Last time, we focused on the reality of hell and the dreadful state of being completely, totally and permanently separated from God for eternity. Scripture talks about hell much more than heaven; but just as we should never diminish the seriousness of hell, we should never forget the incredible blessing that awaits each and every believer in the person of Jesus Christ.
The book of Revelation includes the vision that the apostle John was given of our final eternal destination. God sent an angel to John to bear witness to the things that are to come (1:1-2). The first 20 chapters deal with the future judgment and destination of non-believers. Verse 21 then gives us a glimpse of the glorious future that awaits those who have put their faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. Heaven is described as a place where God will dwell with his people (v.3), where there is no death, pain or sorrow (v.4); a place of beauty and radiance (v.11-22).
Its size (12,000 stadia) is slightly more than the distance between Philadelphia and Dallas. The glory of God will shine so brightly that there will be no nighttime, no darkness (v.23-26). There will be no presence of sin or evil (v.27).
While it is relatively easy to see how awful hell is, I believe it is harder to imagine how great heaven is because it is so far removed from the sin-stained world we live in. Human words cannot completely describe the majesty of a place where the presence of God reigns supreme; a place that our Lord himself is preparing for us to receive us unto him for eternity (John 14:2-3).
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Just How Bad Is It?
Hell is a place most people don't want to think about. Many belief systems--even some that claim to fall under the umbrella of Christianity--actually deny the existence of a literal hell. Some non-believers think that hell is going to be one big party with all of their friends. If hell really exists (it does), just how bad is it?
The Book of Revelation describes hell as a real literal place--a place of eternal torment (20:10). It is a lake of fire that burns continuously (19:20), the second death (20:14)--not exactly a cocktail party. It's inhabitants include Satan (20:10), those who haven't put their faith in Jesus Christ (20:15) and unbelieving sinners (21:8). 1 Thessalonians 1:9 calls it a place of eternal destruction and punishment and yet worst of all, it is a place that is completely, totally and permanently separated from the presence of the Lord.
Camp out on that thought for a moment--the idea of total separation from God. To be banished forever from his love, his goodness, his provision, his mercy and his presence. Knowing that part of dying on the cross to pay for our sins would require him to be separated from God for just a few hours made our Lord Jesus Christ literally sweat drops of blood in anguish (Luke 22:44). And after the beatings and whippings that he endured along with the crucifixion, it was the actuality of being separated from the Father that made Jesus cry out "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? (Matthew 27:46).
Knowing just how bad hell really is should prompt a two-fold response from God's men. First, we should praise God for his mercy and grace in allowing Jesus to pay our sin debt and avoid eternal separation from Him. Secondly, knowing that we have friends, family members and others in this world who are lost should prompt us to share the good news of what Christ has done for us and to pray that their eyes would be open to see that hell is even worse than they could ever imagine.
The Book of Revelation describes hell as a real literal place--a place of eternal torment (20:10). It is a lake of fire that burns continuously (19:20), the second death (20:14)--not exactly a cocktail party. It's inhabitants include Satan (20:10), those who haven't put their faith in Jesus Christ (20:15) and unbelieving sinners (21:8). 1 Thessalonians 1:9 calls it a place of eternal destruction and punishment and yet worst of all, it is a place that is completely, totally and permanently separated from the presence of the Lord.
Camp out on that thought for a moment--the idea of total separation from God. To be banished forever from his love, his goodness, his provision, his mercy and his presence. Knowing that part of dying on the cross to pay for our sins would require him to be separated from God for just a few hours made our Lord Jesus Christ literally sweat drops of blood in anguish (Luke 22:44). And after the beatings and whippings that he endured along with the crucifixion, it was the actuality of being separated from the Father that made Jesus cry out "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? (Matthew 27:46).
Knowing just how bad hell really is should prompt a two-fold response from God's men. First, we should praise God for his mercy and grace in allowing Jesus to pay our sin debt and avoid eternal separation from Him. Secondly, knowing that we have friends, family members and others in this world who are lost should prompt us to share the good news of what Christ has done for us and to pray that their eyes would be open to see that hell is even worse than they could ever imagine.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
The Flock
Last time, we looked at God as Yahweh Roi--Our Shepherd--and the many blessings we have as members of his flock. Comparing ourselves to a flock of sheep may not be a comforting thought because, let's face it, sheep have a reputation for being dumb, meek and completely helpless creatures. Not exactly the list of qualities that we men aspire to, is it?
Sheep, by nature, are followers. There is a true story about an entire flock of sheep that was lost at sea because a ram jumped overboard and the rest of the sheep foolishly followed and ultimately drowned. Sheep are also natural wanderers, which makes the job of a shepherd a necessity. They are easy prey for many aggressive animals in the wild and they need to be sheared of their heavy wool coats or they will literally topple over; unable to get up.
Whether we like it or not, we too are often very sheep-like. We foolishly play follow the leader; knowing that the we are being led into destructive behavior. We often wander aimlessly through life and become unaware of the danger around us. And without a Shepherd to protect us, we are easy prey for an enemy who seeks to devour us (1 Peter 5:8).
