To get pearls, one must dive deep!

Tag: Know Jesus

Death is Certain; Life is Not

Death Is Certain Life Is NotWhile celebrating our firstborn son, Reuben’s birthday in the Great Wolf Lodge in Grapevine, Texas, I came across a young man wearing a T-Shirt which had some intriguing and interesting words printed in the back. I stopped him and asked if I could take a picture of his T-Shirt and he agreed to allow me to do so. I quickly snapped a picture and later when going through my photos, realized as to how “serious” the message in the print was. The T-Shirt print read “(Bible) studies have proven — Death is certain, Life is Not.” and it had the verses from Deuteronomy 30:19-20 printed below that phrase.

Come to think of it, we cannot choose whether and when we will die and in that regard, death is certain, but once we die, it is appointed unto man that we must enter into judgment (Hebrew 9:27). The verdict of this judgment would be based on whether we have chosen life when we were alive or not. In other words, if we have believed in Jesus Christ, the Lord our God, who is the resurrection and the LIFE (John 11:25), then we shall not perish but have everlasting life as the verdict (John 3:16), but if we have not, then the verdict is eternal separation from God or death again (second death) (Revelation 20:6).

Points to ponder:

God has set life and death, blessing and cursing before us this day (Deuteronomy 30:19). The choice is however ours. We must choose today, life or death. If we choose to know Jesus, the Lord our God, we choose life, for in knowing him is eternal life (John 17:3; 1 John 5:20) and once we come to know him, we must love him and obey his voice (Deuteronomy 30:20). To love him is to obey his voice (commandment) (1 John 5:3). We must also cleave to him (Deuteronomy 30:20), meaning that we must leave the allegiance we have with the world and its pleasures of sin, but be faithful to Jesus and love him for his first loved us (1 John 4:19).

Death is Certain; Life is NOT — Choose ye this day, life!

Deuteronomy 30:19-20a (KJV)
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:
20 That thou mayest love the Lord thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: …

Jesus Calls :: Known, Know and Follow

Jesus referred to himself as the good shepherd and his people as the sheep who know him and are known by him (John 10:14) and then he went on to add that “my sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me” (John 10:27). When Jesus calls, his people hear his voice and he knows them and his people respond by following him. They follow him because they know him. What does it mean to know Jesus? To know Jesus is to believe in him, the chief Shepherd (1 Peter 5:4), which is eternal life (John 17:3).

Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8) and his call today is just as he expressed. He knows his sheep and he calls them. His sheep know him, hear his voice and follow him.

Points to ponder:
Does Jesus, the chief and good Shepherd, know you/me? Do you/I hear the voice of Jesus, the chief Shepherd? Do you/I know him? i.e., Are you/I assured of eternal life? If you/I know him and you/I hear his voice, do you/I respond by FOLLOWING him. Jesus calls – “Follow me”.

John 10:14 , 27-28 (KJV)
14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.

27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

John 17:3 (KJV)
3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

Powered by WordPress & Theme by Anders Norén