NOT DEAD BUT AT REST

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In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-14

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

Every single person dies. All people have individual expiration dates that are completely unknown to them.

It’s a truth that we don’t like to think about but we should because given we don’t know when life here on earth will end, we don’t have the luxury of delaying our decision as to what will happen to us afterwards. And one of two things is going to happen afterwards because everyone lives forever after this life is through.

Either a person will be set for eternal life in Heaven

or

A person will be destined for eternal damnation and torment (aka Hell)

There’s no third option, no simple abrupt end to everything with a definitive stopping point where life simply ceases to exist and a person’s spirit and body stop functioning.

Every person will end up in either Heaven or Hell.

So where are you heading today?

If you haven’t placed your faith and hope in Jesus as Savior, then you are on the road to Hell. It doesn’t matter how good a person you think you are. Every sinner who hasn’t been saved will spend their eternity suffering in condemnation for their transgressions. You need to hear this straight up.

Conversely, if you have believed in Jesus, realizing your destiny is Hell without the salvation God promises through His Son, then you can rest easy knowing your future is secure in Heaven. Your best life is still ahead after this earthly life is over.

This latter truth is such great news for all Christian believers. I don’t know about you but it brings me such amazing comfort each and every day, setting me free to fully devote my heart’s affection and mind’s direction toward all the things the Lord wants me to do in service to Him and to others.

Because of Jesus, death loses its sting. It is swallowed up in the victory found on the cross and the empty tomb where Jesus conquered death and the grave so we could too through Him (1 Corinthians 15:53-57).

And so, when Christians are facing death, there’s no need to fear. For Jesus has given us a beautiful, blessed hope in Him, a hope we can rest easy in when our bodies take their final breath and our hearts beat for the last time.

Indeed, this eternal rest is what is ahead for all who simply placed their belief and trust in Jesus. Believers will sleep in death until Jesus returns for them and He has promised to do just that and take us to the place He has prepared for us, a place too magnificent and glorious for us to comprehend (John 14:1-3).

This hope found in truth also helps us in our grieving after a Christian loved one passes on. Because of their belief in Jesus and assurance of salvation, we don’t need to “grieve like the rest of mankind who have no hope”, those who decided to reject Jesus. Instead, we can celebrate knowing that they have fallen asleep in Jesus, resting until God brings them to Him through His Son.

Friends, the scriptures are bringing us immeasurable good news today, good news that is not temporal but eternal. If you have turned from Jesus in your life up to now, I implore you to please change your stance today. Don’t pass up Heaven and end up in Hell forever. Ensure that a peaceful and divine rest, not eternal misery and anguish, will come after this life is over.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Feel free to leave a comment and please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it. Send any prayer requests to Gods4all@aol.com