“Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: For we walk by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.”─2 Corinthians 5:6-10

Looking at the verses above, we clearly see TWO different aspects in the same verse. The first is our wish (as born-again Christians) to be with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is already noted by many that the first is concerning those that are saved to Jesus Christ and those that are NOT saved to Jesus Christ. (First division, which is fairly obvious) meaning that as a born-again Christian while we live here on this planet, we are absent (physically) from the Lord, which grieves us.

The unsaved does NOT care about this, therefore, there is little to be discerned concerning them. The second part of the first partis just as simple, actually a flip-flop if you will: We would rather be absent in the body and present with the Lord…which is easily understandable for the born-again Christian. It is here that we see a “bifurcation,” the actual second part!

This second part is different, almost completely from the first part in the verses. The viewpoint is changed: the person is no longer looking at an individual who wants to be with the Lord. The viewpoint is now shifted to a “place” and “time.” This place is exclusively for the born-again who are in heaven…right now (so to speak)!

Jesus Christ is NOT judging anyone as to whether they are going to heaven or hell, this is already a done deal. Jesus Christ is judging the “faithful” according to their actions while on earth. Now a lot of people are beginning to squirm a little, because they KNOW the list of their sins, so…at this time…lets remember something! Did YOU or did YOU NOT…ask the Lord to forgive you of your sin?

Remember also, that in following Jesus Christ, we are washed in HIS blood on the cross. Therefore we are NOT being judged for our sins at this particular time! Jesus Christ is handing out the many crowns HE promised to those who are, deserving! What is also unique about this is, all of it is about love!!

What else is new for us here? We already KNOW the Lord God Almighty loves us with an unending love! The real question here is, “What do we really want and how far are we willing to go to receive what we want?” The answer is really simple, “We want to be with the Lord in heaven…and the only way to get there is to die as a human!” So this implies that we truly “believe” in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.

The Next part is very difficult! Are YOU willing to DIE to get there? Ooh…BIG snag there…right?? We already know that we get “three score and 10 years (70 Years)” or there about, to live here on this planet, but the question comes, “Is that enough time for YOU”? “Whoa!! Wait a second now! Lets re-examine this for a second. Something sounds a little fishy!!”

YOU might be saying. “Umm…I’m just 60 right now, that means in approximately 10 years or so…I must DIE?” For a moment, you begin to think about parents or grandparents…some…of whom saw 90 years and the prospect of DEATH now seems a little on the harsh side! Then you begin to think, well, Jesus Christ died too and HE was only 33 years old, but still…70 years or so…wow! That’s a bit much, don’t you think?

Then the thought occurs to you, how else do you get from here (earth) to there (heaven)? You must die. Then the verse really hits home: To be absent from the body (at the very microsecond of your body’s death) you are present with the Lord! Maybe it isn’t as bad as you first thought it would be…for the moment!

Okay, so here come all the questions: “Why must it be at 70 or so years?” (a.) Would it truly matter if it were 70 years or 200? The problem is it would still seem harsh even if you had 200 years! Think in terms of what would you have to suffer in 200 years! Remember, time is relevant! Also, according to Psalm 90:10:

“The days of our years are threescore years and ten (70 years); and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.”

Is anyone paying attention here to what the Word of God has just said? Seventy years or there about…that’s it!! You have the “normal amount of labour” and the “normal amount of suffering!” If by chance you live to 80 years, your extra years are with extra labor and suffering! Still not convinced? Maybe in the extra 10 years, you have the opportunity to watch one of your children die. Now do you understand?? There is a reason for everything that happens and that is according to the Lord God Almighty!

So why should there be any problem with DEATH?? YOU already know, it’s coming for YOU, as well as for me. Question is…where are YOU going to be during all of eternity? THAT is what you should be worried about!! Death is NOT the end…for anyone. It’s the first step in getting YOU to the place YOU have chosen to spend eternity in heaven or hell.

Being a “good person” will NOT get you into heaven! The ONLY way to heaven is through…Jesus Christ…and that’s it! YOU must come to Jesus Christ and ask for the forgiveness of YOUR sin! You must admit YOU are a sinner and that YOU need HIM to save you and that YOU Know HE was crucified for YOUR sin, was dead and buried and rose again and is in Heaven…waiting for you! THERE IS NO OTHER WAY!

