Monday, November 21, 2011

Proverbs 14: 32 Do you think about "it"?

Well, do you? Has someone that you were close to, died? Have you wondered about "it"? Have you got fears? Would you rather not talk about "it"?


Well, if you answered "yes" to any of those questions, you are not alone! I believe that all of us have been touched in some way, by death; either in our family, or a friend of our family.

And, if we are honest, we probably all will admit that we have wondered about it. Some people are really, really frightened, and others would prefer to change the subject.

I'll be honest with you --- I've thought about this more in the past couple of years than in all the years previous. Why? Because my daddy-in-law passed away. The guy that I looked up to and loved with all my heart, who was my daddy ever since I married his youngest son, and my folks moved about a million miles away. (OK, OK, it was just to Wyoming, but that IS a long, long way from me!)

I'm putting all the cards out here on the table for you, alright? And they are all face up . . . no secrets between us. The devil was beginning to get to me. He had me worrying about what happens, and how it happens, and when it happens, and, at one point I hit rock bottom and wondered if there really even was going to be anything beyond that last closing of the eyes. That. Was. The. Pits.

Do you know how I shoved that ole devil back out of the way? I'm going to tell you, because if I can help just one person with this issue, I'll be thrilled.

You see, I was reading and found some verses that really helped me, and one of them was this:

Pro 14:32  The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death.

Here are some others:
Joh 14:16  And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever.
Joh 14:2b-3 I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
1Pe 3:22  Who (Christ) is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God;

These verses helped me throw the devil out on his ear --- it's plain to me that since Jesus has saved me and made me righteous, I have hope; I will be with Him forever, and since He is in heaven at the right hand of God, that is where I will end up, too! You see, I accept on faith that this is so. I don't have to worry about rabbit trails that some like to travel down, about whether you are immediately in heaven, or if you are asleep in the arms of the Lord for a while (sounds good to me, too), or whether those who have died can see what we do on earth, because I simply have faith that God will do what He says. He is faithful. It is not in His character to say something and not follow through! You may say my faith is child-like --- some may even say it is childish, but I'm not concerned with what other people say! And here is one more thing:
Remember the question in Matthew? Who among you, (I'm paraphrasing here, OK?) if your child asked for bread, would give him a snake? In other words, you are parents, would you give your innocent child something harmful, something bad? NO!
Mat 7:11  If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?
So, if God is the best parent ever, and we are His children, then heaven is going to be the most awesome place -- far more than you can imagine. No need to argue about whether the streets will be gold or inlaid pearl ... whatever it looks like, sounds like, feels like --- it's going to be far better than the best times you have had here on earth! That is the hope of the righteous. It's also a promise from God. It's another one of those that you can hang your hat on.

4 comments:

  1. I have never feared death, just the dying process. How much pain will be involved? Will I be ready to go when I know the time has come?

    My Dad feared the dying process up until a couple of weeks before he passed. An angel appeared to him, put its hand on Dad's shoulder and told him everything was ok and not to fear. (Don't angels always say that?!!!) After that, he was ready to go and didn't last long.

    A couple of days before my Mother passed, my sister is convinced she saw an angel coming to stand by my Mom's bedside.

    In light of these experiences, how can we not believe to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord?

    John 10:28
    And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.

    John 11:26
    And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?

    2 Cor 5:8
    We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.

    So, if you have any doubts about what death holds, know this...
    He who belongs to Jesus Christ, will never die.

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  2. Wonderful verses, Belinda! I'm happy to say that I don't wrestle with this any more. I know that we are promised a far better place, indeed, and I rejoice that I came through my searching even stronger than I was before. Those are inspiring experiences that you recounted -- I hope that we can help others who may still be apprehensive.

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  3. Oh I do fear death. Some would find that funny because I am sports freak and some of the sports I do have crossed the line of safty. The more I fear the more I face it is what I tell myself. It's like that voice inside me that when I do wrong my voice gets loud and strong and scream this is wrong and then I make it better by trashing it and making it go away.
    Knowing Jesus will be with me when my time is up gives me great peace - it will be a relief because I will be with him again and the hardship of Earth will be no longer a battle...

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  4. Death doesn't bother me. I am eager and ready--except for one thing. My children. That bothers me. I know what it is like being left without a mother, and even though I know God's hand in it...I don't want that for my kids. As if I know better than God what is right for my children!

    My prayer is often, "God, your will be done, but can I please stay until I see my kids grown, and their kids grown?" That is alot to ask with me almost 43 and my husband 50. To see Stephen's children grown? Oh--I just gotta let God handle that.

    ReplyDelete

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