Prepare to meet your God!

Does this heading startle you? Does it disturb you? It is an actual quotation from the Old Testament book of Amos. God, through the prophet Amos, was remonstrating with the nation of Israel for their continual backslidings and refusal to obey Him.

 Amos 4:12, 13, "(12) Therefore thus will I do to you, O Israel; because I will do this to you, prepare to meet your God, O Israel!" (13) For behold, He who forms the mountains, and creates the wind, who declares to man what his though is, and makes the morning darkness, who treads the high places of the earth - the LORD God of hosts is His name.

 Israel made preparations to meet their God at Mount Sinai; where the Law was given unto them. This was a covenant between God and the nation. The following centuries revealed a nation that disobeyed Him and worshipped the idols of the surrounding nations. Here in Amos, the message is to prepare to meet their God; but this time it would be in judgement upon them. Subsequently, both the northern kingdom of ten tribes [Israel] and the southern kingdom [Judah] were carried away captive into foreign lands. The ten tribes were carried away into Assyria and the two tribes were carried away into Chaldea; each on separate occasions.

 What bearing does this have in today's world? The modern nation of Israel is nothing like ancient Israel. The Israelis are back in their land, but without a temple on Mount Moriah in Jerusalem, or the sacrifices God insisted upon. Yet God still holds them responsible for their manner of life; the covenant is still in operation today.

 What about you and me? Does God hold us responsible to Himself for our manner of life? Yes! Yes! Yes! Each and every human being is accountable to God for their life lived here on Earth.

 Romans 3:23 tells us that, "...all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Please note, there are no exceptions - "all have sinned". The only person who is not, and was not, a sinner is Jesus Christ! Now Romans 6:23 informs us that "...the wages of sin is death..." Why do we die? It is the penalty for sinning! Hebrews 9:27 reveals that, "...it is appointed unto men [human beings] to die once, but after this the judgement."

 So if we die in our sins can we expect God's judgement on us? Of course we can expect God's judgement upon us if we die in our sins! The solution to a problem can be found in the problem itself. In this case we need to get rid of our sins - that is the simple solution.

 Let's see what the apostle Paul, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, wrote to the believers in Christ in Romans 3:19-26.

"(19) Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

(20) Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

(21) But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,

(22) even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and upon all who believe. For there is no difference;

(23) for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

(24) being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

(25) whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed,

(26) to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus."

 Let's take note of the main points in each verse. In 19 all the world is guilty before God. In 20 no one is justified before God under the law. In 21 and 22 we can have the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ. In 23 we see that all have sinned. In 24 we find there is redemption and justification in Christ Jesus through God's grace to us. In 25 Christ shed His blood and made atonement to God for us; therefore God can pass over all our sins previously committed. In 26 we find that because of Christ's work on our behalf God is still just, but is able to justify one who has faith in Jesus.

 You do not have to die in your sins! That is not what God wants! You can prepare to meet God as your Saviour and Redeemer; or you can meet Him as your Judge! The decision is yours alone!

 

Jon Peasey

Words of Life blog www.jrpeasey.blogspot.com

Ebooks author page https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/JRPeasey

 [All Scriptures quoted are from the New King James version; unless otherwise noted. Words enclosed in [ ] are inserted for clarity. Words in bold type emphasise a point. You may notice some verses are quoted with ... at the beginning, ending or elsewhere in a verse. Only the relevant part or parts of the verse, that relate directly to the current subject matter is quoted.]

 [If you have any questions or comments you are invited to contact me via the comments section below.]

 

 

 

 

 

I did it my way!

The late Frank Sinatra made these words memorable when he sang the song, "I did it my way". It appeals to people; doing things their way and coming out on top of the situation. A lot of people can align themselves with the sentiments expressed in those words.

 Adam and Eve did it their way and brought sin into the world. Charles Darwin did it his way and brought in the theory of the evolution of the species. Millions have jumped on his band wagon! Satan, the Devil watches and gloats! Men's imaginations run wild - here is a way to explain away creation and the Creator God. They don't need God in their lives - they have their own misguided theories on their origins and the origin of the universe.

