Tag: destiny

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Job 14: Man’s Destiny

Death is our destiny

Job and Man’s Destiny

Recently a man placed himself in a frozen state upon his death so that his body might be “resurrected” when the science develops the way to thaw him. Guess what? He is still frozen and he is still dead and even Job realized that once man dies, he is dead, dead. “Since man’s days are determined, the number of his months is under your control; you have set his limit, and he cannot pass it.” So says God and Job. 

When men begin to think they can operate like God, they are doomed. Even Job realized that truth. Job also recognized that men are not like trees. If they are cut down the root remains and with water and proper nourishment, they are “resurrected” to live again. How stupid is man! Only one man has lived, died and was resurrected to new life and that man was Jesus! Job knew this principle: But man dies and is powerless; he expires—and where is he? And that is the question men must answer. Luke 16 tells the story of two men who lived and died. One went to Paradise and the other to Torments. One chose the way of eternity with God and the other an eternity of hell. Now is the day for men to decide which place they will enter upon death. Choose ye this day whom you will serve. Choose the Lord and obey Him so you will be blessed upon your departure. 

What is your decision about death? Where will you end up on your deathbed? 

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11.22.24.Preparing for Eternity

Job was sure are you
How about you?

John 17 Our Destiny…

They say that when your time has come you know it or sense that soon you will depart from your earthly existence. It was so with my precious friend Rosie, as well as several others I have disciples or taught and with my mother. I have not yet experienced this but wonder if I will. But, the better question is what are my thoughts prior to that time. Jesus thoughts were to glorify the Father. Will that be mine as well? How about you? 

What does it mean to glorify the Father but to honor Him and to offer thoughts and praises to Him for our time here as well as seeking the Father’s honor and glory as we prepare to enter eternity. This brings us to another question: am I prepared to enter eternity? Have I and have you prepared our hearts to speak and give glory to the Father? 

One of the ways Jesus glorified the Father was to give eternal life to those He had been given. Will I have the gift of those I have brought to saving faith to the Father? 

So many questions and so many thoughts. What are your thoughts today about this topic? 

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Your Spiritual Destiny…

God sees all

Romans 6 Sin or a new life—which shall it be?

This morning we were reading about the life of Jehoshaphat and this chapter in Romans speaks to what we saw. He was the rightful king of Judah that God had blessed but then in a strange way he ignored God’s blessing and allied himself with the wicked king of Israel. Why? 

Paul continues to explain why someone who has chosen the way of Christ should remove sin from their presence and embrace salvation. “Therefore we have been buried with him through baptism into death, in order that just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too may live a new life.” [Rom 6:4] This is not rocket science! Paul is telling us that to choose Christ is to have a new life in Him. King Jehoshaphat had been blessed by God but then the allure of sin turned his eyes from God. 

What do you want to experience in your destiny? “For if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death, we will certainly also be united in the likeness of his resurrection.” [Rom 6:5] This is what we should be focusing on now as we look forward to our eternal destiny, not what Jehosphat chose. He continues this same thought: “For if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death, we will certainly also be united in the likeness of his resurrection.” That is what we call a WOW! 

So beloved, as you read this chapter and look at your life, where are you stumbling or wavering? Do you want to wallow in your sin or do you want to walk in newness of life? It is your choice. Do you want to walk with Jehoshaphat or Jesus? God blesses those who choose His way and not the way of the wicked. 

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Ilusion or Reality?

Ps 49 There are many today, who like fools, think they can outlive their final end. They seek to stop death by a sundry means but the God of the universe tells us that each person alive today will one day meet their destiny—-and God. What is your destiny? The Chinese emperors and Pharaohs of Egypt built lavish tombs and many took their riches and slaves and maid servants with them thinking that in their afterlife they would have pleasure as now. But, for the Christian, we know that every man is destined to die and after that the judgment. [Heb 9:27 paraphrased.] What will be your destiny? When you die, will you be ready to meet God? 

Today as you awaken to begin a new day, stop and give God praise for another day to serve and love Him who gives you life. If you have not given your heart to God, do it today so that when death arrives, you are ready to see His face and hear well done thou good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of the Lord. Death is not an illusion, it is a reality and you need to prepare now to meet God. 

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God’s Blessings

God blesses thefaithful

Ps 73 Questions and Answers

Do you see a disparity as you look at the people around you? Does it seem like those who live unrighteous lives prosper while those who live righteously struggle? The author Asaph sees this, and we do as well. Why does God allow those who are despicable and unrighteous to prosper? Is Psalm 1 true? “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the ungodly.” [Ps 1:1] Asaph stops himself; God is good and Jesus said the same thing!  Jesus replied to the young man before him: “no one is good except God alone.” [Mk 10:18]

So how do we handle these questions and mixed-up emotions? Perhaps we need to look beyond today to men’s destiny, such as in the story of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16:13;19-31. The rich man was prosperous in this life, but when he died, he found himself penniless and in Torments. In contrast, the poor man, Lazarus, found himself in the arms of Abraham’s bosom.

Like Asaph, we need to see that God shows us this disparity to remind us that there is a greater blessing beyond this world and is only found here and in eternity with God. He destroys the unfaithful but blesses the faithful so we might tell of His wonderful works.

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Preparing for your departure

1 Chron 24-26 Today we received yet another note from one of the international staff that they had been tested and it was positive. Will this person weather the corona storm? But, add to that the many that are already near their finish line. One friend’s father is 104 and another is 101. Will they continue on or will they move to their eternal destiny. Only time will tell. Both are in excellent health. On the other hand, King David knew his time was drawing near and so he set about to plan for the future and the next king. Do we do the same? Do we plan ahead so our children and extended family are prepared? Do we have all or bank accounts set up with our children or someone else as a beneficiary? Have we made out our will so that our testimony is clear to those who are not saved?

Read carefully David’s planning structure. “David, Zadok (a descendant of Eleazar), and Ahimelech (a descendant of Ithamar) divided them into groups to carry out their assigned responsibilities,” David also prepared some for music and words to encourage and edify. Paul captured this idea as he wrote to the Ephesians: “speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music in your hearts to the Lord,” [Eph 5:19] Along with that, David outlined the duties of those who would care for the new temple.

These are timely examples to us.

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Are You Sure of Your Destiny?

luke 23 destiny2a“people are appointed to die once, and then to face judgment,”[Heb 9]. Our question is: are you prepared for your entry into eternity? In Luke 23, we are presented with three candidates for us to observe and determine ours.

First on our list is Barabbas, an insurrectionist and a murderer. He is incarcerated in a prison awaiting his sure sentence of death. As he sat waiting could he hear the crowd led by the religious leaders calling for his release? Did he know that his life would soon take an abrupt turn? Did he know that the religious leaders and the crowd offered an innocent man named Jesus to face the cross that was slated for him? We wonder and only in eternity will we know his thoughts, his actions before and after. Only God knows his destiny.

Second, are the two criminals who were also led with Jesus to the Golgotha hill and there nails would pierce their bones. They both heard Jesus cry out “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” Yet only one would enter eternity forgiven for he cried out remember me when  you enter your kingdom. Jesus heard and promised that would be true. His forgiveness for his sins was washed away on that day.  The other would enter a Christ-less eternity. He neither feared God or man.

Your destiny is assured—either heaven or hell. If you are like Barabbas, bow the knee now for life is uncertain. If you are like the thief on the cross who railed on Jesus, think what lays ahead for you. If you are like the thief that sought forgiveness you can be assured of this promise: you will be with Christ in heaven/paradise. What is your destiny?

 

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