(Psalms 103:15)
Nature and revelation alike testify of God’s love. Our Father in heaven is the source of life, of wisdom, and of joy. Look at the wonderful and beautiful things of nature. Think of their marvelous adaptation to the needs and happiness, not only of man, but of all living creatures. The sunshine and the rain, that gladden and refresh the earth, the hills and seas and plains, all speak to us of the Creator’s love. It is God who supplies the daily needs of all His creatures. In the beautiful words of the psalmist:
“The eyes of all wait upon Thee; And Thou givest them their meat in due season. Thou openest Thine hand, And satisfiest the desire of every living thing.” Psalm 145:15, 16. {SC 9.1}
The springs of heavenly peace and joy, unsealed in the soul of [God’s people] by the words of Inspiration, will become a mighty river of influence to bless all who connect with him. The Bible will not become a tiresome book to the student. Under a wise instructor the word will become more and more desirable. It will be as the bread of life, and will never grow old. Its freshness and beauty will [even]attract and charm the children and youth. It is like the sun shining upon the earth, perpetually imparting brightness and warmth, yet never exhausted. {COL 132.1}
God’s holy, educating Spirit is in His word. A light, a new and precious light, shines forth from every page. Truth is there revealed, and words and sentences are made bright and appropriate for the occasion, as the voice of God speaking to the soul. {COL 132.2}
Dear restless soul. It’s Creator’s turn now. The flowers are so beautiful. That’s why they are sent. God is telling us He is here. God is telling us He is waiting to speak.
Let me assure you, it is better for you that I go away. I say this because when I go away I will send the Helper to you. But if I did not go, the Helper would not come. “When the Helper comes, he will show the people of the world how wrong they are about sin, about being right with God, and about judgment. – from Jesus. (John 16:7-8)
words bright and appropriate for the occasion John 16:7-8
God’s holy, educating Spirit is in His word. A light, a new and precious light, shines forth from every page. Truth is there revealed, and words and sentences are made bright and appropriate for the occasion, as the voice of God speaking to the soul. {COL 132.2}
The Gift Of The Spirit
(taken from Acts of The Apostles, chapter 5)
When Christ gave His disciples the promise of the Spirit, He was nearing the close of His earthly ministry. He was standing in the shadow of the cross, with a full realization of the load of guilt that was to rest upon Him as the Sin Bearer. Before offering Himself as the sacrificial victim, He instructed His disciples regarding a most essential and complete gift which He was to bestow upon His followers–the gift that would bring within their reach the boundless resources of His grace. “I will pray the Father,” He said, “and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it sees Him not, neither knows Him: but ye know Him; for He dwells with you, and shall be in you.” John 14:16, 17. The Savior was pointing forward to the time when the Holy Spirit should come to do a mighty work as His representative. The evil that had been accumulating for centuries was to be resisted by the divine power of the Holy Spirit. {AA 47.1}
What was the result of the outpouring of the Spirit on the Day of Pentecost? The glad tidings of a risen Savior were carried to the uttermost parts of the inhabited world. As the disciples proclaimed the message of redeeming grace, hearts yielded to the power of this message. The church beheld converts flocking to her from all directions. Backsliders were reconverted. Sinners united with believers in seeking the pearl of great price. Some who had been the bitterest opponents of the gospel became its champions. The prophecy was fulfilled, “He that is feeble . . . shall be as David; and the house of David . . . as the angel of the Lord.” Zechariah 12:8. Every Christian saw in his brother a revelation of divine love and benevolence. One interest prevailed; one subject of emulation swallowed up all others. The ambition of the believers was to reveal the likeness of Christ’s character and to labor for the enlargement of His kingdom. {AA 48.1}
“With great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.” Acts 4:33. Under their labors were added to the church chosen men, who, receiving the word of truth, consecrated their lives to the work of giving to others the hope that filled their hearts with peace and joy. They could not be restrained or intimidated by threatening. The Lord spoke through them, and as they went from place to place, the poor had the gospel preached to them, and miracles of divine grace were wrought. {AA 48.2}
So mightily can God work when men give themselves up to the control of His Spirit. {AA 49.1}
The promise of the Holy Spirit is not limited to any age or to any race. Christ declared that the divine influence of His Spirit was to be with His followers unto the end. From the Day of Pentecost to the present time, the Comforter has been sent to all who have yielded themselves fully to the Lord and to His service. To all who have accepted Christ as a personal Savior, the Holy Spirit has come as a counselor, sanctifier, guide, and witness. The more closely believers have walked with God, the more clearly and powerfully have they testified of their Redeemer’s love and of His saving grace. The men and women who through the long centuries of persecution and trial enjoyed a large measure of the presence of the Spirit in their lives, have stood as signs and wonders in the world. Before angels and men they have revealed the transforming power of redeeming love. {AA 49.2}
Those who at Pentecost were endued with power from on high, were not thereby freed from further temptation and trial. As they witnessed for truth and righteousness they were repeatedly assailed by the enemy of all truth, who sought to rob them of their Christian experience. They were compelled to strive with all their God-given powers to reach the measure of the stature of men and women in Christ Jesus. Daily they prayed for fresh supplies of grace, that they might reach higher and still higher toward perfection. Under the Holy Spirit’s working even the weakest, by exercising faith in God, learned to improve their entrusted powers and to become sanctified, refined, and ennobled. As in humility they submitted to the molding influence of the Holy Spirit, they received of the fullness of the Godhead and were fashioned in the likeness of the divine. {AA 49.3}
The lapse of time has wrought no change in Christ’s parting promise to send the Holy Spirit as His representative. It is not because of any restriction on the part of God that the riches of His grace do not flow earthward to men. If the fulfillment of the promise is not seen as it might be, it is because the promise is not appreciated as it should be. If all were willing, all would be filled with the Spirit. Wherever the need of the Holy Spirit is a matter little thought of, there is seen spiritual drought, spiritual darkness, spiritual declension and death. Whenever minor matters occupy the attention, the divine power which is necessary for the growth and prosperity of the church, and which would bring all other blessings in its train, is lacking, though offered in infinite plenitude. {AA 50.1}
Since this is the means by which we are to receive power, why do we not hunger and thirst for the gift of the Spirit? Why do we not talk of it, pray for it, and preach concerning it? The Lord is more willing to give the Holy Spirit to those who serve Him than parents are to give good gifts to their children. For the daily baptism of the Spirit every worker should offer his petition to God. Companies of Christian workers should gather to ask for special help, for heavenly wisdom, that they may know how to plan and execute wisely. Especially should they pray that God will baptize His chosen ambassadors in mission fields with a rich measure of His Spirit. The presence of the Spirit with God’s workers will give the proclamation of truth a power that not all the honor or glory of the world could give. {AA 50.2}
