“May-Days”
We’re into the “May-Days” already. How about that? We were just enjoying New Year’s Day with all the fixins. Back then, Russa was not a threat. Gas prices were decent. There were no food shortages. The economy was not great but bearable.
Life goes on but not for all. Did you know that there are more than 180 deaths in the US every minute? That’s 10,800 every hour and almost 260,000 every day.
The Bible says that “it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” Hebrews 9:27
This scripture exposes reincarnation as a false teaching and tells us that death is an appointment. We all have an appointment with death. One day, it will be our turn to die and we will become part of the statistics shown above.
Which one do you fear the most, Death? Or Judgement? We will face both. I do not fear either. Here’s why:
1. “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” I Corinthians 15:25-27
We have victory in Jesus who overcame death and the grave. That is what we celebrate during the Easter holiday. Paul, the apostle said, “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” II Corinthians5:8
If you are a Christian, by that I mean a follower of Jesus, death is only a means of transferring from this realm to be with Jesus in the heavens. Death has no sting and the grave cannot hold you. The day will come when we will all die but not all of us will live again.
Living again, after we die, is possible but only for those who…well read what Jesus said as recorded by John, the apostle, “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.
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” John 3:16-17
The qualifier is “Whosoever” that believes. You must believe that Jesus is the only begotten Son of God, sent by God the Father so we can live again. It is our faith in believing and our commitment to his teaching that prove our belief. We then become the, “Whosoever” folk that will not perish but have eternal life.
Eternal life is a free gift but those that it is offered to must accept it. It’s not ours until we embrace it with all our hearts. It is offered to “Whosoever.” That means anyone and everyone that accepts it and to accept it is to believe on Jesus as the only begotten Son of God.
The fear of death is no longer holding me captive. If you apply these Bible promises, you will be free from the fear of death too.
The other thing I do not fear is eternal judgement Want to know why? Because I will not be judged. Yes, I know that we will all appear before God at the Great White Throne Judgement as it says in the book of Revelation. Here’s the scripture.
2. “ And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
“And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” Rev. 20:11-15
Notice the last sentence. It says, in so many words, that there are those whose names were not found in the, “Book of Life” and those whose names were in the, “Book of Life.” So, how do we get our names in this book?
Remember, the scriptures say that the book is a book of life, not death. It is a record of all those that have believed on the only begotten Son of God as Jesus said. They will not perish but have everlasting life. My name is recorded in the “Book of Life.”
Here are a few other scriptures that support my view.
God’s Wrath… – For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Romans 1:18 God’s children are not subject to his wrath. They are under God’s Grace.
No Condemnation… “ There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Romans 8:1
Righteousness of God… “For he hath made him, (Jesus), to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” 11 Corinthians 5:21 Think about it. If we have been made the righteousness of God in Jesus, why would God pour out his wrath upon us? It doesn’t make sense.
New Creature… “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” II Corinthian 5:17 The new creature is created after God and is not subject to his wrath.
The Rapture of The Church…“For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming” (2 Thessalonians 2:7-8)
The man of sin is the Anti-Christ. He cannot come onto the global scene until he that “letteth” (Restrains) is taken out of the way. The “He” that restrains is the Holy Spirit. Jesus said he would not leave his disciples comfortless but would send them his Holy Spirit. Christians are actually sealed with the Spirit of God until the day of redemption. Ephesians 4:30
If the Holy Spirit is taken, we would be left alone, abandoned by God and that will never happen. He goes, we go with him. This is commonly known as the rapture or catching away of God’s people unto himself. The judgement of God cannot happen until this event takes place. That means we will not be on the earth when God pours out his wrath.
So, I don’t fear death or judgment. My sins have been washed away by the blood of Jesus on the cross of Calvary. I am forgiven and now walk in the grace of God, sealed until he comes for me or I go to be with him.
Let me encourage all of you to receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior. No matter what you have done in the past, it’s not too late. There is still room at the cross for you. If you have questions or need someone to talk to, drop me a line… johnmarinelli@embarqmail.com.
Until next time
Rev. John Marinelli
wwww.marineellichristianbooks.com