MAY YOU LIVE LONG........And see the Lord in glory!

Image may contain: 1 person


WHEN A MAN DIES, SHALL HE LIVE AGAIN?


Introduction

There are unforgettable moments in life, the chief of them being the date of birth of a person. As believers, we may not know when and where we will be born, but for death, the Lord will almost certainly show us signs or speak to us directly, to ask us to prepare and put our house in order, then you know your hour of departure is near.

Our Lord Jesus Christ foretold of His death and resurrection and told His disciples not to worry because He has overcome the world for them.  He told them the initial sorrow of His death will turn to joy later for them - John 16:20, 33.  He made three profound statements before His death:

1. He says to His Father in heaven,  I have glorified thee on the earth, I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do - John17:4

2. Again, the Lord says, The Son of man goeth as it was written for Him, but woe unto that man by whom He is betrayed - Luke22:22

3. At the cross proper, He says - Father, unto thy hands I commend my Spirit.  He knew the time of His death and resurrection.

Apostle Paul recounted his doctrine and lifestyle while working with the brethren in Ephesus, and how he considered not his own life to be worth nothing, if only he may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus gave to him.  He continued by saying:  "Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will ever see me again - Acts 20:24-25. 

He told them they will not see his face again because, from Jerusalem, he will go to Rome and would never return to them again.  The people wept because he said they would not see his face again.  Paul knew his departure was near.

Untimely departure
It is a privilege for anyone to know when he/she will depart from this world.  Such knowledge will help the person to repent and make his ways right with God.  One of the armed robbers that were about to die with Jesus repented of his sins and asked the Lord for mercy.  Right there, the Lord granted his request - Luke 23:43.

If you are not ready when the unexpected happens, there is nothing much a person can do to be saved.  This is why we should keep our hearts and body pure, fear the Lord and do His work.  Untimely death is what is narrated in this brief.    

Illustration - University campus:

Imagine that you woke up today, you saw your body still lying helplessly on the bed. You were shocked so you tried calling your roommate who was sleeping next to you and he did not hear you mention his name.

You tried to pick up your phone to make a call to somebody and you couldn't pick it up.

You started crying but no one heard you.
You tried touching the gate to go out, but you penetrated.

You went outside and your housemates were Chating, but you were not recognized.

After some minutes, you saw your housemates coming out of your room with a severe cry. All you could hear them saying is "SHE IS GONE" You stood there watching them cry.

So you asked yourself WHERE EXACTLY AM I GOING?
Your spirit started crying bitterly because you were not prepared to start that journey so soon.

Remember your creator now when you have the breadth of life.  Heaven is real and Christ is coming soon to rapture the church.  We are on a journey here on earth, either to eternity in heaven or to hellfire.

Brothers and Sisters in Christ, If the unexpected happens now, where will you spend eternity? where exactly are you going when you stop breathing?  Jesus knew where He was going.  He says I am going to meet my Father in heaven.  

Apostle Paul knew when his time was up.  He told Timothy saying:   "For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure.  I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day — and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing" - 2 Tim 4:6-8

How to prepare for your final destination?

Repentance:  The life we all live today is borrowed from God.  He gave us the privilege to repent and be reconciled to Him.  If you are not yet born again and reconciled to God, do so today.  Ask Jesus Christ into your life if you haven't already. 

To do this, pray to God in the name of Jesus and ask Him to forgive you for any sins you've committed in your life. Ask Jesus to come into your heart to help you turn away from those sins, and devote yourself to following him.  Say this prayer:

Heavenly Father, I come to you in prayer in Jesus' name,

I repent of all my sins and ask for forgiveness.  
I believe that Jesus died for my sins and was resurrected after three days for my justification.  
Lord Jesus come into my heart, be my Lord and Saviour and give me the grace to serve You all the days of my life. 
Thank You Lord for answered prayer, I am born again!. 

Establish a relationship with Christ:  In John 14:6, Jesus said: "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." This means the only way to have a relationship with God is to be a follower of Jesus.  

Having received Christ, believe His words and put your trust in Him.  Join a Bible-believing local church and get baptized and serve the Lord there with your talents, strength and gifts.  Be a covenant member of the Church by continuing in the service and good works.

Study your bible every day to know who God is, and His ways.  Also, the bible will reveal Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit to you.  This is the most important knowledge you need as a Christian and through this knowledge, your whole life will be transformed.  The word of God is Spirit and life, and as you study it daily, the life of Christ enters into you.

Receive Baptism of the Holy Ghost: You have to desire and pray for the baptism of the Holy Ghost, which Jesus gives us to help us fulfil our purpose on earth.  The Holy Ghost when He comes into you will teach you all things about God and Jesus Christ.  He is the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ, the Spirit of Truth.  The baptism of the Holy Ghost makes your salvation complete, as we are saved by the Water, the Spirit and the Word.

Living the Christian life
1. Your body, spirit and soul must be kept holy. Obey the word of God and do what it says without questioning.  As a human, you're going to make mistakes. If you do something that you know is wrong, pray to God to forgive you, and ask Him to help you overcome that sin in the future. Once you repent from your heart and pray, believe He has forgiven you, He is a merciful God -  1 John 1:9 

2. Pray without season:  Strengthen your bond with God by thanking Him for everything happening to you.  Thank Him for the blessings, His goodness, guardian and deliverance.  Pray that His kingdom is established on earth as it is in heaven - Matthew 6:9-13. Practise forgiveness and learn to forbearance.  You must forgive all that offends you for your prayers not to be hindered. 

3. Have hatred for sin and flee from worldliness  All that is in the world, greed, pride, lust of the flesh and lust of the eyes are not of God, they are of the devil, used to lead people to sin and hellfire.  You should separate yourself from sin and the world.  The bible says all unrighteousness is sin and some of the sins the bible mentioned are what people practise daily:  

I cor 6:9-10 says that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God: " Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.  

Also, In Colossians 3:5-10, the Bible lists a number of sins to avoid, including sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, idolatry, anger, wrath, malice, slander, obscene talk, and lying.

4. Love God and your Neighbours: Treat others with love, charity, and forgiveness. Try to channel God's love for you in the way you treat other people. If someone does something hurtful to you, try to forgive them the way God has forgiven you for your sins. Encourage and support the people you meet as much as you can, and reach out to help when you see someone in need.  Live a life of peace love and meekness.

5. Avoid materialism, love not the world: In 1 John 2:15, the Bible says: "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him." This means it's important to focus on God's values, rather than the things the world says are important, like lust, beauty, and material objects.  This will help you give God and things of God first priority in your life.

6. Learn to help others: Listen to God's calling for how you should serve others. Service is an important part of living a Christian life, so look for opportunities in your life to assist and help others.  No matter your calling in the kingdom of God, helping others is applicable to all.  Use every opportunity to show God's love to others by helping them.

7. Finally, share your faith with others:  One of Jesus' commands to His followers was to spread His word. In Mark 16:15, he said: "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation." To share your faith with others, look for opportunities to witness what your relationship with Christ means to you. This might mean talking to strangers about your beliefs, or it may sometimes mean showing God’s love by your actions toward others.

 Shalom!


FIRE...

Post a Comment

Previous Post Next Post