With the consecrated worker for God, in whatever place he may be, the Holy Spirit abides. The words spoken to the disciples are spoken also to us. The Comforter is ours as well as theirs. The Spirit furnishes the strength that sustains striving, wrestling souls in every emergency, amidst the hatred of the world, and the realization of their own failures and mistakes. In sorrow and affliction, when the outlook seems dark and the future perplexing, and we feel helpless and alone,–these are the times when, in answer to the prayer of faith, the Holy Spirit brings comfort to the heart. {AA 51.1}
It is not a conclusive evidence that a man is a Christian because he manifests spiritual ecstasy under extraordinary circumstances. Holiness is not rapture: it is an entire surrender of the will to God; it is living by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God; it is doing the will of our heavenly Father; it is trusting God in trial, in darkness as well as in the light; it is walking by faith and not by sight; it is relying on God with unquestioning confidence, and resting in His love. {AA 51.2}
It is not essential for us to be able to define just what the Holy Spirit is. Christ tells us that the Spirit is the Comforter, “the Spirit of truth, which proceeds from the Father.” It is plainly declared regarding the Holy Spirit that, in His work of guiding men into all truth, “He shall not speak of Himself.” John 15:26; 16:13.{AA 51.3}
The nature of the Holy Spirit is a mystery. Men cannot explain it, because the Lord has not revealed it to them. Men having fanciful views may bring together passages of Scripture and put a human construction on them, but the acceptance of these views will not strengthen the church. Regarding such mysteries, which are too deep for human understanding, silence is golden. {AA 52.1}
The office of the Holy Spirit is distinctly specified in the words of Christ: “When He is come, He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.” John 16:8. It is the Holy Spirit that convicts of sin. If the sinner responds to the quickening influence of the Spirit, he will be brought to repentance and aroused to the importance of obeying the divine requirements. {AA 52.2}
To the repentant sinner, hungering and thirsting for righteousness, the Holy Spirit reveals the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world. “He shall receive of Mine, and shall show it unto you,” Christ said. “He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” John 16:14; 14:26. {AA 52.3}
The Spirit is given as a regenerating agency, to make effectual the salvation wrought by the death of our Redeemer. The Spirit is constantly seeking to draw the attention of men to the great offering that was made on the cross of Calvary, to unfold to the world the love of God, and to open to the convicted soul the precious things of the Scriptures. {AA 52.4}
Having brought conviction of sin, and presented before the mind the standard of righteousness, the Holy Spirit
withdraws the affections from the things of this earth and fills the soul with a desire for holiness. “He will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13), the Savior declared. If men are willing to be molded, there will be brought about a sanctification of the whole being. The Spirit will take the things of God and stamp them on the soul. By His power the way of life will be made so plain that none need err therein. {AA 52.5}
From the beginning, God has been working by His Holy Spirit through human instrumentality for the accomplishment of His purpose in behalf of the fallen race. This was manifest in the lives of the patriarchs. To the church in the wilderness also, in the time of Moses, God gave His “good Spirit to instruct them.” Nehemiah 9:20. And in the days of the apostles He wrought mightily for His church through the agency of the Holy Spirit. The same power that sustained the patriarchs, that gave Caleb and Joshua faith and courage, and that made the work of the apostolic church effective, has upheld God’s faithful children in every succeeding age. It was through the power of the Holy Spirit that during the Dark Ages the Waldensian Christians helped to prepare the way for the Reformation. It was the same power that made successful the efforts of the noble men and women who pioneered the way for the establishment of modern missions and for the translation of the Bible into the languages and dialects of all nations and peoples. {AA 53.1}
And today God is still using His church to make known His purpose in the earth. Today the heralds of the cross are going from city to city, and from land to land, preparing the way for the second advent of Christ. The standard of God’s law is being exalted. The Spirit of the Almighty is moving upon men’s hearts, and those who respond to its influence become witnesses for God and His truth. In many places consecrated men and women may be seen communicating to others the light that has made plain to them the way of salvation through Christ. And as they continue to let their light shine, as did those who were baptized with the Spirit on the Day of Pentecost, they receive more and still more of the Spirit’s power. Thus the earth is to be lightened with the glory of God. {AA 53.2}
On the other hand, there are some who, instead of wisely improving present opportunities, are idly waiting for some special season of spiritual refreshing by which their ability to enlighten others will be greatly increased. They neglect present duties and privileges, and allow their light to burn dim, while they look forward to a time when, without any effort on their part, they will be made the recipients of special blessing, by which they will be transformed and fitted for service. {AA 54.1}
It is true that in the time of the end, when God’s work in the earth is closing, the earnest efforts put forth by consecrated believers under the guidance of the Holy Spirit are to be accompanied by special tokens of divine favor. Under the figure of the early and the latter rain, that falls in Eastern lands at seedtime and harvest, the Hebrew prophets foretold the bestowal of spiritual grace in extraordinary measure upon God’s church. The outpouring of the Spirit in the days of the apostles was the beginning of the early, or former, rain, and glorious was the result. To the end of time the presence of the Spirit is to abide with the true church. {AA 54.2}
But near the close of earth’s harvest, a special bestowal of spiritual grace is promised to prepare the church for the coming of the Son of man. This outpouring of the Spirit is likened to the falling of the latter rain; and it is for this added power that Christians are to send their petitions to the Lord of the harvest “in the time of the latter rain.” In response, “the Lord shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain.” “He will cause to come down . . . the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain,” Zechariah 10:1; Joel 2:23. {AA 55.1}
But unless the members of God’s church today have a living connection with the Source of all spiritual growth, they will not be ready for the time of reaping. Unless they keep their lamps trimmed and burning, they will fail of receiving added grace in times of special need. {AA 55.2}
Those only who are constantly receiving fresh supplies of grace, will have power proportionate to their daily need and their ability to use that power. Instead of looking forward to some future time when, through a special endowment of spiritual power, they will receive a miraculous fitting up for soul winning, they are yielding themselves daily to God, that He may make them vessels meet for His use. Daily they are improving the opportunities for service that lie within their reach. Daily they are witnessing for the Master wherever they may be, whether in some humble sphere of labor in the home, or in a public field of usefulness. {AA 55.3}