 If there is no Creator God then I can't be held accountable to Him for my ways and actions. I can do what I like and when I die I just go into oblivion. If there is no God then there is no heaven or hell for me to think about.

 Wrong! Wrong! Wrong! You are just like the ostrich burying its head in the sand; if you can't see the problem then it isn't there anymore. Mankind has been in rebellion against God since the days of Adam and Eve. In Noah's day we read in the Holy Scriptures in Genesis 6:5, 6, "(5) Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. (6) And He was grieved in His heart."

 There was no repentance on their part, or any thoughts about God. The result was the great universal flood which destroyed all air breathing creatures; except Noah and his family and the animals with them in the Ark (Genesis 7:23).

 People today are just the same. Romans 8:7, "Because the carnal mind is enmity [hostile] against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be." In our natural, ungodly state we are hostile towards God and won't be subject to God. However, there is a dreadful consequence. Hebrews 9:27 states, "And it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgement."

 Still want to do it your way? Proverbs 14:12 tells us that, "there is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death."

 I want to insert here an excerpt from one of my previous blog posts titled, 'Broad is the way that leads to destruction'.

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 Matthew 7:13, 14, “(13) Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. (14) Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few that find it.”

There are two gates; a narrow gate and a wide gate. There are two ways; a way to life [eternal] and a way to destruction.

The way to destruction is broad and spacious, lots of room for lots of people. All these are heading along life’s journey; some are happy, some sad, some careless, some fearful, some high-minded, some low-minded, some rich and many poor.

People of every nation are caught in the throngs heading to destruction. It is a one way street! They entered in through the wide gate. The way ahead looked good and there was plenty of room. If so many people are doing it; surely it must be OK? There are plenty of friends and relatives to keep you company along the way.

The narrow gate on the other hand is hard to find. The way to [eternal] life is difficult. Satan does not want you on this pathway, your unsaved friends and relatives don’t want you on this pathway. Obstacles will be put in your way. But, it is your choice and your decision to choose either life or death. God wants you to enter into life [eternal] via the narrow gate.

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 Which way will you choose - eternal life or eternal existence in the Lake of Fire, which is the irreversible, second death? God has provided a way for you to have forgiveness and cleansing from your sins through the sacrifice the Lord Jesus Christ made for you at Calvary. He died to pay the price of your sins and to give you the gift of eternal life. Take note, salvation is only offered this side of the grave! Will you receive Christ as your Lord and Saviour and accept the gift of eternal life?

Jon Peasey

Words of Life blog www.jrpeasey.blogspot.com

Ebooks author page https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/JRPeasey

 [All Scriptures quoted are from the New King James version; unless otherwise noted. Words enclosed in [ ] are inserted for clarity. Words in bold type emphasise a point. You may notice some verses are quoted with ... at the beginning, ending or elsewhere in a verse. Only the relevant part or parts of the verse, that relate directly to the current subject matter is quoted.]

 [If you have any questions or comments you are invited to contact me via the comments section below.]

Profit or Loss?

In the world of commerce the goal of each business is to make a profit for the business. A retailer wants to profit from sales to its customers. A wholesaler wants to profit from its sales to its retail customers. A manufacturer wants to profit from its sales to either its wholesale customers and/or its retail customers.

What about the individual worker on a salary or a wage? An individual profits when he or she receives the agreed amount due to them for the labour they have expended in obtaining that money. The employer on the other hand wants a profitable return on the money it pays out on wages and salaries.

For any business to survive it must not only be profitable; it must continue to make profits. If its expenses are continually more than its income then it cannot survive for it is in a loss situation. Its creditors can petition the Court to wind them up and cause them to cease trading. If this happens there is loss all round; the creditors lose money, the employees lose their jobs and often customers don't receive goods owing to them.

Let's look at some passages of Scripture referring to profit.

Proverbs 10:2, "Treasures of wickedness profit nothing, but righteousness delivers from death."

Proverbs 11:4, "Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death."