Just as Jesus Christ is the ONLY Savior, know that death is the only way to get to heaven! Except for those that go in the Rapture! The word “Rapture” comes from the Greek “harpazo” and literally means: Caught up or snatched away from. Then the word was translated by the Latin word “Rapturo” which is then translated into English as “Rapture.” So the word “Rapture” does exist in the Bible!!

What must be understood is that one day very, very, soon, the Rapture of the church of Jesus Christ is going to take place and YOU will either go in the Rapture or YOU will be left behind! Notice something here please: The church of Jesus Christ has nothing to do with anyone else, ONLY Jesus Christ.

It is NOT the “church of Mother Mary or of Allah, or of Buddha, or anyone else.” It is strictly those who belong to Jesus Christ, those who are covered by the blood of Jesus Christ, from the cross at Calvary! I did NOT say this…God’s Holy Word to us the Bible…which is God talking to us…says this! If by chance YOU do not like this…take it up with God!

I hope you understand this, I am asked by my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to tell others about HIM, to expound the Words in the Bible and that is exactly what I am trying to do here and now. It is NOT my choice to make you angry or upset, I am doing as my Lord has asked me.

If you decide NOT to believe what the Bible says, that’s fine with me…I am NOT here to convert you…only God can do that! I will be sad if YOU do NOT show up in heaven…but that is between YOU and GOD! God has given YOU just as much of a chance to accept HIM as HE gave me! I decided I want Jesus Christ and I chose to go to heaven and that is enough for me!

KNOW this…death is NOT the end! If YOU do NOT choose Jesus Christ…YOU’RE going to wish death as human was the end!! I don’t care what anyone says, when it comes to dying, everyone is the same─they all want to know that everything is going to be okay. Here is the point…everything will NOT be okay because there was a choice to make heaven or hell…the vast majority will choose hell!!

They have NO idea of how bad hell is going to be and in their ignorance they chose hell. The Bible says hell is a place of GREAT suffering and gnashing of teeth─that’s enough for me, I hate pain! Just make sure you KNOW where you have chosen to go and then how to get there!! IT is YOUR Choice and no one is holding your hand and no one can push you either way!

Here’s a small story in the Bible, about the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16:19-31:

“There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.

And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue for I am tormented in this flame.

But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.

And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.

Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.

Abraham saith unto him, they have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, if they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.”

Just so YOU know!!

“And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”─Genesis 12:3

This passage of Scripture is talking about God blessing Israel and also that God will “curse” them that curse Israel. I have highlighted the areas of importance here for a reason! For all of the people in this world, it is imperative to be careful of how we treat God’s own people…Israel.

Looking at the various “evangelistic” communities across the USA, I can see many (far too many) are cursing Israel propagating an anti-Semetic attitude! I am also seeing where these same groups are discussing “tolerance” for Muslims, for homosexuals and far too many other subjects that are against the Word of God! What bothers me the most is why??

In my opinion, these churches were looking to be “tolerant” thinking this attitude would bring in more of those who need salvation through Jesus Christ. The problem is, they don’t see Jesus Christ and HIS attitudes concerning anything, they only see their emotions and their part of the church body! They go to Sunday School or teach Sunday School, they attend all the church services and other functions.

They volunteer often on the church’s behalf…why shouldn’t they have a “say” in these matters? And they feel that their opinions should be dealt with. Then we see how these opinions begin to change the very thoughts of pastors of these churches, the elders and deacons as well. Before long, this parasitic attitude of “tolerance” has become the backbone for the entire church congregation, which then bleeds over into the surrounding attitudes of the entire community.

Now these same communities are overrun with individuals that are active in these particular subjects, homosexual activity increase, Muslim mosques are erected and the community is split, one is obviously non-Muslim and the other is full Muslim. An area is rampant with homosexual activity and then has an increase in crime, like “Hate Crime.” And now all the people are wondering how this situation got so bad, why all the hatred and hostility?

In the meantime, the churches are filled with people that sit in the pews, with their hands folded in their laps, looking so desperate and defeated, and pray for help from the Father. Um…did I miss something here?? Who was it that wanted to be tolerant? Where does the Bible say, we are to be “tolerant” of these things? The Bible has never once said these things!