To the consecrated worker there is wonderful consolation in the knowledge that even Christ during His life on earth sought His Father daily for fresh supplies of needed grace; and from this communion with God He went forth to strengthen and bless others. Behold the Son of God bowed in prayer to His Father! Though He is the Son of God, He strengthens His faith by prayer, and by communion with heaven gathers to Himself power to resist evil and to minister to the needs of men. As the Elder Brother of our race He knows the necessities of those who, compassed with infirmity and living in a world of sin and temptation, still desire to serve Him. He knows that the messengers whom He sees fit to send are weak, erring men; but to all who give themselves wholly to His service He promises divine aid. His own example is an assurance that earnest, persevering supplication to God in faith–faith that leads to entire dependence upon God, and unreserved consecration to His work–will avail to bring to men the Holy Spirit’s aid in the battle against sin. {AA 56.1}
Every worker who follows the example of Christ will be prepared to receive and use the power that God has promised to His church for the ripening of earth’s harvest. Morning by morning, as the heralds of the gospel kneel before the Lord and renew their vows of consecration to Him, He will grant them the presence of His Spirit, with its reviving, sanctifying power. As they go forth to the day’s duties, they have the assurance that the unseen agency of the Holy Spirit enables them to be “laborers together with God.” {AA 56.2}
In the past you were full of darkness, but now you are full of light in the Lord. So live like children who belong to the light. This light produces every kind of goodness, right living, and truth. (Eph 5:8-9)
light in the Lord
Filled with fear, and almost blinded by the intensity of the light, the companions of Saul heard a voice, but saw no man. But Saul understood the words that were spoken, and to him was clearly revealed the One who spoke–even the Son of God. In the glorious Being who stood before him he saw the Crucified One. Upon the soul of the stricken Jew the image of the Savior’s countenance was imprinted forever. The words spoken struck home to his heart with appalling force. Into the darkened chambers of his mind there poured a flood of light, revealing the ignorance and error of his former life and his present need of the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit. {AA 115.1}
The sons and daughters of God have a great work to do in the world. They are to accept the Word of God as the man of their counsel and to impart it to others. They are to diffuse light. All who have received the engrafted word will be faithful in giving that word to others. They will speak the words of Christ. In conversation and in deportment they will give evidence of a daily conversion to the principles of truth. Such believers will be a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men, and God will be glorified in them. {HP 67.5}
“…the fruit that the Spirit produces in a person’s life is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these kinds of things. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified their sinful self. They have given up their old selfish feelings and the evil things they wanted to do. We get our new life from the Spirit, so we should follow the Spirit. We must not feel proud and boast about ourselves. We must not cause trouble for each other or be jealous of each other…” (Gal 5:22-26)
The question asked during the Savior’s ministry, “How knows this man letters, having never learned?” does not indicate that Jesus was unable to read, but merely that He had not received a rabbinical education. John 7:15. Since He gained knowledge as we may do, His intimate acquaintance with the Scriptures shows how diligently His early years were given to the study of God’s word. And spread out before Him was the great library of God’s created works. He who had made all things studied the lessons which His own hand had written in earth and sea and sky. Apart from the unholy ways of the world, He gathered stores of scientific knowledge from nature. He studied the life of plants and animals, and the life of man. From His earliest years He was possessed of one purpose; He lived to bless others.
For this He found resources in nature; new ideas of ways and means flashed into His mind as He studied plant life and animal life. Continually He was seeking to draw from things seen illustrations by which to present the living oracles of God. The parables by which, during His ministry, He loved to teach His lessons of truth show how open His spirit was to the influences of nature, and how He had gathered the spiritual teaching from the surroundings of His daily life. {DA 70.2}
Thus to Jesus the significance of the word and the works of God was unfolded, as He was trying to understand the reason of things. Heavenly beings were His attendants, and the culture of holy thoughts and communing were His. From the first dawning of intelligence He was constantly growing in spiritual grace and knowledge of truth. {DA 70.3}
By looking constantly to Jesus with the eye of faith, we shall be strengthened. God will make the most precious revelations to His hungering, thirsting people. They will find that Christ is a personal Savior. As they feed upon His word, they find that it is spirit and life. The word destroys the natural, earthly nature, and imparts a new life in Christ Jesus. The Holy Spirit comes to the soul as a Comforter. By the transforming agency of His grace, the image of God is reproduced in the disciple; he becomes a new creature. Love takes the place of hatred, and the heart receives the divine similitude. This is what it means to live “by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.” This is eating the Bread that comes down from heaven. {DA 391.1}
The influence of the Holy Spirit is the life of Christ in the soul. We do not see Christ and speak to Him, but His Holy Spirit is just as near us in one place as in another. He works in and through every one who receives Christ. Those who know the indwelling of the Spirit reveal the fruits of the Spirit–love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith (MS 41, 1897). {6BC 1112.1}
Success in the work of God is not the result of chance, of accident, or of destiny, but the outworking of God’s providence, the award of faith and discretion, of virtue and persevering labor. It is the practice of truth that brings success and strength of moral power. The bright rays of the Sun of Righteousness are to be welcomed as the light of the mind; the principles of the character of Christ are to be made the principles of the human character. All of man’s attainments, all his capabilities, are to be laid at the foot of the cross of Calvary. His own righteousness is to be surrendered. Counting all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus the Lord, and with the meekness and humility of a little child, he is to receive the engrafted Word, which is able to save the soul. {ST, May 10, 1910 par. 1}
As His representatives among men, God does not choose angels who have never fallen, but human beings, men of like passions with those they seek to save. Christ took humanity that He might reach humanity. A divine-human Savior was needed to bring salvation to the world. And to men and women has been committed the sacred trust of making known “the unsearchable riches of Christ.” Ephesians 3:8. {AA 134.2}
In His wisdom the Lord brings those who are seeking for truth into touch with fellow beings who know the truth. It is the plan of Heaven that those who have received light shall impart it to those in darkness. Humanity, drawing its efficiency from the great Source of wisdom, is made the instrumentality, the working agency, through which the gospel exercises its transforming power on mind and heart. {AA 134.3}
Friends:
“That time of judgment is coming. It will be like a hot furnace. All the proud people will be punished. All the evil people will burn like straw. At that time they will be like a bush burning in the fire, and there will not be a branch or root left. This is what the LORD All-Powerful said. But, for my followers, goodness will shine on you like the rising sun. And it will bring healing power like the sun’s rays. You will be free and happy, like calves freed from their stalls. (Mal 4:1-2,ERV)
And a highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Way of Holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it. It shall belong to those who walk on the way; even if they are fools, they shall not go astray. (Isa 35:8)
highway to holiness
Make a hard right onto Believe Blvd
Continue straight through the green
light, which represents Jesus Christ.
