BELIEVE JESUS AND HAVE ETERNAL LIFE

John 3:16-17 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world but to save the world through him.

John 5:24 Whoever hears my word and believes in him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.

John 6:40 My Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.

John 6:47 He who believes has everlasting life.

John 8:51 If anyone keeps my word he will never see death.

John 10:27-30 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them and they follow me. I give them eternal life and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.  My Father who has given them to me is greater then all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.

John 11:25-26 I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.

Many people believe they will go to heaven as long as they are “good.” They think if they do good deeds they will be in heaven eternally. Many Christians believe it is their good works that save them. But Scripture says we are saved by faith.

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9

Not everyone goes to heaven. Believing in Jesus secures us his holiness to cover our sins and presents us blameless before God.

In today’s secular, politically correct world it’s hard for many to realize that God has a different agenda. To gain greater understanding of this read the book of John and the book of Romans in the New Testament. Salvation requires we commit our lives to Jesus. We must acknowledge our sins and repent of them asking his forgiveness. We must learn all we can about him and join his Body on earth – the Church. These things are not optional to gain the promise of eternal life with Him.

Dear Father,

We thank you for the promise you offer us of eternal life in your marvelous presence. It’s thrilling, reassuring and amazing to imagine – and we believe it’s true. Your word is Truth. Help us be heavenly minded while here on earth – yet also be grounded in our providential role on earth fulfilling your plan for us here. We thank you and praise you.

In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Preparing for Death

Q.  The unrest in our world today with terrorism, riots, massive immigrants flooding into Europe, as well as droughts, forest fires and earth quakes, make me worry about the future. I’m in my forties with a family and a career. My life is busy and full. The instant uprooting of people from their home and country, the many deaths by terrorism and the divisiveness of our own country are disconcerting. I know death is inevitable for everyone but now I realize not everyone makes it to old age.

I worry what would happen to my children if I died tomorrow. I wonder how I would handle the sudden death of my wife or a child. How can I get over these worries? What can I do to regain peace of mind?

A. Most of us avoid thinking about death. We know we’re going to die but we don’t really believe it. In fact, our culture encourages a denial of death, at least until we’re sick or elderly. We’re focused on the daily necessities such as such as earning a living, paying our mortgage, caring for our children. We’re overwhelmed with a multitude of details of life - car and home repair, cooking, laundry, chauffeuring kids, business trips and PTA meetings. The list is endless. We seldom take the time to think about life and death issues.

The many issues in the world news serve to wake us up. These events remind us that the length of our life on earth is not guaranteed. Our life is a gift that we need to cherish and use wisely. The reality of death helps us recognize the value of life. Faith in eternal life helps dispel worries about dying. I’ll say more on that later.  

First there are some tasks that will help you prepare for death. It’s essential for everyone to have a will - even if you have little or no money. If you have young children specify in your will who you would like to be their care takers if both parents should die. For example, you may have two sisters but one is closer to the children and willing to do this. It’s best to have your will done by a lawyer. 

         

You may want to write letters to your children to be given to them at significant times in their life - graduation from high school or their wedding for example. Though you will probably be present at the time, write these letters now for added peace of mind. 

         

Make peace with your loved ones. If you have failed to forgive someone - do so now. If you have hurt someone and not asked for their forgiveness - do so now. If you have failed to tell loved ones that you love them - do so now. These may not be easy steps but they will make your life more meaningful and you will be at peace about your death whenever it comes. Forgive yourself, also. No one leads a perfect life.

         

We need to plan for our own death. If you knew you only had a week, a month or a year to live what would you need or want to do in the time you have left? Talk these issues over with your wife. 

         

Cherish each day. Make relationships and giving to others a priority. Help others in need. Slow down so you can appreciate the beauty of our world and the joy in loving moments. 

         

Turn to God. Faith in God is the best antidote to fear of death. Pray, read scripture, find a church that lifts your spirits and loves you and that also answers your questions about life and death. Seek God and He will give you peace. 

The greatest peace will come to you when you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Then you will be certain of eternal life. You will live forever with Him.

“God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but will have eternal life.” John 3:16 NLT

Blessings, Dottie

See also Books on Life, Aging, Death, Grieving #4

The Promises of Jesus

ETERNAL LIFE IS PROMISED!

Matthew 16:24-27 If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.....For the Son of Man is going to come in his glory with his angels and he will reward each person according to what he has done.       

Matthew 19:29-30 Everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.

Mark 10:29-30 I tell you the truth, no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields - and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life. 

Luke 18:29   I tell you the truth, no one who has left home or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times as much in this present age and in the age to come, eternal life.

John 5:24-25 I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned, he has crossed over from death to life. I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. 

  

To save your life you must lose it? We must give up everything to gain eternal life? This is difficult for many Christians to understand and accept. How can you lose your life? How can you surrender all – everything, every relationship, everything precious to you? Yet letting go and committing your life into the hands of Jesus will result in much gain both in this life and in life after death. This is a promise with a huge price – but one worth everything.

John MacArthur’s comment on Matthew 16:24-27 clarifies this:

“Here is Jesus first mention of the word “cross” to His disciples. To them it would have evoked a picture of a violent, degrading death. He was demanding total commitment from them – even unto physical death – and making this call to full surrender a part of the message they were to proclaim to others…..For those who come to Christ with self-renouncing faith, there will be true and eternal life.”

Eternal life is only promised to those who truly give their heart to God. Surrendering all to Him is a difficult and a daily decision we must make. It brings many rewards in this life as well!

Dear Father,

We thank you for the promise of eternal life, the promise of heaven. What a promise! We will see you in glory! We will worship you and live in your presence. We thank you that the Holy Spirit lives in us now. Help us love you with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. Help us recognize our failures to follow you and quickly repent. Help us surrender to you daily. We thank you and praise you in Jesus name. Amen

The Resurrection

Do you remember what the world looked like in February? Here’s a picture of my rose bushes – there were no roses under the snow. Nothing was there but dead branches.


I attended four funerals in May – all were funerals of faithful Christians. While funerals are not my favorite pastime they aren’t the worst activity either. I went to each funeral to show love and support for the family members, but each funeral also blessed me because of the faith of each family.

Losses are difficult and painful. Yet each of the four families spoke with hope and faith about the loved one now being with God. The fact that these were Christian funerals made them a time of celebration, hope and rejoicing as well as a time of sadness at the loss of each person.

I’ve been to funerals where the families were without faith. These are really sad affairs. You live and you die and that’s it. There’s no eternal purpose to life. And certainly, there’s no eternal life afterward. The song, “If You Could See Me Now,” was played two of the funerals. The chorus of this song says

If you could see me now…
You wouldn't want me to ever leave this place,
If you could only see me now.

Nature reveals the truth of the resurrection, I believe. Remember how my roses looked in February? Here’s how they look now. How can we see these evidences in nature and not believe? This takes more faith than believing does.

Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.” John 11:25

Blessings, Dottie