The Bible is full of examples, of how the Israelites ran amuck with “tolerance” or do you not remember where God told the Israeites to destroy an entire group of people, because their influence would lead the Israelites astray, example; Baal Worship.

Where do you find any level of “tolerance” by God in these? Sorry…they do NOT exist! Or maybe it would be best, that you examine the laws of God found in the Scriptures, one of the reasons for the Old Testament being in the Bible.

The Lord God Almighty was very specific, about homosexuality and called it an abomination! The Lord God Almighty is very specific, when it comes to worshiping any other God, than HIM and HE called it in the Ten Commandments: “Thou shalt have NO other Gods before me!” If I am correct, that includes Allah and Mohammed!! And includes money, possessions, whatever, anything that you put before the Lord, at any time in your life!

Just to lend a bit of personal opinion here, I love my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and I will follow HIM throughout my life and I will NOT go against HIS Laws…for any reason! This is how I show my Lord and Savior…that I Love HIM!! I do as HE asks me.

I have also found that I can NOT sit still, with my hands folded in my lap, looking all dejected (when it’s my fault). I must stand up and take a stand, against these things wherever they exist. This IS my duty…to my Lord, I am to preach and teach AGAINST sin in whatever manner it comes!

With all of the people actively involved with these acts against God, I am to “LOVE” the sinner, HATE the sin! Therefore the mission is to show these people where they are wrong against God (first) and wrong against themselves (second) and wrong to those around them (third)! I am to use the Bible as my guide and centerpiece! I am to ask the Lord for HIS strength to help and abolish the sin in the lives of these people, according to God’s Holy Word─the Bible!

Here in lies the majority of problems with most people today, they think it is easier to be “tolerant” of others’ bad behavior, when they should be standing up for the Word of God and facing these problems…head on and straight forward! In other words, “What part of NO does everyone NOT understand?”

Why is it so hard for everyone to understand…SIN is like a deadly virus…once exposed, you fall ill…the end result could be death! There is no inoculation for this as with any other virus! You either change or die!! Every single person that has ever lived or lives today or will ever live on this planet…is already infected!

IF nothing were ever done by someone that is able to save us, all would die…for eternity! Jesus Christ is the ONLY one that can save you or anyone else from this deadly virus and it takes HIS Blood from the cross at Calvary!! It also requires YOU…to ask for HIS help…HIS saving grace! What makes this whole thing strange is this: Everyone thinks they are so sophisticated and loaded with intelligence and yet when the “antidote” is presented to them, they don’t WANT to believe it!

And then, they don’t want to face their situation and realize they are dying right now! IF you had the ability to ask anyone that is HELL bound right now, in other words they are already dead if it was their fault that they were going to hell…they’d say it was someone else’s fault…or that God doesn’t know what HE is doing! The irony in that is deafening!!

And why are they dying and why won’t they find the cure? They like their SIN! They enjoy being in SIN…they do NOT realize that this “deadly virus” called SIN…is going to KILL THEM DEAD…FOREVER!!! If people spent as much time and talent that they expend in SIN to finding out how to be CURED of their SIN…which is through the blood of Jesus Christ…this world would a totally different place…completely! You can thank Satan and his ilk fore that!!

Can you imagine what this world would be like, if everyone stood up against Islam and it’s hatred? Can you imagine what this world would be like if homosexual activity was denounced as the SIN it is and people began to HONOR each other in love? And the list can go and on, but it is the…FEW…who love the Lord…that will say anything and DO anything to set the tone and thoughts straight according to God’s Holy Word!

IF by chance you want peace and harmony, law-abiding people everywhere, it begins with YOU! YOU taking your heart and life to Jesus Christ and giving your life to HIM. THAT is the cure for everything that ails you! And IF everyone in the world were willing to go that route, Peace and Harmony, would prevail for all…because Jesus Christ would be here in our midst!

Speculation and inherent indifference would no longer exist; pain and suffering would be a thing of the past, never to be remembered. Crying and suffering loss would be obsolete and IF you were to look around you…you would find yourself…in heaven, with Jesus Christ, as Lord and Master…King of kings and Lord of lords!! Marantha Lord!

2 Corinthians 6:2, emphasis added: “For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”