Then, turn onto the Bridge of Faith,
which spans troubled waters.
When you exit the bridge, make a right turn
and continue straight.
You are now on The King’s Highway—Heaven-Bound
Keep going for three miles: one mile for The Father,
one for The Son, and one for the Holy Spirit.
Next, exit onto Grace Avenue. From
there, make a right onto Gospel Lane
Continue straight ahead, then make another right
onto Prayer Road,As you travel,
don’t yield to the traffic
on Temptation Avenue
Also, avoid Sin Street, as it leads to a dead end
Pass by Envy Drive and Hate Avenue,
and quickly move past Hypocrisy Street, Gossip
Lane, and especially stay away from Backbiting Blvd
You will, however, need to navigate Long-suffering Lane,
Persecution Blvd, and Trials & Tribulation Circle
But there is nothing to fear because
Victory Crescent is straight ahead!
Truly, our God will lead you all the way
The one who has the Son has eternal life; the one who does not have the Son of God does not have eternal life. (1 John 5:12,AFV)
friend2
Jesus Is My Friend
The people who have the Son have eternal life. Those who do not have the Son of God do not have eternal life.” (1 John 5:12) [my paraphrase]
There was a day about two years ago when my life was in a terrible crises of grief, anger, and hopelessness. I had been a Christian for years and realized I had never known how to be a friend of God. It bothered me a lot because I felt like I was in some kind of Religious Jail, just going through the motions prescribed for me by others.
One day I went to my favorite sandy beach area on the Athabasca River. In frustration and with tears I cried out to the Creator that I wanted to know what He thinks of me. How do I know for sure who He is and what He thinks of me?
I ended up writing something in the sand, scratching out in 3 foot high letters “I am the one Jesus loves.” After all, this is what all my “churchy friends” kept saying to me. But they would never be able to tell me more.
I didn’t realize it at the time but this day was the start of a true friendship with Jesus. When I scrawled those letters in the sand that was actually my prayer. I really wanted to belong to Jesus. To know Him personally as a Friend.
Now, I like to tell people about my friendship with our Creator. In the verse that I quote at the top of this article it says “if we HAVE the Son then we have [eternal] life.
The best way I can describe what this means is by my own experience. Maybe I could just point out the main idea from the human realm of our experience?
When I tell you that I HAVE a friend, what exactly do I mean by that? What does it mean for us to HAVE a friend, to HAVE a spouse, to HAVE a sibling, a parent, or other loved ones?
In our human relationships that we all HAVE the answer to the question is simple. If I say I have a friend, then of course I talk with them, they talk with me, and we go places and do things together. That is generally what we all mean when we say we HAVE.
For me, when I say I HAVE a friend in Jesus, it simply means that I talk to Him, Jesus talks to me, and my friend Jesus even wants for us to go places and do things together.
When I speak to my friend Jesus, it is often through prayer. When Jesus speaks to me it is often through His Word in The Book of Heaven.
I have been finding that when my Friend Jesus and I go places and do things together that things really happen. Someone who helped introduced me to my Heavenly Friend who was also “going places and doing things together with Jesus” came to me in my hour of urgent need.
I was on my death bed. Dying of the miseries caused by massive burns in a house fire. The fire was caused because of drug addiction and other problems. That night on my hospital bed a nurse came up to me, took my hand and quietly said “David, I’m going to stay right here with you until you are not afraid.”
I have grown to believe that was the day when it started to dawn on me, my Friend Jesus was right there, His hands through the nurses hands. And now I live with purpose, recovery, and strength. Now I can be that same friend to others. I am no longer in that Religious Jail.
To have Jesus as a Friend means to me that no matter how many injuries scars or griefs I have, I can always talk to Him. Jesus always talks to me. And we go places and do things together.
Being Friends with Jesus is THE hope that pulls me closer. Sets my spirit free. My hope has a NAME and I would love to see you all also have THAT hope.
Today, my prayer for you is simple. I pray that
” your eyes [be] focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for Christians, oh, the utter extravagance of his work in us who trust him—endless energy, boundless strength!” (Eph 1:18-19, MSG)
If you too want to HAVE Jesus, you can. Ask Him just now to come into your heart. To be in your life. To be your one true Friend who will never forsake you. (Heb 13:5)
Do you HAVE Jesus, today?
The Invitation
Your life may be filled with tears, fears, or sins, but do not despair. Jesus loves you so much, that He died for you; and now He is risen; and now Jesus lives for you! (John 11:25, Heb.7:25). Even though troubles may surround you and fill you, God has still given you the power of choice. He invites you in Joshua 24:15,
“…Choose ye this day whom ye will serve.”
Who am I when all seems so dark and scary, and there is seemingly no hope?
“I am the one that Jesus loves.”
Its about the cross. The cross is the only thing that levels the playing field for us all. The cross is exactly how Jesus makes all things right.
“that He might be JUST and the JUSTIFIER of all who believe in Jesus” (Rom 3:26) PTL.
This is what will apply also to all who wonder “where was/is God?” The cross closes up the distance.
“all who are afar off are made near by the blood of Christ.” (Eph 2:13)
Christ declares, “I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” If the cross does not find an influence in its favor, it creates an influence. Through generation succeeding generation, the truth for this time is revealed as present truth. Christ on the cross was the medium whereby mercy and truth met together, and righteousness and peace kissed each other. This is the means that is to move the world! {6BC 1113.5}
“I am the one Jesus loves.”
This is our identity in Christ. The cross is our proof. The cross is our doctrine. The cross is our warning. The cross is my hope in every situation. (Gal 6:14)
Come Unto Me
(Mat 11:28)
Do hurts of this world; cares of your life
Crush the heart’s hope; pierce like a knife?
The Savior still speaks surely to thee:
‘If ye so labor, come unto Me.’
Families break up, by death do we part
Temptations assault, sinking the heart.
The Savior still speaks surely to thee:
‘If ye so labor, Come unto Me.’
The hurting soul says ‘Can’t come at all!’
As they toss and turn against His call.
The Savior still speaks surely to thee:
‘If ye so labor, Come unto Me.’
Are you dark or lonely, do you sadly frown?
Are you sick or fearful, or lonely or down?
The Savior still speaks surely to thee:
‘If ye so labor, Come unto Me.’
You’re mad or glad, or rich or poor?
You can’t resist some evil lure?
The Savior still speaks surely to thee:
‘If ye so labor, Come unto Me.’
The story of your life may be Galilee
Raging turmoil, no hope you see.