Thankfully, our Heavenly Father knows us and knows what we need. He allowed his only Son to be the sacrificial lamb to take away our sin. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all (Isaiah 53:6-7). The Lamb of God is not a helpless follower, but rather the One that leads us from death into life. For the lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water (Revelation 7:17).
Sheep, by nature, are followers. There is a true story about an entire flock of sheep that was lost at sea because a ram jumped overboard and the rest of the sheep foolishly followed and ultimately drowned. Sheep are also natural wanderers, which makes the job of a shepherd a necessity. They are easy prey for many aggressive animals in the wild and they need to be sheared of their heavy wool coats or they will literally topple over; unable to get up.
Whether we like it or not, we too are often very sheep-like. We foolishly play follow the leader; knowing that the we are being led into destructive behavior. We often wander aimlessly through life and become unaware of the danger around us. And without a Shepherd to protect us, we are easy prey for an enemy who seeks to devour us (1 Peter 5:8).
Thankfully, our Heavenly Father knows us and knows what we need. He allowed his only Son to be the sacrificial lamb to take away our sin. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all (Isaiah 53:6-7). The Lamb of God is not a helpless follower, but rather the One that leads us from death into life. For the lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water (Revelation 7:17).
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
My Shepherd
Have we heard the words of Psalm 23 so many times that they don't even sink in anymore? Even non-believers know the words from countless funerals or other events where this all-too-familiar passage is recited. Before we allow the words of this treasured Psalm to ring hollow, we need to spend some time reflecting on the many blessings our Shepherd provides to us. The promises and truths of the 23rd Psalm are worth camping out on.
Yahweh Roi (Hebrew for Lord the Shepherd) meets all of the needs of those under his care. He provides rest, refreshment and restoration from the struggles and trials of day-to-day living. He leads and guides us in making wise decisions. He directs us in the path of righteousness. He stands with us during times of fear and uncertainty. He protects us from evil and removes the fear of death. He gives us comfort in his power and might. He shows favor to those He loves and blesses beyond what we can imagine.
In Old Testament times, the shepherd was responsible for the welfare of his flock--a flock that was helpless to take care of itself. Apart from our Shepherd, we too are helpless to take care of ourselves. But praise the Lord our Shepherd for watching over us day and night, protecting us and caring for us and keeping us safe in the path of righteousness. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever (v.6).
Yahweh Roi (Hebrew for Lord the Shepherd) meets all of the needs of those under his care. He provides rest, refreshment and restoration from the struggles and trials of day-to-day living. He leads and guides us in making wise decisions. He directs us in the path of righteousness. He stands with us during times of fear and uncertainty. He protects us from evil and removes the fear of death. He gives us comfort in his power and might. He shows favor to those He loves and blesses beyond what we can imagine.
In Old Testament times, the shepherd was responsible for the welfare of his flock--a flock that was helpless to take care of itself. Apart from our Shepherd, we too are helpless to take care of ourselves. But praise the Lord our Shepherd for watching over us day and night, protecting us and caring for us and keeping us safe in the path of righteousness. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever (v.6).
Sunday, October 3, 2010
A Wise Man Once Said
King Solomon, whom the Bible tells us was the wisest man who ever lived, penned some very powerful words in Scripture. Proverbs is full of rich spiritual wisdom and a book that God's men should often revisit. Ecclesiastes was written near the end of his life; at a time when Solomon realized that many of things he pursued had no lasting value, meaning or purpose.
Ecclesiastes 5 gives us a great snapshot of things that we traditionally value that ultimately leave us dissatisfied. Verses 1 through 7 emphasize the foolishness of an empty religious profession before a sovereign God. Verses 8 and 9 remind us that while those who rule over us may oppress, ultimately they will be held to a higher standard. Some of the most miserable people in the world are those who try to follow God's holy standards (and fail) without building a personal relationship with Christ. They can commiserate with those who worry and complain about the unfairness of life.
The rest of the chapter deals with the subject of wealth and enjoyment--something Solomon as the wealthiest man who ever lived--was qualified to speak on. He noted that the drive for wealth does not satisfy and can bring on it's own set of troubles, such as attracting dependents (v.11) and causing restlessness (v.12). Verses 13-17 remind us how easily wealth can be lost; making it a very unstable foundation for life.
What a bleak picture Solomon has painted, right? Not so. In verse 18, he unlocks the often elusive key to satisfaction. We are reminded to enjoy the fruits of our labor and to accept our position in life with joy. To cherish the blessings we have instead of coveting what we don't have will help keep us from chasing after the wind. ...to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil--this is the gift of God. (v.19)
Ecclesiastes 5 gives us a great snapshot of things that we traditionally value that ultimately leave us dissatisfied. Verses 1 through 7 emphasize the foolishness of an empty religious profession before a sovereign God. Verses 8 and 9 remind us that while those who rule over us may oppress, ultimately they will be held to a higher standard. Some of the most miserable people in the world are those who try to follow God's holy standards (and fail) without building a personal relationship with Christ. They can commiserate with those who worry and complain about the unfairness of life.
