Understanding Part One makes it easier to make sense of Part Two because this part is more significant, in the long run. Knowing we all must die at some point in time forces us to take an accounting of who we follow and thus, where we will eventually be after death. Suffice it to say, one must realize that death is not the end; that there are only two places one will be able to go after death.
Daniel 12:1-2 “And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.”
I am not stating this fact, the Holy Word of God has stated it and it should a sobering reminder that our lives here on earth are being recorded. In my last article we examined being known by our fruits. And this is exactly correct according to the Word of God, because what we do here on earth in our lives is indicative of what we believe.
If we run our lives around obtaining wealth, living a crazy and self-absorbed lifestyle, the world knows we prefer a worldly life. Thus the world will deal with us accordingly. Whereas the born-again believer in Jesus Christ knows this life here on earth is very short, thus they choose to do things that will honor and show their love for God Almighty.
Matthew 6:19-21 “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
As with everything else in this life we must have some sort of compass available to guide us. It is the lure of everything else in this life, that sets us apart, either to Satan and his ilk or that of Jesus Christ. In almost every article I write, I mention that we must consider the length of time we have here on earth. And because we know there is a life after death, how we live and what we believe while we are here, is paramount. We have a choice of two directions for our lives, and that decision is what will determine where we will be after our death. It is simple: heaven or hell!
When we live each and every day, we are either doing so for ourselves or for what we know God would prefer for us. Some of us read the Bible and choose to honor God in our daily lives, while others choose to honor themselves. I keep making reference to the obvious number of days we live here on earth and then ask the question: Is this enough time for gathering great wealth? Or…is there something ahead that would be more fulfilling?
How obvious is it, that the majority choose to make themselves happy first and always; it is a self-absorbed life. The Word of God tells us that the Lord God Almighty will meet our NEEDS. It is always very apparent that the majority choose to have their every WANT met first and of course there is their NEED in this as well. There is indeed a parable concerning this train of thought (relying on ME). This parable exemplifies the difference between, What we WANT and What we NEED.
Luke 12:16-20 “And he spake a parable unto them, saying, “The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?”
How much do you need to live each and every day? How about just enough meat and bread and clean water for you and your family, thus any excess could be shared with those that have nothing. If we look around ourselves in this day and time we KNOW in which direction the majority of people are moving. If we take some time and read the Word of God, we will notice that Lord calls for you and me to be HUMBLE. Take a few minutes and read in the Bible about the Israelite’s in the wilderness and The Lord God providing manna from heaven for them (Exodus 16).
The Word of God contains words from HIS lips to your ears defining how we should live; IF we choose to have heaven after we die. What is so unusual is that the Word of God is specific and straight to the point, and all questions are answered. Having read the Word of God we then see how we should live each and every day. We then abhor the “It’s all about ME” mentality that so many choose.
Again, we see who has chosen “It’s all about ME!” And to hell with anyone else and we then know that their lifestyles do not have any concerns for anyone else…and that includes God. We can also see that their indecision concerning the Lord God is paramount for them, that they choose not to consider an afterlife. Witnessing this, why should God choose to save them to heaven? If you choose everything else in life, leaving God out, then upon your death, YOU deserve to be left out of heaven.
Does this attitude show that the majority are more interested in pleasing themselves? Absolutely! It is obvious their treasure is to be had here on earth. Thus when they die, it stays right here on earth. This proves that the passage of Scripture in Matthew 6:19-21 is real. Again we see where Scripture proves itself over and over again. Try and find a book that is able to do the exact same thing as the Word of God… My friends…it does not exist.
Ephesians 5:6-7 “Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them.”
It is obvious that born-again believers in Jesus Christ must be separate from those who do not follow Jesus Christ, lest they influence our lives and decisions. It is difficult for us as humans to follow Jesus Christ. But then, we belong to HIM and our lives are not our own. Living our lives according to Jesus Christ leaves the burden of life on HIS shoulders. Who would you think is more capable, YOU or HIM?
There are some troubling situations throughout life and the biggest failure for born-again believers is that we forget to ASK of our Father in heaven. And if we do ask, then we ask amiss. We are always looking to ourselves to fix whatever is wrong according to our lives and then ask for the results to be according to how we think things should be.
As the Word of God tells us, God knows everything and HE can see everything and HE can be everywhere all at once. That being the case, why should any of us choose things to be the way we want them to be? Isn’t that how the rest of the world is?
This issue of life and death is difficult and we mourn and feel bad when death takes place because we will miss the loved one that has gone on. I am born-again to Jesus Christ and if and when I die, I know I will be with my Lord and Savior; no more pain and suffering, no more lacking anything at all.
Having said that, I do not want anyone left behind to feel sad and to be mourning my death on earth. I want them to be celebrating my new life in heaven with my Lord and Savior (which is exactly where I want to be in the first place). How is it that people can feel so bad about someone that has received an upgrade in life?