The Savior still speaks surely to thee:
‘If ye so labor, Come unto Me.’
Come unto Jesus; and “rest” you’ll find
Whenever a burden shall tie or bind
Your Savior still speaks surely to thee:
‘If ye so labor, Come unto Me.’
Remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. (Eph 2:12-13, ESV)
path to the cross
It would be well for us to spend a thoughtful hour each day in contemplation of the life of Christ. We should take it point by point, and let the imagination grasp each scene, especially the closing ones. As we thus dwell upon His great sacrifice for us, our confidence in Him will be more constant, our love will be quickened, and we shall be more deeply imbued with His spirit. If we would be saved at last, we must learn the lesson of penitence and humiliation at the foot of the cross. {DA 83.4}
The Garden Alone
(based on Luke 22:39-46
“And there appeared an angel unto Him from heaven, strengthening Him…”
God was with Him in The Garden alone
Jesus conquered by strength divine
But the separation went deeper than bone
As the battle began; God drew the line
The Father didn’t want to remove the cup
The disciples slept from sorrows and fear
While Gabriel came to lift Jesus up
His sweat poured out as blood and tear
As crises supreme did heart and soul break
Jesus came alone to fight by petition there
The angel assured Him He made no mistake
For now He might answer the sinner’s prayer
We all have to go to The Garden alone
We have to bring all the worry and care
For when we go we glimpse the throne
Yes, in The Garden, our Lord is there
Jesus conquered by strength not His own
And we can have that encounter today
As we go by faith to our Garden alone
To walk with Him, the blood-stained way.
– by David T Battler, all rights reserved world wide
“Christ conquered in divine strength, and so must every tempted soul overcome. God was with Christ in The Garden of Gesthemane; and by this experience of Christ, we are to learn to trust our Heavenly Father at all times and in all places. We are to believe that He is tender and true and faithful; able to keep that which is committed to His care. In the agonizing struggle of Christ our Substitute and Surety, the Father was beside His Son; and He is beside every soul that struggles with discouragement and difficulty.”
In the wilderness of temptation, in the Garden of Gethsemane, and on the cross, our Saviour measured weapons with the prince of darkness. His wounds became the trophies of His victory in behalf of the race. When Christ hung in agony upon the cross, while evil spirits rejoiced and evil men reviled, then indeed His heel was bruised by Satan. But that very act was crushing the serpent’s head. Through death He destroyed “him that had the power of death, that is, the devil.” Hebrews 2:14. This act decided the destiny of the rebel chief, and made forever sure the plan of salvation. In death He gained the victory over its power; in rising again, He opened the gates of the grave to all His followers. In that last great contest we see fulfilled the prophecy, “It shall bruise thy head, and thou shall bruise his heel.” Genesis 3:15. {PK 701.3}
“Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is.” 1 John 3:2.
Our Redeemer has opened the way, so that the most sinful, the most needy, the most oppressed and despised, may find access to the Father.
“O Lord, Thou art my God;
I will exalt Thee,
I will praise Thy name;
For Thou hast done wonderful things;
Thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.”
Isaiah 25:1. {PK 702.1}
In proclaiming the truths of the everlasting gospel to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, God’s church on earth today is fulfilling the ancient prophecy, “Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit.” Isaiah 27:6. The followers of Jesus, in co-operation with heavenly intelligences, are rapidly occupying the waste places of the earth; and, as the result of their labors, an abundant fruitage of precious souls is developing. Today, as never before, the dissemination of Bible truth by means of a consecrated church is bringing to the sons of men the benefits foreshadowed centuries ago in the promise to Abraham and to all Israel,–to God’s church on earth in every age,–
“I will bless thee, and thou shalt be a blessing.” Genesis 12:2. {PK 703.1}
Christ also brought you the truth, which is the good news about how you can be saved. You put your faith in Christ and were given the promised Holy Spirit to show that you belong to God. The Spirit also makes us sure that we will be given what God has stored up for his people. Then we will be set free, and God will be honored and praised. (Eph 1:13-14, CEV)
fire
The subject of hell has troubled and confused people for thousands of years. Satan has distorted this teaching to portray God as incredibly cruel and unjust through this and related teachings. Take for example one preacher who has been dubbed one of the greatest revivalists of the reformation, one Jonathan Edwards in his outrageous sermon entitled:
SINNERS IN THE HANDS OF AN ANGRY GOD
It is everlasting wrath. It would be dreadful to suffer this fierceness and wrath of Almighty God one moment; but you must suffer it to all eternity. There will be no end to this exquisite horrible misery. When you look forward, you shall see a long for ever, a boundless duration before you, which will swallow up your thoughts, and amaze your soul; and you will absolutely despair of ever having any deliverance, any end, any mitigation, any rest at all. You will know certainly that you must wear out long ages, millions of millions of ages, in wrestling and conflicting with this almighty merciless vengeance; and then when you have so done, when so many ages have actually been spent by you in this manner, you will know that all is but a point to what remains. So that your punishment will indeed be infinite.
Yet the Bible informs us regarding the punishment of the wicked and how it demonstrates the justice and the love of God.
All of the things that happen to us happen for one and the same reason:
It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be Just and the Justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. (Rom 3:26, ESV)
To best sort out the current topic before us, we must go back to the beginning and find out where the biggest lies about hell fire have come from. Lets take a walk through The garden of Eden for a moment.
But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that you eat thereof thou shalt surely die.(Gen 2:17) And a little later, the first lie was born: And the serpent said unto the woman, You shall not surely die: (Gen 3:4)
God said you will die. The devil said no you won’t. The tragedy is that there are many Christian leaders that are repeating the lie of the devil. When we think of hell fire and brimstone, we usually think of Hell. Dealing with the punishment of the wicked. It’s a sobering truth we need to be aware of and God wants us to know so that we can avoid such a horrible experience.
One of the first assurances re hell fire that we should look at can be found in the book of Romans
God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Rom 5:8)
Texts like Rom 5:8 present an immediate threat to the common doctrine of burning forever in hellfire.
The Bible says that God is dealing with sinners in a loving way. The love of God is revealed, even in the subject of Hell/Hellfire. Sometimes hell-fire is also known in Scripture as “the bottomless pit.”
How many lost souls are being punished in hell today, according to the Bible? Lets look at 2 Peter
The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: 2 Peter 2:9
Where are the unjust? The Bible says they are reserved. But what are they reserved for? If they are reserved then that means they are waiting for something. Scheduled for something.