Jeremiah 7:8, "Behold, you trust in lying words that cannot profit.

Jeremiah 12:13, "They have sown wheat but reaped thorns; they have put themselves to pain but do not profit..."

Jeremiah 23:32, "Behold, I am against those who prophecy false dreams," says the Lord, "and tell them, and cause My people to err by their lies and by their recklessness. Yet I did not send them or command them; therefore they shall not profit this people at all," says the Lord.

The above verses inform us that ill gained treasures profit nothing when death arrives. Those who trust in lying words profit nothing. Remember the Devil is the father of lies (John 8:44). An unrighteous person sows in unrighteousness and then reaps pain and bitterness. Those prophesying lies to the people of God will not profit the people of God.

Mark 8:36, "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?" Material gains mean nothing when death comes. When you die you leave it all behind! What was profit turns to loss!

In the book of Job in chapter 22:2 this question is asked, "Can a man be profitable to God, though he who is wise may be profitable to himself?" The crux of this matter is that a man may be wise in the ways of the world, but is he profitable to God? He is not profitable to God or himself if he "loses his own soul".

Psalm 49:7, 8, "(7) None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him - (8) for the redemption of their souls is costly [precious], and it shall cease forever."

There is a way to be profitable to God!

Psalm 49:15 states, "but God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave, for He shall receive me."

How will God redeem me?

The apostle Peter tells us the answer in his 1st Epistle. He is writing to Hebrew Christians who have been scattered through persecution.

1 Peter 1:17-21, "(17) And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear;

(18) knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers,

(19) but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

(20) He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest [revealed] in these last times for you

(21) who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God."

You can turn eternal loss into eternal profit - today! Instead of being a lost soul, you can be a redeemed soul.

 

Jon Peasey

Words of Life blog www.jrpeasey.blogspot.com

Ebooks author page https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/JRPeasey

[All Scriptures quoted are from the New King James version; unless otherwise noted. Words enclosed in [ ] are inserted for clarity. Words in bold type emphasise a point. You may notice some verses are quoted with ... at the beginning, ending or elsewhere in a verse. Only the relevant part or parts of the verse, that relate directly to the current subject matter is quoted.]

[If you have any questions or comments you are invited to contact me via the comments section below.]

 

 

 

Man thinks - God knows!

Has this statement grabbed your attention?

Mankind lives in a Space - Matter - time universe. Everything we do from the moment we are born happens in time. Even our thought processes, either consecutive or sequential, occur in time. All our lives we are continually learning and our actions and deeds are based on prior learning.

From our early childhood we are taught to think and to reason e.g. to avoid danger or perhaps embarrassment as a result of our actions.

Why have I emphasised time? It is because as created beings we live in a time universe. God is eternal and He exists outside of time in eternity. Eternity is not elongated time! Eternity encapsulates time within itself.

Genesis 1:1, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." Before the universe came into being - God was already there! Before there was a Space - Matter - Time universe - God was already there. God created our Space - Matter -Time universe! Therefore God created time within the framework of eternity.

Because God is eternal He already knows the end from the beginning. God does not have to think about things - He already knows! We don't know what the future holds for us even on a day to day basis; but God already knows the future. Nothing ever takes God by surprise.

In Acts 17:22-28 the apostle Paul spoke to the men of Athens.

"(22) Then Paul stood in the midst of Areopagus, saying, 'Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are very religious;

(23) for as I was passing through and considering the objects of your worship, I even found an altar with this inscription; TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you.

(24) God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands.

(25) Nor is He worshipped with men's hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things.

(26) And has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings,

(27) so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us,

(28) for in Him we live and move and have our being...' "

Have you learned something new from these verses? Have you learned that you should seek the Lord? "...He is not far from each of us..." It has been said, "He is as near as breathing." God wants you to get to know Him. He wants to give you eternal life. He wants you to know His Son, Jesus Christ died on a Roman cross at Calvary to pay the penalty for your sins and wickedness.

Isaiah 1:18, "Come now and let us reason together", says the Lord, "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool."

