If death somehow gave us truths we didn’t have or didn’t believe while living what would we do with it? Most, would probably want to come back to life to tell those they love and others what they now know. One thing is for sure, when a person dies, they know in an instant there is a God, and there is judgement for how they lived and best, or worst of all, that there is indeed a heaven, and a hell.
Jesus told a true story about such a request from a dead man:
“There once was a rich man, expensively dressed in the latest fashions, wasting his days in conspicuous consumption. A poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, had been dumped on his doorstep. All he lived for was to get a meal from scraps off the rich man’s table. His best friends were the dogs who came and licked his sores.
“Then he died, this poor man, and was taken up by the angels to the lap of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. In hell and in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham in the distance and Lazarus in his lap. He called out, ‘Father Abraham, mercy! Have mercy! Send Lazarus to dip his finger in water to cool my tongue. I’m in agony in this fire.’
“But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that in your lifetime you got the good things and Lazarus the bad things. It’s not like that here. Here he’s consoled and you’re tormented. Besides, in all these matters there is a huge chasm set between us so that no one can go from us to you even if he wanted to, nor can anyone cross over from you to us.’
“The rich man said, ‘Then let me ask you, Father: Send him to the house of my father where I have five brothers, so he can tell them the score and warn them so they won’t end up here in this place of torment.’
“Abraham answered, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets to tell them the score. Let them listen to them.’
“‘I know, Father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but they’re not listening. If someone came back to them from the dead, they would change their ways.’
“Abraham replied, ‘If they won’t listen to Moses and the Prophets, they’re not going to be convinced by someone who rises from the dead.’” Luke 16:19-31 (MSG)
Jesus told the people straight up, believe me, believe the Word of God (Bible), believe the many ministers, evangelist, missionaries, family members, friends, co-workers, and yes, bloggers that I have sent to tell you the Good News of the Gospel while you are living. That is; accept Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins, wrong doing. After you die, and see these truths for yourself, it will be too late for you to choose God. You say, it’s too hard to believe in something, or someone you can’t see, yet you believe in gravity, and the wind! It takes faith, and God gave everyone a measure of faith to get you started. Please act on it. Don’t live, or should I say die, to regret your decision.
One last thing; “Thank you,” to everyone who reads this blog regularly, or once in a while. Each post starts with prayer, asking God what He wants to say to you. I do my best to transmit his words to your hearts. I pray for you as I write, “Words, inspiring you to grow in God”.
Copyright © 2019 Mark Brady. All rights reserved.
There it is. Another ugly, races, hateful, hurtful word from one I know very well. “I don’t understand,” has been cried out to God many times after one of their zingers comes out of their mouth. “God, why do they still feel, act, and say these things? After all, they go to church!”
Well, here you are. In the middle of life, and honestly, it’s not what you expected. What do you do? Give up? Run away? Get a divorce? The attraction is; wherever I go has to be better than this! Disappointing job, house, spouse, church, etc. doesn’t really matter. It sucks!
If you have tried everything, does that list include Jesus?
The only one, you need to ask, is the One who already knows what you have need of. “Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” (Mat. 6:8 NIV)
There is something powerful about an invitation! Receiving one can strike a number of emotions within us. It all depends on what we are being invited to, and who is giving the invitation.
I have been reading from the Bible book of Exodus. Today, I read a portion of chapter 12. The true story of Pharaoh and the children of Israel has always intrigued me. In meditating, upon this portion of God’s word, I realized one thing, being with God, being in his presence, is all about obedience.
Last week I wrote about helping a young man. The focus should not be on the things I bought to help him for a few days, but on the words I shared with him, that if accepted, and acted upon will last him for eternity.
brady, mark a. 