The Bible tells us, the unjust are, being reserved. They’re being held for this particular day of punishment. The Savior puts it this way:
The word that I have spoken, Jesus said, will judge them in the last day.(John 12:48)
And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” (John 6:39-40)
According to the texts we have been reading, how many people are burning in hell right now?
Absolutely no one. Zero. Because this “last day” mentioned in our texts so far has not yet happened. No one has been judged in that way yet. The resurrection has not taken place to date. Even the “resurrection of damnation” has not happened yet. (Acts 24:15)
So when will sinners, according to the Bible be cast into hellfire?
Jesus once told the parable about the farmer who had an enemy that spread weeds and tares in his wheat and in that parable they’re told to first gather together the tares bind them in bundles and burn them. Matthew 13:40 is where you find this, and then later when Jesus explains this parable he says in Matthew 13:40-42 so shall it be in the end of the world.
When? At the end of the world the Son of Man will send forth his angels and they will gather together them that do iniquity and shall cast them into a furnace of fire. At the end of the world is when they’re going to be gathered and punishment will be meted out. So how many are burning in hell now? Absolutely no one is burning in hell now. Because whatever hell/hellfire is, it won’t happen until the end of the world when Jesus returns again.
Where are sinners who have died now if they’re not burning?
John 5:28-29 says the hour is coming in the which all that are in the graves will hear his voice. The wicked are reserved unto the day of destruction. Sinners who have died are being reserved, just like Peter said. Sinners who have died will remain in the tomb, until when? The day of judgment. They are reserved in the tomb until the day of judgment.
Think about it. What is the end result of sin? The Bible tells us the penalty for sin is death. Sin when it is finished brings forth what?
But each person is tempted when they are lured and enticed by their own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.(James 1:14-15) For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Rom 6:23)
As I started out saying in the beginning of this study, the Bible also reflects on the remedy for sin:
For God so loves the world, and He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)
There are two destinies for everybody. There are two roads, there are two choices, there are two masters, life and death, good and evil, Christ and the devil, either eternal life or perish. It is not eternal life in heaven and eternal life in the fire. Life and death is what Jesus is offering us.
Deut 30:19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:
The first lie that the devil told Eve was what? You won’t really die. You’ll live forever in hell or you’ll live forever in heaven, but you’re immortal. Anyone can look anywhere in the Bible to find one verse that says we are immortal. But they wont find even one. There is not a single verse in the Bible that says we have immortality now. Not one. God says you will SURELY die. The devil keeps saying: “no you won’t.” The tragedy here is that there are many Christian leaders that are repeating the lie of the devil, the idea that the penalty for sin is everlasting torment.
Did Jesus die on the cross for our sins? If the penalty for sin is to burn forever and ever and ever and ever; and never stopping, then Jesus didn’t pay our penalty! The penalty for sin is death. Did Jesus die for our sins? Of course He has. Then why on earth would people need to burn forever?
Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures (1 Cor 15:3)
Jesus did pay the whole penalty for our sins on the cross. The idea that the penalty for sin is eternal torment would mean that Jesus did not in fact fully take our penalty and that would put us all in big trouble! Jesus did die. We do not need to worry about going to hell forever to pay for our sins! Jesus is the only One who can pay for our sins. The wages of sin is death. Jesus paid that!
What will happen to the wicked in hellfire? The Bible tells us in Psalms 37:10,20
“For yet a little while and the wicked shall not be, the wicked shall perish into smoke they will consume away. It’s going to burn up. “For behold, the day comes that will burn as an oven, and all that do wickedly shall be stubble. (Mal 4:1)
What else does the Bible say about the punishment of the wicked?
But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. (Rev 21:8)
When and where and how will hellfire be kindled?
Matthew 13 so shall it be at the end of the world the Son of Man shall cast him into a furnace of fire (Mat 13:42,50)
In Revelation 20:9 it says they went up on the breadth of the earth and compassed the camp of the saints about the beloved city and fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. Doesn’t that sound a little bit like what we read about Sodom and Gomorrah? (2 Pet 2:6, Jude 1:7) Bible writers clearly tell us what happened to Sodom and Gomorrah. They are an example, a specific example on what’s going to happen in the last days and how God is going to deal with the wicked. So here is the question. Are Sodom and Gomorrah still burning today? Of course not. Why then do so many people believe that we will burn forever, and not follow in the same path as what we are clearly told serve as an example for us today?
We just read some scriptures that tell us about hellfire. The Scriptures do not reflect the common trains of thought about hell or hell fire.
Where is hell going to burn? The Bible says it will happen on earth.
The idea that Hades lived in the underworld and this idea that the devil is down yonder and all of that Greek Mythology has crept into the Christian churches and their doctrines. I remember a news article one day a while back that said
“Oil well drillers in Russia drill too deep, demons escape from hell”
Sadly,there are preachers that still preach how that we will burn permanently, non stop, forever. The total opposite of what the Bible clearly teaches.
When the devil came to God in the book of Job chapter one, the Lord said where’d you come from? The devil didn’t say I came from a cavern down in hell, somewhere deep in the earth. The Devil clearly said “I came from walking to and fro on the earth.” The devil’s business isn’t somewhere down yonder, where no one can see. It’s up here on the earth. With us. We can see clearly the evidence every day. The Devil, as is painfully obvious is indeed right here on earth.
Hellfire is going to rain down on the earth. God Himself rains it down on the earth. How big and how hot will hellfire be? The Bible tells us the day is coming that will burn as an oven the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise and the elements will melt with fervent heat.
But the day when the Lord comes again will surprise everyone like the coming of a thief. The sky will disappear with a loud noise. Everything in the sky will be destroyed with fire. And the earth and everything in it will be burned up.
Everything will be destroyed in this way. So what kind of people should you be? Your lives should be holy and devoted to God. (2 Peter 3:10,11,ERV)
If everybody burns forever and ever then that would contradict the Bible and God’s express Word. Plus,it’s really not fair that Cain who killed one person, his brother 5,000 years ago, would burn 5,000 years longer than someone like Putin who has heartlessly butchered hundreds of thousands of people in recent years. The Bible is very clear on this point.
Mat 16:27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. And everyone’s going to get rewarded according to what his work shall be.