Let's conclude with John 3:16, 17, "(16) for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (17) For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved."

The Lord Jesus Christ is the answer.

Man thinks - but God knows!

Jon Peasey

Words of Life blog www.jrpeasey.blogspot.com

Ebooks author page https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/JRPeasey

[All Scriptures quoted are from the New King James version; unless otherwise noted. Words enclosed in [ ] are inserted for clarity. Words in bold type emphasise a point. You may notice some verses are quoted with ... at the beginning, ending or elsewhere in a verse. Only the relevant part or parts of the verse, that relate directly to the current subject matter is quoted.]

[If you have any questions or comments you are invited to contact me via the comments section below.]

 

 

 

The Fountain of Youth

Wikipedia: The free encyclopaedia informs us that, 'The Fountain of Youth is a spring that supposedly restores the youth of anyone who drinks or bathes in its waters. Tales of such a fountain have been recounted across the world for thousands of years.'

I want to say right from the outset that the so called 'Fountain of Youth' is not eternal life.

What is really in the mind set of a person who wishes to find a fountain of youth? Do they want to use the waters from this fountain to recover their lost youthfulness? Do they think that by repeating the exercise that they can live forever in a state of youthfulness? It is all wishful thinking!

God's words in the Holy Bible bring us back to reality. Hebrews 9:27, "And it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgement." So is searching for a fountain of youth trying to delay the inevitable?

Death is a result of sin in your life.  Romans 3:23 tells us, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 6:23 tells us, "For the wages of sin is death..."

Methuselah the oldest man who ever lived - still died. Genesis 5:27, "So all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred and sixty-nine [969] years; and he died." Prior to Noah's flood people lived to great ages; yet as a result of their sins and wickedness God drowned them all in a great world-wide, universal flood. "The wages of sin is death."

So are we left in a quandary? The desire to live forever is a very real desire. Is it attainable? Yes, praise God it is! However, there is only one way to achieve this and only through one person.

John 3:16 informs us, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." God chose to send His Son, Jesus Christ to die on a Roman cross at Calvary, outside Jerusalem, for your sins and mine.

The apostle Peter informs us in Acts 4:12, "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."  What is that name? Acts 4:10 tells us that it is, "...Jesus Christ of Nazareth..."

God offers you eternal life, but you cannot get it while you are still in your sins. Jesus Christ, the Son of God paid the penalty for your sins upon the cross at Calvary. His blood that was shed there that day can cleanse you from your sins and iniquities. 1 John1:8, 9, "(8) If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. (9) If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Only a person who truly believes in their own heart that Jesus Christ, the Son of God has paid the price for their sins at Calvary and believes in Him and receives Him as their Lord and Saviour can have everlasting life. Let's revisit Romans 6:23 and look at the complete verse, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

God has something better for us than a fountain of youth; He has the gift of eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. What is your situation? Are you still in your sins awaiting God's judgement? Or, are you gloriously saved and have the gift of eternal life?

Don't let your pride, or your fear of the unknown stand in your way. Be saved today! 2 Corinthians 6:2 tells us, "...Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation."

 

Jon Peasey

Words of Life blog www.jrpeasey.blogspot.com

Ebooks author page https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/JRPeasey

[All Scriptures quoted are from the New King James version; unless otherwise noted. Words enclosed in [ ] are inserted for clarity. Words in bold type emphasise a point. You may notice some verses are quoted with ... at the beginning, ending or elsewhere in a verse. Only the relevant part or parts of the verse, that relate directly to the current subject matter is quoted.]

[If you have any questions or comments you are invited to contact me via the comments section below.]

 

 

 

 

The Desired Haven

Collins Concise Dictionary defines the word haven as:

1. A harbour or other sheltered place for shipping.

2. A place of safety; shelter.

 

The title of this blog post is derived from a verse in Psalm 107:30, "Then they are glad because they are quiet; so He brings them to their desired haven." Who brings them to their desired haven? God that's who!

 

Let's look at some of the preceding verses to pick up the theme of this blog post.

