Sunday, March 5, 2017

Journey's End







































           Death is one of the greatest fears of man.  We can witness the experience, but we will all only succumb to it once.  It is the ultimate unknown... how will it happen, when will it occur, what will it be like, where will I be and will I be alone?  These are all valid questions, but the most important question to ask yourself both now and then is 'Where will I spend eternity?' 
           There are only two options, heaven or hell.  Heaven is where believers will be joined together with God and enjoy His promises fulfillment.  John 14:1-3  "Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.  My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am."  Hell is where those who chose to not believe in Jesus' sacrifice for their sins will endure an everlasting separation from God and the anguish of His wrath.  Matthew 25:46 "Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”  Matthew 13:42  "They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
          So right now, we are all on this journey called life and it will come to an end.  It is not an easy road, but a narrow one to the Kingdom.  "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."  We are all on a road leading to our final destination, which road are you on?  Many of us have tried to plow our own road of life, not to far to the left or right, but that's literally a dead end road without Christ.  Our thoughts and ways are not God's ways... far from it.  It is NOT true that all roads lead to heaven or God.  Jesus is the ONLY way to God and heaven.  John 14:6  "Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
           I don't know how often others think about their own journey and death to come, but it has been part of my reality from a young age.  I don't live in fear but with a blessed assurance of where I am headed.  In the past six months, I've seen more death than ever in my life.  Friends, acquaintances, and pets have all reached the end of their earthly road and are in their eternal home.  It is so hard on those of us left behind to wait for our reunion, but it will come.  "This world is not our Home, we are just passing through."  Our comfort is found in His Word and His Promises...cling to them!


“Where, O death, is your victory?
    Where, O death, is your sting?


The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 
 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."
1 Corinthians 15: 55-57