The rest of the chapter deals with the subject of wealth and enjoyment--something Solomon as the wealthiest man who ever lived--was qualified to speak on. He noted that the drive for wealth does not satisfy and can bring on it's own set of troubles, such as attracting dependents (v.11) and causing restlessness (v.12). Verses 13-17 remind us how easily wealth can be lost; making it a very unstable foundation for life.
What a bleak picture Solomon has painted, right? Not so. In verse 18, he unlocks the often elusive key to satisfaction. We are reminded to enjoy the fruits of our labor and to accept our position in life with joy. To cherish the blessings we have instead of coveting what we don't have will help keep us from chasing after the wind. ...to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil--this is the gift of God. (v.19)
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Timeless and Timely
In reflecting on the life of King David, the Apostle Paul referred to him as a man who "served the purpose of God in his own generation" (Acts 13:36). Since we know that David was a man after God's own heart, it makes sense that we as God's men should follow his example. To effectively serve Him, we need to embrace the notion of timeless and timely.
God purpose is eternal and timeless. His purpose remains unchanged since the beginning of time. His desire is for us to know Him, to have intimate fellowship with Him and to tell others of his love for them. In his own generation means we are to be contemporary and timely. We need to reach others and relate to people as they live right now. Abandon your comfort zone. When you read of Christ's earthly ministry in the Gospels, he didn't just hang out in the temple and wait for people to find him. He went out and met human need with divine resources.
Eternal and timeless means the truth of God's Word is still the truth---yesterday, today, tomorrow and forever. We should never compromise the truth in the hopes of reaching the lost but rather share and show how God's love has changed us from the inside out. Contemporary and timely means right here, right now. Thankfully, we don't have to carve out the message on stone tablets! We can embrace available technology and share biblical truth with our Facebook friends and send messages of hope and encouragement. When God promised that his Word would never return empty (Isaiah 55:11), he didn't put any conditions on how it needed to be delivered.
To be great at the Great Commandment (Mark 12:30-31) demands that we be timeless and timely. To view where He has placed us as our personal mission field. To be men after God's heart. Like David. In our generation.
God purpose is eternal and timeless. His purpose remains unchanged since the beginning of time. His desire is for us to know Him, to have intimate fellowship with Him and to tell others of his love for them. In his own generation means we are to be contemporary and timely. We need to reach others and relate to people as they live right now. Abandon your comfort zone. When you read of Christ's earthly ministry in the Gospels, he didn't just hang out in the temple and wait for people to find him. He went out and met human need with divine resources.
Eternal and timeless means the truth of God's Word is still the truth---yesterday, today, tomorrow and forever. We should never compromise the truth in the hopes of reaching the lost but rather share and show how God's love has changed us from the inside out. Contemporary and timely means right here, right now. Thankfully, we don't have to carve out the message on stone tablets! We can embrace available technology and share biblical truth with our Facebook friends and send messages of hope and encouragement. When God promised that his Word would never return empty (Isaiah 55:11), he didn't put any conditions on how it needed to be delivered.
To be great at the Great Commandment (Mark 12:30-31) demands that we be timeless and timely. To view where He has placed us as our personal mission field. To be men after God's heart. Like David. In our generation.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
The Lords of Hosts
Although there is only one true God who exists in three person---Father, Son and Spirit, Scripture records many different names for Him. Each name reveals a truth or character about Him that is worthy of our worship and praise. One of my favorites, especially when things in life don't seem to make sense and everything seems to be spinning out of control, is Yahweh Tseboath; which means the Lord of Hosts.
Let the Word of God explain what this name means: "Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!" The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah (Psalm 46:10-11). The Lord of Hosts means He is supreme over all other beings and events in the physical and spiritual universe. This entire Psalm speaks to God's power and control over all things that have happened, are happening, and will happen in the future. God is always involved, always on the scene, always in control, never late, never out of the loop, never caught off guard and always accomplishing His purpose and plans. Isaiah 14:26-27 assures us that if the Lord of Hosts has planned it, nothing can stop it.
Notice what David said as he faced what appeared to be an impossible situation in fighting Goliath: "You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down...(1 Samuel 17:45-46).
It is with that same confidence in the Lord of Hosts that the psalmist can say: "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way.. (v.1-2). As God's men, we must have the same confidence in knowing that the battle always belongs to the Lord.
Let the Word of God explain what this name means: "Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!" The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah (Psalm 46:10-11). The Lord of Hosts means He is supreme over all other beings and events in the physical and spiritual universe. This entire Psalm speaks to God's power and control over all things that have happened, are happening, and will happen in the future. God is always involved, always on the scene, always in control, never late, never out of the loop, never caught off guard and always accomplishing His purpose and plans. Isaiah 14:26-27 assures us that if the Lord of Hosts has planned it, nothing can stop it.
Notice what David said as he faced what appeared to be an impossible situation in fighting Goliath: "You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down...(1 Samuel 17:45-46).
It is with that same confidence in the Lord of Hosts that the psalmist can say: "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way.. (v.1-2). As God's men, we must have the same confidence in knowing that the battle always belongs to the Lord.
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