 

Psalm 107:23-29,

(23) "Those that go down to the sea in ships, who do business on great waters,

(24) they see the works of the Lord, and His wonders in the deep.

(25) For He commands and raises the stormy wind, which lifts up the waves of the sea.

(26) They mount up to the heavens, they go down again to the depths; their soul melts because of trouble.

(27) They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits' end.

(28) Then they cry out to the Lord in their trouble, and He brings them out of their distresses. (29) So He calms the storm, so that its waves are still."

 

Psalm 107:30, "Then they are glad because they are quiet, so He guides them to their desired haven."

 

When life is going along smoothly and there are no storms on the horizon it's easy to forget God and His benefits. Sunshine, rain, cool breezes, good weather; these are all benefits to mankind.

 

Ships and shipping in general are very vulnerable when big storms arise at sea. They can't pull off the road like a car. They can't drop anchor in huge seas and hope to be secure. They are caught in the grip of the storm. That's when the Captain and crew desire a secure haven; a shelter from the fury of the storm. Even the huge mega ships plying the oceans are not impervious to danger in big storms and huge waves.

 

I live at Innisfail in far north Queensland, Australia. Innisfail is situated in the wet tropics. Our wet season is also our cyclone season. Whenever a cyclone forms and heads towards our area of Queensland's eastern coast we immediately begin to consider our cyclone preparations and our best option for shelter during a cyclone.

 

Anyone who saw on TV the destruction from Cyclone Larry in 2006 and Cyclone Yasi in 2011 will realise the need for a secure, safe shelter during cyclones of that intensity. Other natural disasters such as bushfires, tornadoes, floods and earthquakes occur around the world.  What is uppermost in people's minds? It has to be access to a safe, secure shelter from the disaster. Since this is not always possible we are thrown on the mercy of God to spare us and keep us safe.

 

It does not matter who you are; if it is a matter of life or death, who can you turn to for salvation in extreme peril? Psalm 107:28, "Then they cry out to the Lord in their trouble, and He brings them out of their distresses." The true and living God is the answer! He provides salvation here and now and for eternity through His Son - Jesus Christ.

 

1 John 5:11, "And this is the testimony; that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son."

 

Jon Peasey

Words of Life blog www.jrpeasey.blogspot.com

Ebooks author page https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/JRPeasey

 

[All Scriptures quoted are from the New King James version; unless otherwise noted. Words enclosed in [ ] are inserted for clarity. Words in bold type emphasise a point. You may notice some verses are quoted with ... at the beginning, ending or elsewhere in a verse. Only the relevant part or parts of the verse, that relate directly to the current subject matter is quoted.]

 

[If you have any questions or comments you are invited to contact me via the comments section below.]

 

 

 

The Ultimate Deception

What is deception? When I think about the word deception, I see deception as an act to deliberately deceive or mislead people; in other words to portray lies as the truth.

Collins Concise Dictionary defines the word deception as:

1. The act of deceiving or the state of being deceived.

2. Something that deceives; trick.

There is probably no one alive today who has not been deceived or tricked in their life. So we are all familiar with what deception is.

Who is the greatest deceiver of all? The Holy Bible has the answer. It is Satan, the Devil! Let's look at John 8:44, "You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it."

These words were spoken by Jesus Christ to the Jews who did not believe that He was their Messiah, the Son of God. Jesus clearly told them they were doing the Devil's work.

This leads us back to the title of this blog post 'The Ultimate Deception'. So then what is the ultimate deception by Satan?

Salvation by one's own works is the ultimate deception. How many people think they can get to heaven by their own works? God does not work on a merit system. If a person could get into heaven by their own efforts there would have been no need for Jesus to die on a Roman cross for our sins.

Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God did die on a Roman cross for our sins. He was buried and rose again from the dead three days later. Forty days after this He ascended into heaven. Here is proof that our works are not good enough for God to open heaven for us.

