Redeemed Thought

“Cursed be the day on which I was born! The day when my mother bore me, let it not be blessed! Cursed be the man who brought the news to my father,”A son is born to you,” making him very glad.” Really, really depressing words by none other than Jeremiah, a prophet of the LORD. Bad days will come, and trust me they come, whether you lose your job, or you fail a test, or you get a speeding ticket, or you lose someone dear to your life. All these situations cause us to feel sad and at times even angry with God. When a tragedy happens people tend to ask God why, and they demand answers from Him. When they don’t get the answers they are looking for, they assume God has abandoned them. A while back I was in church and my pastor said something that really got to me. He said that sometimes people pray to God for a miracle when a loved one is sick. They pray to God night and day that he will heal them, but instead their loved one dies. Now God in His infinite sovereignty chose not to heal that person, but why? My pastors response was that perhaps that person is now better, they are no longer in pain and anguish. If they have believed in the Lord Jesus Christ they are now in paradise enjoying life. But what about the person who is left here on earth. Who now feels the pain and anguish of not having their loved one with them anymore. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” (Matthew 5:4) The word mourn in this verse characterizes a person who is so full of heart break and cries from the deepest parts of their soul. Jesus Himself mourned–he mourned over his friend Lazarus, knowing that he was about to resurrect him shortly. So if you can relate to how Jeremiah was feeling, I just want to let you know that God will always be there to comfort you, and that comfort that is found in God cannot be found anywhere else. Many people try to find that comfort in a bottle of alcohol, or in drugs, or sex, or whatever their vice is, but in the end all those thing still leave you feeling empty, at times even emptier than you were before.

So yea haven’t written anything in a while, I’ve been somewhat busy with midterms and work.  But I’m gonna try to write at least one or two entries a week.  Well anyways the other day I was listening to my dude C.J. Mahaney and he said that his all time historic hero was Charles Spurgeon. Well he quoted Spurgeon by saying that “We admit that we shall die, but no so soon as to make it a pressing matter.” So that got me thinking about death, yea I know what a cheerful subject to think about and discuss. But it is a reality that we all must one day face. I for one am not really all that fearful about it, yea I do agree with Spurgeon, but I for one am not wishing my death anytime soon. If it was up to me I’d live for like 1342 years even if i was really old and could barely walk or hear. But the reality is that I one day will die. But the grave isn’t the end for me because the bible tells me it isn’t. And why should I believe a book? Because it is the inerrant word of God and the way he has revealed himself to man. So check it out the bible states that we will die because it is a consequence of Adams sin (Gen. 3:19 “from dust you are and to the dust you will return.”) But the bible promises a resurrection, Jesus resurrected numerous from the dead, one example was his good friend Lazarus. Jesus himself resurrected after three days and a resurrection of bodies followed the resurrection of Christ. The Old Testament also affirms the belief of the resurrection (Job 19:25-27). But the resurrection that I am talking about will take place but we do not know when. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed (1 Cor. 15:52). That is referring to one of two resurrections, this first one is one of life, and will occur a the second coming of Christ. The second, which is preceded by a period of 1000 years, is that of judgement. At the first resurrection of the righteous our bodies will be incorruptible, glorious, powerful, and spiritual. So if you are a saved Christian who has believed that Christ alone has taken the debt that was owed on our behalf then you have nothing to fear when it comes to death. Rather you should consider it a time of rest and relaxation in paradise while you wait for your final reward. But on the other hand if you have chosen to ignore God I sincerely ask you to take a step back and evaluate life. Because all who have not believed in Christ will be judged by God according to their works. And to be honest with you my works would get me to hell just as fast as anyone else’s because even the most righteous acts are still filthy in a Holy God’s sight. I don’t want this to come off as me condemning people because I am not here to do that. God doesn’t even want that, he is long-suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. So again to all those who are saved, you should not fear death, for the time will come when we shall rejoice in the presence of God. And to all those who are not yet saved, examine your life and really think about it, is all that you do now really worth eternal condemnation and separation from the God who gives you life everyday.

Grace and Peace to All