That’s why Jesus said
why do you say Lord Lord and do not the things I say Luke 12:47,48
The themes of redemption are momentous themes, and only those who are spiritually minded can discern their depth and significance. It is our safety, our life, our joy, to dwell upon the truths of the plan of salvation. Faith and prayer are necessary in order that we may behold the deep things of God. Our minds are so bound about with narrow ideas, that we catch but limited views of the experience it is our privilege to have. How little do we comprehend what is meant by the prayer of the apostle, when he says
“That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height, and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.” [Ephesians 3:16-21.]–Review and Herald, Nov. 17, {CE 77.2}
“To His church, Christ has given ample facilities, that He may receive a large revenue of glory from His redeemed, purchased possession. The church, being endowed with the righteousness of Christ, is His depository, in which the wealth of His mercy, His love, His grace, is to appear in full and final display. The declaration in His intercessory prayer, that the Father’s love is as great toward us as toward Himself, the only-begotten Son, and that we shall be with Him where He is, forever one with Christ and the Father, is a marvel to the heavenly host, and it is their great joy. The gift of His Holy Spirit, rich, full, and abundant, is to his church as an encompassing wall of fire, which the powers of hell shall not prevail against. In their untainted purity and spotless perfection, Christ looks upon His people as the reward of all His suffering, His humiliation, and His love, and the supplement of His glory,–Christ, the great center from which radiates all glory.” (PH150 6.1)
‘Blessed are they which are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb.'(Rev 19:9)
According to the Creator’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words. (1 Thes 4:15-18, NIV)
rest in the Lord Psalms 37:7
When Christ comes to gather to Himself those who have been faithful, the last trump will sound, and the whole earth, from the summits of the loftiest mountains to the lowest recesses of the deepest mines, will hear. The righteous dead will hear the sound of the last trump, and will come forth from their graves, and rise TOGETHER with the righteous living, to be clothed with immortality, and to meet their Lord in the clouds.
If, as some teach, the dead are already in heaven with Jesus, why are they resurrected at His second coming? Why did Jesus tell the disciples they would be with Him again when He returned instead of when they died?
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. (John 14:3, ESV)
And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:10-11, ESV)
Many people today are choosing to consult with lost loved ones through spiritualism, such as taro cards and mediums. Even some church members are falling for this deception.
Why does God forbid us to consult with our departed loved ones, in any way, shape, or form, if indeed they are alive and can talk to us? .
Here is some of what God says about consulting spiritualists and the supposed spirits of the dead?
Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God. (Lev 19:31).
The work of dealing with familiar spirits was pronounced an abomination to the Lord and was strictly forbidden under penalty of death. The very name of witchcraft is now held in contempt. The claim that people can hold communications with evil spirits is regarded as a fable of the dark ages. But spiritualism, which now numbers its converts by many millions, has made its way into scientific circles, which has invaded churches, and has found favor in legislative bodies and even in the courts of kings-this major, end time deception is but a revival, in a new disguise, of the witchcraft condemned and prohibited by God Himself in days of old.
If there were no other evidences of the real character of spiritualism, it should be enough for the Christian that the spirits make no difference between righteousness and sin. No differences between holy or unholy.
Her priests have done violence to my law and have profaned my holy things. They have made no distinction between the holy and the common, neither have they taught the difference between the unclean and the clean, and they have disregarded my Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them. (Ezekiel 22:26, ESV)
Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. (James 4:4, KJV)
Where does the spirit go at death?
Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it (Eccl 12:7).
At death, the body which was made from the ground returns to the ground and the spirit or breath returns to God who gave it. Nowhere does the Bible call this life force a soul. We do not have a soul. We are a soul. “Breath” plus the body = “a living soul.” We do not have a soul. We are a soul.
Is this spirit, that returns to God, conscious?
For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten (Eccl 9:5).
At death the thoughts perish, the mind no longer functions because the heart beat ceases and oxygen no longer is received by the brain in order for it to function. As a result, the dead do not know anything.
What did Jesus call death?
These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep. Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead (John 11:11-14).
Death is looked upon by Christ as sleep-silence, darkness, sleep. He speaks of it as if it were of little moment. Whosoever liveth and believeth in Me, He says, shall never die. And to the believing one death is but a small matter. With Him, to die is but to sleep.
What did the Psalmist David call death?
Consider and hear me, O LORD my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death; (Psalms 13:3).
Writers of the Old Testament also called death, sleep. It is a state of unconsciousness in which we are unaware of what is going on.
Is there any memory in this sleep of death?
For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks? (Psalms 6:5).For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun… Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest (Eccl 9:5-6; Eccl 9:10).
In death we will not remember God we will not see God or talk to Him, and in death no one will give thanks to God. Popular theology represents the righteous dead as in heaven, entered into bliss, and praising God with an immortal tongue, but Hezekiah could see no glorious prospect in death:
For the grave cannot praise you, death cannot sing your praise; those who go down to the pit cannot hope for your faithfulness. The living, the living—they praise you, as I am doing today; parents tell their children about your faithfulness. (Isa 38:18-19, NIV)
These words agree with the testimony of the Psalmist, David.
Did David go to heaven when he died?
Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day…For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, (Acts 2:29; Acts 2:34).
Peter on the day of Pentecost declared that the patriarch David is both dead and buried and his sepulchre (tomb) is still here on earth with us today. For David is not ascended into the heavens. The fact that David remains in the grave until the resurrection proves that the righteous do not go to heaven at death. If for four thousand years the righteous had gone directly to heaven at death, how could Paul have said that if there is no resurrection, they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. No resurrection would be necessary.
Even Jesus Himself did not go to Heaven right away, until He was resurected:
And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
Act 1:10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
Act 1:11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.(Acts 1:9-11)
Where will the dead be when Jesus resurrects them at His second coming?
Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation (John 5:28-29).
At the general resurrection of the just, (Acts 24:15) at the second appearing of Christ in the clouds of heaven, the dead that are in their graves shall hear His voice and come forth to life. Not only the earth but the heavens themselves, shall be shaken. A few graves were opened at the resurrection of Christ, but at His second coming all the precious dead, from righteous Abel to the last saint that died, shall awake to glorious immortal life.
When do the dead go to heaven or hell?
When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels(Mat 25:31-34; Mat 25:41)
It is when Jesus comes again that the righteous are separated from the unrighteous. We have seen from the Scriptures (1 Cor 15:51-53; 1 Thes 4:16-17) that when the Son of man comes the righteous dead are raised incorruptible, and the righteous living are changed. By this great change they are prepared to receive the kingdom of God. Humanity, in their present state is mortal, corruptible, but the kingdom of God will be incorruptible, enduring forever. Therefore man in his present state cannot enter into the kingdom of God. But when Jesus comes He confers immortality upon His people; then He calls them to inherit the kingdom of which they have hither to been only heirs.
When did the Thief on the cross look forward to being with Jesus? Did Jesus assure him of salvation and going to Heaven that very day?
And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise (Luke 23:42-43).