Let's look at Ephesians 2:8, 9, "(8) For by grace you are saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, (9) not of works, lest anyone should boast." The apostle Paul told the Ephesian believers in Christ that they were saved by the grace of God through faith in Christ. It was not through their merits but by faith in Christ. It was not by their own works lest anyone should boast before God that they did it themselves. This act of salvation is a gift from God

You can't earn this gift, or pay for it because if you do it is no longer a gift! God will not allow it. Maybe you are still not convinced. Let's look at Ephesians 2:4, 5, "(4) But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, (5) even when we were dead in trespasses made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)." Paul is talking to live believers in Christ. Before they were saved they were "...dead in trespasses..." In other words all their works before God were dead works; they were utterly useless and futile.

It is only by the grace of God through faith in Christ and His work on the cross for you that you are saved. There are no strings attached! God does not expect you to work for your salvation because your works are dead works before Him. You cannot earn your way into heaven. Don't let the Devil deceive you. Don't believe his lies.

You can only enter heaven on the merits of the shed blood of Christ for you at Calvary. "...by grace you are saved through faith...not of works..."

Jon Peasey

Words of Life blog www.jrpeasey.blogspot.com

Ebooks author page https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/JRPeasey

[All Scriptures quoted are from the New King James version; unless otherwise noted. Words enclosed in [ ] are inserted for clarity. Words in bold type emphasise a point. You may notice some verses are quoted with ... at the beginning, ending or elsewhere in a verse. Only the relevant part or parts of the verse, that relate directly to the current subject matter is quoted.]

[If you have any questions or comments you are invited to contact me via the comments section below.]

Eternal Life - Here and now!

Are you serious? Eternal life - right here - right now?

Yes, I am serious. Eternal life is an absolute reality for millions of people on Planet Earth at this very moment.

How can this be when people are dying around us every day?

In order to understand how you can have eternal life it is necessary that you drop man's theories of the evolution of mankind! If you want eternal life you must believe in a Creator God. If you are not prepared to believe in a Creator God this blog post will be of no avail; and you will not attain to eternal life.

Are you still reading? Good! Let's get down to business. From now on I will be referring to passages of Scripture in the Holy Bible. But first I want to quote from the very first blog post I wrote titled 'Welcome To Biblical Perspectives'.

"The Christian's Bible has been around for 2,000 + years. Its messages are for every individual on the face of the earth; regardless of whether you follow any particular religion, or not. The word of God is universal in its scope.

I make no apology for mentioning the word God in a world that increasingly denies His existence. For anyone who does not believe in God, the moment you die you will believe! But, then it is too late!"

What is physical death? It is the separation of the spirit and soul of a person from their physical body. The body remains here on earth, but the spirit and soul go back to God who made us. 1 Thessalonians 5:23, "Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."

A human being consists of spirit, soul and body. The human spirit is where I am conscious of, and am able to know God. The human soul is where I am conscious of myself. I know that I am me! The human body is where I know the world around me via the five senses; sight, hearing, touch, taste and smell.

The body I am born with is designed to function in the environment of Planet Earth. God has made us this way.

What then is eternal life? Obviously, it is a life that goes on forever. Let's look at John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." So God gives everlasting life. How does He give it? By a person believing on His Son, Jesus Christ and receiving Him as their Lord and Saviour.

1 John 5:11, 12, "(11) And this is the testimony; that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. (12) He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life."

John 3:36, "He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."

Salvation and eternal life come in an instant!

Ephesians 1:13, 14, "(13) [Christ] In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, (14) who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory."

Are you willing to turn your life around? Are you willing to forsake your ungodly ways? Eternal life is here and now for you if you believe that Jesus Christ, the Son of God has the power to forgive your sins and give you eternal life.

What greater guarantee can you have than God Himself? The Holy Spirit Himself is God's pledge to you of eternal life. How do I know it's true? Because, it happened in my life in an instantaneous moment of time. I have eternal life! Do you want eternal life? Then Jesus Christ wants to give it to you, right here and right now.

