I have a hope in God (a hope that these men themselves accept too) that there is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous. This is the reason I do my best to always have a clear conscience toward God and toward people.... (Acts 24:15-16 )
I am not a "hell and damnation" preacher.
However, the Bible is full of references to hell:
In hell there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth
In hell where worms will eat your flesh
Luke 16 Story of Richman and Lazarus
“The rich man also died and was buried. And in Hades, as he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far off with Lazarus at his side. So he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in anguish in this fire”
The Bible is full of references to Hell.
However, I don’t pretend to know anything concrete about the referent to that word “hell” so carelessly tossed around by some Christians. But I do know that it has a referent. And there is enough description surrounding it to indicate that whatever hell is, it is a big problem. I also know that I am not God, so how I may handle this problem is irrelevant. God handled it by sending his Son to be killed by and for the world. He only requires the gratitude due, which, if genuine, will produce a commitment to the truth and a commitment to the way. Only to the grateful will the resurrection of life be granted.
I cringe inside when some uses manipulation like, "If you get hit by a bus tonight, do you know where you will go?". Jesus or Paul, never used shame to coerce people into belief. Yet Paul reminds us that when we die, none of us will just be “dead as dirt.” Ourselves, neighbors, co-workers
We all, both righteous and unrighteous, will be resurrected to a coming judgement. Jesus said, “Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.” (John 5:28-29).
Paul understands that he is an eternal being. He also understands that all people he has contact with throughout his life: his neighbors, co-workers, and friends, are eternal beings. So that all his actions and interactions with people have eternal consequences. This understanding dictated every decision he made in his life.
How often do thoughts of resurrection enter into and mold the basis of my interaction with people? How often do I remind myself that all people I contact everyday are eternal beings and that all my actions and interactions with people have eternal consequences? Unfortunately, not often enough .
Yet I am a person of the Creed. We are a church of the Creed. We believe in the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. I need to let this sink in and affect the way I live today, the way I interact with people today, how I share my faith today, and not just as a way to hopefully get me out of hell after I die.
Our existence, our church’s existence, any hope of this church growing at all, as a source of life, that baptizes people, and the relevancy of our church, of all Christianity rests completely on the hope of the resurrection and sharing this hope with others. If we do not share this hope, it will not happen. We need to be living in that hope today and sharing with others that hope today as resurrected people, and the future hope with those who are in Christ Jesus.
Take time in silence to ponder the resurrection of Christ.
Take time to ponder your resurrection in Christ.
As your knees get weak as you try to take in the enormity of it all, be thankful.
Be thankful to the Father who's unbelievable love conceived it.
Be thankful to the Son who's unbelievable love endured it.
Be thankful to the Holy Spirit who's unbelievable love empowered it.
Pray that you will begin sharing this resurrection through Jesus you are so grateful to have received with others.
Pray that you and that your church full of thanksgiving, can be a visible and living testimony to the resurrection hope in Christ to the world.
Pray that the Holy Spirit will remind you and give you an eternal perspective with every person you encounter in your day.
My family, I pray you reflect starting this morning and throughout this weekend on your belief in the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Claim this belief again over your life, the life of your family, the life of your church. Then write down the name of at least one person you plan to share your belief in the resurrection with this weekend, In Jesus’ name. Please pray the same over me. God bless you my friends!
Please share your reflections and prayers in the comment box below with us from todays reading.
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