The punctuation in the Bible was supplied by the translators. There was no punctuation in the original Greek. The comma should go after the word to-day, (truly I say unto you today, you will be with Me in Paradise), for Jesus Himself did not go to heaven that day. To the last of His work Christ is a sin-pardoner. At deepest midnight as the Star of Bethlehem was about to sink into oblivion, lo there shines amid the moral darkness with distinct brightness the faith of a dying sinner as he lays hold upon the dying Saviour. The thief asked in faith, in penitence, in contrition. He asked in earnestness as if he fully realized that Jesus could save him if He would. And the hope in his voice was mingled with anguish as he realized that if He did not, he would be lost.
Jesus often illustrated truth with parables which, like prophecies, use symbols. Yet some have rejected the very truth Jesus so plainly taught about death by taking literally some of the symbols in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16). What did Jesus say would happen to those who try to understand parables without having (or knowing) what the rest of the Bible says on a subject?
And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand (Mat 13:10-13).
Jesus spoke in parables that He might teach a deeper spiritual principle. It is given to the honest in heart to know the mysteries of the kingdom, but to those who have no desire to learn and understand it is not given. In other words, they could not discern and understand the deep truths He desired to teach.
The great Teacher brought His hearers in contact with nature that they might listen to the voice which speaks in all created things; and as their hearts became tender and their minds receptive, He helped them to interpret the spiritual teaching of the scenes upon which their eyes rested. The parables, by means of which He loved to teach lessons of truth, show how open His spirit was to the influences of nature and how He delighted to gather the spiritual teaching from the surroundings of daily life.
What was the devil’s first lie?
But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: (Gen 3:3-4).
Had Eve refrained from entering into argument with the tempter she would have been safe; but she ventured to parley with him and fell victim to his wiles. It is thus that many are still overcome. They doubt and argue concerning the requirements of God; instead of obeying the divine commands they accept human theories, which but disguise the devices of Satan. Ye shall not surely die, was a lie told to Eve and Adam, for God said, The soul that sinneth, it shall die (Eze 18:20).
Immortality, which was promised to man on condition of obedience, had been forfeited by transgression. Only through Creator can immortality be obtained.
With what promise did Paul tell us to comfort one another when death occurs?
For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words (1 Thes 4:15-18).
Amid the reeling of the earth, the flash of lightning, and the roar of thunder, the voice of the Son of God calls forth the sleeping saints. He looks upon the graves of the righteous, then, raising His hands to heaven, He cries: Awake, awake, awake, ye that sleep in the dust, and arise! Throughout the length and breadth of the earth the dead shall hear that voice, and they that hear shall live. And the whole earth shall ring with the tread of the exceeding great army of every nation, kindred, tongue and people. From the prison house of death they come, clothed with immortal glory, crying: O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory (1 Cor 15:55). And the living righteous and the risen saints unite their voices in a long, glad shout of victory.
Isn’t Creator’s way really the best? Instead of floating around somewhere after death, a person sleeps until they are bodily resurrected as Jesus was. And, since we are unconscious, the resurrection is the next instant we will be conscious to him! Instead of a dying baby going to a strange place alone, the next thing he knows will be his mother’s smiling face and open arms.
The theory of the immortality of the soul was one of those false doctrines that Rome, borrowing from paganism, incorporated into the religion of Christendom. Martin Luther classed it with the “monstrous fables that form part of the Roman dunghill of decretals.”–E. Petavel, The Problem of Immortality, page 255. Commenting on the words of Solomon in Ecclesiastes, that the dead know not anything, the Reformer says: “Another place proving that the dead have no . . . feeling. There is, saith he, no duty, no science, no knowledge, no wisdom there. Solomon judgeth that the dead are asleep, and feel nothing at all. For the dead lie there, accounting neither days nor years, but when they are awaked, they shall seem to have slept scarce one minute.”– Martin Luther, Exposition of Solomon’s Booke Called Ecclesiastes, page 152. {GC 549.2}
Nowhere in the Sacred Scriptures is found the statement that the righteous go to their reward or the wicked to their punishment at death. The patriarchs and prophets have left no such assurance. Christ and His apostles have given no hint of it. The Bible clearly teaches that the dead do not go immediately to heaven. They are represented as sleeping until the resurrection. 1 Thes 4:14; Job 14:10-12. In the very day when the silver cord is loosed and the golden bowl broken (Eccl 12:6), man’s thoughts perish. They that go down to the grave are in silence. They know no more of anything that is done under the sun. Job 14:21. Blessed rest for the weary righteous! Time, be it long or short, is but a moment to them. They sleep; they are awakened by the trump of God to a glorious immortality. “For the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.” 1Co_15:52-54. As they are called forth from their deep slumber they begin to think just where they ceased. The last sensation was the pang of death; the last thought, that they were falling beneath the power of the grave. When they arise from the tomb, their first glad thought will be echoed in the triumphal shout: “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” 1 Cor 15:55. {GC 549.3}
Will you accept our Creator’s assurance that we will all go to heaven TOGETHER, at the same time, after the resurrection?
Galatians 6:14 (UKJV) But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.
cross Gal 6:14
“We behold in the cross if Christ our efficiency, our inexhaustible Source of power.” (6BC 112.7)
“Behold in the cross of Christ the only sure guarantee for individual excellence and success. And the more the heart is wrapped up in Christ, the more secure is the treasure in the eternal world.” (6 BC 1112.8)
There is one great central truth to be kept ever before the mind in the searching of the Scriptures—Christ and Him crucified. Every other truth is invested with influence and power corresponding to its relation to this theme. It is only in the light of the cross that we can discern the exalted character of the law of God. The soul palsied by sin can be endowed with life only through the work wrought out upon the cross by the Author of our salvation (6BC 1084.8)
Ephesians 2:13 (UKJV)… in Christ Jesus all of you who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
Hanging upon the cross, Christ was the gospel. Now we have a message, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sins of the world.” [John 1:29.]
Will not our church members keep their eyes fixed on a crucified and risen Saviour, in whom their hopes of eternal life are centered?
This is our message, our argument, our doctrine, our warning to the impenitent, our encouragement for the sorrowing, the hope for every believer. If we can awaken an interest in people’s minds that will cause them to fix their eyes on Christ, we may step aside, and ask them only to continue to fix their eyes upon the Lamb of God.
They thus receive their lesson. Whosoever will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. Those whose eyes are fixed on Jesus will leave all. They will die to selfishness. They will believe in all the Word of God, which is so gloriously and wonderfully exalted in Christ. (Ms 49, 1898, par. 41)
