God so loved the world, that he gave his
Only begotten
Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not
Perish, but have
Everlasting
Life.
John 3:16 (KJV)
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
The Bible records in Hebrews Chapter 9, that it is appointed unto men to die once and then the judgment. The operative word is ‘Once’.
All our us will die one day, unless the Lord returns in his appointed time, wherein those who believe in Jesus Christ to be Lord and Savior will be caught up (raptured) to be with Him.
As I said, the operative word in that statement is ‘Once’. But the Bible also talks about a second death, which is reserved for those who have not accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and believed in Him. It must be recognized that while the first death is appointed, the second death is a verdict upon judgment.
The question then is – Not if we will die, but when we will die (first death), will you and I have to face second death?
He that believes in Jesus Christ shall not perish (face second death), but have eternal life (John 3:16).
For a related reading, see Are you Afraid or Are you Ashamed to Die?
Hebrews 9:23-28 (KJV)
23 It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.
24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:
25 Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;
26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
Revelation 21:7-9 (KJV)
7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.|
8 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 burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
When man was made in the image of God, from the dust of the ground, God breathed into man the breath of life and the Bible records that man became a “Living Soul” ((Genesis 2:7). The translated word ‘became‘ implies that, that which was not living (dust of the ground) is now living (man). The curse placed on man, upon his disobedience to God (sin in the garden of Eden) was that “from dust we are and to dust we will return” (Genesis 3:19) and the LORD God said, man may try to take and eat from the tree of life (in the garden) and live forever and hence banished man from the garden, with no access to the tree of life. (Genesis 3:22-24)
When we die, our souls depart (Genesis 35:18) from this earthly enclosure we call bodies and goes to be with the Lord (to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord; 2 Corinthians 5:8), until the appointed time, when the earthly body is transformed (1 Corinthians 15) from being ephemeral to eternal, so that it can be judged, each according to what he/she has done (it is appointed unto man to die once and then enter into judgment; Hebrews 9:27).
It is noteworthy to recognize that we are made a living soul, not a living body. Each of us have an appointment to die. Each of our days are recorded in God’s calendar. In fact, even before we were formed in our mother’s womb, we were in the mind of God, known by Him. Our bodies are merely ephemeral jars of clay that hold in it the eternal soul. But while we are still alive, we try to live as if we are going to be live forever. We live as if our bodies are eternal (Living Bodies) and not our souls (Dead Souls).
God’s plan is that we live as Living Souls and Dead Bodies (i.e., sacrificing the desires of the flesh, as a living sacrifice). The Psalmist says, “Teach us to number our days” (Psalm 90) and this does not mean that we need the Lord to teach us not to count our days, but instead, it means that we need to ask the Lord to make our days count.
Every day, in which we live for God as a living sacrifice is a day that will count in God’s account. Let’s each learn how to make our days count (the short time we have on earth, in our bodies).
Kingdoms come and Kingdoms Go
But through the Word of God, I know
When all in life is done and past,
Only what is done for Christ will Last
P.S: This post was inspired by the children of dear friends (Esther Boyalapalli, Ashton Mathew and Aaron Williams), each fighting cancer. I pray that you keep these loved ones in your prayers. Please feel free to post the links of family and friends that need support and prayers.
Psalm 90:12 (KJV)
12 So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.
“Is not this Joseph’s son?” was the question asked of Jesus, when he expressed with authority that he was the anointed one. Interestingly, this question was asked by his own town-folk (Nazarenes). Even his brothers did not believe him (John 7:3-5).
Note how the Bible record’s the birth of Jesus. It states, when the magi came into the house, they saw the young child (not son) with Mary his mother (not Joseph). Isaiah records in Isaiah 9:6 that a child (of Mary) is born, a Son (of God) is given reflecting the humanity and the divinity of Jesus Christ. John 3:16 reads, that God so loved the world, that he GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON. Jesus is the Son of God (with whom God was well pleased), conceived in Mary’s womb as her child (not son).
Even today many treat Jesus as the son of Joseph, reducing him to mere earthly sonship, instead of recognizing him as the Son of God.
What is your question about Jesus today – Are you Joseph’s son (or) Are you the Son of God?
Ask Him and don’t be surprised when you hear Him answer – that He is
For related reading, read Jesus’ last name and I had no Father, but God.
Luke 4:18, 21-22 (KJV)
18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, …
21 And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.
22 And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph’s son?
If you have ever experienced the feeling of drowning, you may be able to relate better with what I am trying to say. I would not consider myself an expert swimmer, but did learn how to swim and swimming in pools have never been a problem. But this was not the case in a lake, not too long ago, where I had the unfortunate experience of drowning, and if it had not been for my two close friends (dear as brothers), I might have drowned that day. Till today, I am ever so grateful to them for having saved my life, who refused to let go of me, until they got me to safety.
Memories of that experience are still etched vividly in my mind. As I was sinking in the lake that was not too deep, but deep enough for the water to completely submerge me, I kicked hard against the force that was pulling me down, I struggled and gasped for air and I fought hard to live.
Jack Hammans, the pastor at New Hope Community Church in Round Rock, Texas said in one of his sermons that Baptism with the Holy Spirit is being immersed, submerged in, inundated and overwhelmed. This got me thinking.
When I was drowning, I was completely immersed, definitely submerged, absolutely inundated and undoubtedly overwhelmed by water, and I did everything I possibly could to try to live. Now if the Baptism with the Holy Spirit is a similar experience, wherein we are are immersed, submerged in, inundated and overwhelmed by the Holy Spirit, is our lives reflective of us
Remember, if we have the Holy Spirit living in us, is His overwhelming presence being reflected in the lives we live? Let us drown in the Holy Spirit so that we will fight to Live for God!
Hebrews 12:1 (KJV)
1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us
Psalm 42:1 (KJV)
1 As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.
Galatians 5:16-25 (KJV)
16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
24And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
In Lamaze classes, I am told that one of the things that is taught to expectant mothers is how they must regulate their breathing during their labor; how they must breathe in and breathe out.
It is interesting to note that John chapter 20 records that Jesus breathed on the disciples and then told them to receive the Holy Spirit. When Jesus breathes out (the Holy Spirit), we must breathe in (the Holy Spirit). He said, “Receive” and that means our response can only be, one of the two – we either “accept” (breathe in) or we “reject” (not breathe in). What is our response going to be?
John 20:21-22 (KJV)
21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:
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