Jon Peasey

Words of Life blog www.jrpeasey.blogspot.com

Ebooks author page https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/JRPeasey

[All Scriptures quoted are from the New King James version; unless otherwise noted. Words enclosed in [ ] are inserted for clarity. Words in bold type emphasise a point. You may notice some verses are quoted with ... at the beginning, ending or elsewhere in a verse. Only the relevant part or parts of the verse, that relate directly to the current subject matter is quoted.]

[If you have any questions or comments you are invited to contact me via the comments section below.]

He stood between the dead and the living

This blog post follows on from the blog post ‘Swallowed Alive’ published in October 2013. In ‘Swallowed Alive’ Korah, Dathan and Abiram and their followers rejected God’s chosen family of Aaron and his sons who were to be priests before Him and were to intercede on behalf of the children of Israel.

Numbers 16:32-34, “(32) And the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households and all the men with Korah, with all their goods. (33) So they and all those with them went down alive into the pit [Hell]; the earth closed over them, and they perished from among the assembly. (34) Then all Israel who were around them fled at their cry, for they said, ‘Lest the earth swallow us up also’.”

Numbers 16:35 tells us that, “And a fire came out from the lord and consumed the two hundred and fifty men who were offering incense.” The two hundred and fifty men thought in themselves that they were just as qualified to do the priests’ work as Aaron and his sons and to offer incense to the Lord. How wrong and presumptuous they were! It cost them their lives!

Let’s read on in Numbers 16:39, 40, “(39) And Eleazer the priest took the brazen censers, wherewith they that were burnt had offered; and they made broad plates for a covering of the altar [Brazen Altar]: (40) to be a memorial unto the children of Israel, that no stranger, which is not of the seed of Aaron, come near to offer incense before the Lord; that he be not as Korah, and his company; as the Lord said to him by the hand of Moses.”

You would assume that the children of Israel would have taken notice and heeded the dire consequences of intruding into the priests’ offices.

Let’s continue on in Numbers 16:41, “But on the next day all the congregation of the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron, saying, 'You have killed the people of the Lord.'

What do we have here? This is the response of rebellious people. It reveals the true state of their thoughts about God, about Moses and about Aaron. They blamed Moses and Aaron for the deaths of their fellow Israelites; not the rebelliousness against God of those who died.

God's response is swift! Numbers 16:44, "And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 'Get away from this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.' And they fell on their faces. Moses then tells Aaron to take a censer put fire in it from the altar, put incense on it and go quickly to the people because God's wrath had already started.

Numbers 16:47-49, "(47) Then Aaron took it as Moses commanded, and ran into the midst of the assembly; and already the plague had begun among the people. So he put in the incense and made atonement for the people. (48) And he stood between the dead and the living; so the plague was stopped. (49) Now those who died in the plague were fourteen thousand seven hundred, besides those who died in Korah's incident."

Aaron here is a type of the Lord Jesus Christ, who by His own sacrifice on a Roman cross at Calvary, at Jerusalem, is able not only to intercede on behalf of those who are dying; but is Himself the means of their salvation.

So the Lord Jesus Christ even today stands between the dead and the living. Death is a result of sin in our lives. If you die in your sins there is no hope or cure for you. Salvation happens on this side of the grave. However, if you die with your sins forgiven you will be absent from the body and present with the Lord in heaven (2 Corinthians 5:8).

If you die in your sins you will be absent from your body and your destination will be Hell. 

Romans 10:9, 10 states, "(9) That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus Christ and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. (10) For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."

Don't let your rebellious heart send you to Hell! Salvation is here for you right now; but you have to want it and ask for it!

Jon Peasey

Words of Life blog www.jrpeasey.blogspot.com

Ebooks author page https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/JRPeasey

[All Scriptures quoted are from the New King James version; unless otherwise noted. Words enclosed in [ ] are inserted for clarity. Words in bold type emphasise a point. You may notice some verses are quoted with ... at the beginning, ending or elsewhere in a verse. Only the relevant part or parts of the verse, that relate directly to the current subject matter is quoted.]

[If you have any questions or comments you are invited to contact me via the comments section below.]