Life Eternal
12/04/09 18:00
Easter is the
time that we celebrate the Lord’s resurrection
from the dead. Many people have doubted, but no
matter, He still arose. The resurrection was the main
theme of the early Church.
Peter, Paul and all the disciples preached that Jesus of Nazareth was crucified, died and was buried; then on the third day, He arose from the grave. He conquered death and escaped corruption, giving everyone the hope of life eternal.
The difference between life and death is as unfathomable as the depths of the ocean. For many years the Church has evangelized with the thought that we were all going to live forever somewhere, so it would be wise to choose Christ and live forever with Him in Heaven.
Though this may be a great strategy to elicit thoughts of the eternal, it is somewhat erroneous and liable to leave many confused with the choice that they really have. What I mean is this; there are a lot of people who do not want any thing to do with God, Jesus, or especially Christianity. They look into the Church and see what they want to see; hypocrisy, greed, pride and immorality.
The Christian marriage is just as much in danger of divorce as is the secular. Ordinations of homosexuals and the constant bickering between denominations only adds fuel to the rationale that unbelievers are just as good as those within the Church.
And so when it comes to a decision to live forever somewhere, many unbelievers choose to live forever away from these “Christian” folks. But the choice was never intended to live forever where you choose. The choice as far as the Scriptures speak of is… “Choose you this day between life and death.” Death is the antithesis of life. This means death is life’s opposite and everything that we are blessed with in life, is not found in death.
For instance, there is hope in life but none is found in death. There is mercy in life, but there is no mercy in death. There is no love, no compassion, caring, generosity, nothing that we enjoy here and now. In death there will be an existence of eternal corruption where the pain and suffering will be immeasurable. (The eternal cannot be measured.)
Death is cast out from the presence of God who is Life. I fully understand that there be qualms about the temporary presence of evil and corruption within life as it is now, but God has promised that death shall be cast into the lake of fire, along with everything associated with it. Life eternal will be one of great bliss, for the corruptible in this life will pass away and shall not be remembered any longer.
God promises to change this order of life with a brand new one. We shall possess love, goodness and mercy without measure. Remember, the eternal cannot be measured. Love without limit! Charity and compassion, mercy and grace, all of these experienced forever within the Being of Him who defeated death two thousand years ago. Yes, we exist in life right now, but death has its claws within our experience.
Soon life shall be caught up into Heaven and death will be left to itself. As for me and my house… I will choose life!
Have a great week! Pastor Jim
Peter, Paul and all the disciples preached that Jesus of Nazareth was crucified, died and was buried; then on the third day, He arose from the grave. He conquered death and escaped corruption, giving everyone the hope of life eternal.
The difference between life and death is as unfathomable as the depths of the ocean. For many years the Church has evangelized with the thought that we were all going to live forever somewhere, so it would be wise to choose Christ and live forever with Him in Heaven.
Though this may be a great strategy to elicit thoughts of the eternal, it is somewhat erroneous and liable to leave many confused with the choice that they really have. What I mean is this; there are a lot of people who do not want any thing to do with God, Jesus, or especially Christianity. They look into the Church and see what they want to see; hypocrisy, greed, pride and immorality.
The Christian marriage is just as much in danger of divorce as is the secular. Ordinations of homosexuals and the constant bickering between denominations only adds fuel to the rationale that unbelievers are just as good as those within the Church.
And so when it comes to a decision to live forever somewhere, many unbelievers choose to live forever away from these “Christian” folks. But the choice was never intended to live forever where you choose. The choice as far as the Scriptures speak of is… “Choose you this day between life and death.” Death is the antithesis of life. This means death is life’s opposite and everything that we are blessed with in life, is not found in death.
For instance, there is hope in life but none is found in death. There is mercy in life, but there is no mercy in death. There is no love, no compassion, caring, generosity, nothing that we enjoy here and now. In death there will be an existence of eternal corruption where the pain and suffering will be immeasurable. (The eternal cannot be measured.)
Death is cast out from the presence of God who is Life. I fully understand that there be qualms about the temporary presence of evil and corruption within life as it is now, but God has promised that death shall be cast into the lake of fire, along with everything associated with it. Life eternal will be one of great bliss, for the corruptible in this life will pass away and shall not be remembered any longer.
God promises to change this order of life with a brand new one. We shall possess love, goodness and mercy without measure. Remember, the eternal cannot be measured. Love without limit! Charity and compassion, mercy and grace, all of these experienced forever within the Being of Him who defeated death two thousand years ago. Yes, we exist in life right now, but death has its claws within our experience.
Soon life shall be caught up into Heaven and death will be left to itself. As for me and my house… I will choose life!
Have a great week! Pastor Jim
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