We Are All Terminal

~ Remember Those Who Have Gone Before; But Prepare To Follow ~

The Christian (be confident of this)  ~  We are born into a life in the land of the dying — we die into the land of the living.  

“My friend’s body lay peacefully — for a time.  Soon enough, it would decay and the physical would disappear.  But his soul and his spirit—the real person—were still intact and very much alive.   They had clearly departed to another place.  I knew without a doubt where my friend had gone.  Those who believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, have the joy of entering immediately into heaven” (2 Corinthians 5:8).    Luis Palau (Changed by Faith, page 110).  

“The best moment of a Christian’s life is his last one, because it is the one that is nearest heaven.”   Charles Haddon Spurgeon (The Prince of Preachers)

The Pre-Christian (carefully consider this)  ~  On the cross, Jesus of Nazareth faced physical death, what the Bible calls “the last enemy” (1 Corinthians 15:26).

“Through one man [Adam] sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned” (Romans 5:12).

“But the fact is that Christ did actually rise from the dead and has become the first of millions who will come back to life again someday.  Death came into the world because of what one man (Adam) did, and it is because of what this other man (Christ) has done that now there is the resurrection from the dead.  Everyone dies because all of us are related to Adam, being members of his sinful race, and wherever there is sin, death results.  But all who are related to Christ will rise again.  Each, however, in his own turn: Christ rose first; then when Christ comes back, all his people will become alive again” (1 Corinthians 15:20-23, tlb).

Key Question  ~  Are you one who can confidently say, “I am related to Christ”? 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .

God Is My… (Psalms), 13

~ God Is My Shepherd ~

Introduction  ~  Previously from July 16, 2017 through January 6, 2019 ALN posted a series of 60 posts of “Jesus is…,” and now we look exclusively at who “God is…” from the Book of Psalms.  While not a complete list these posts occur are in the same order they are in the Psalms. 

Passage  ~  “The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.  He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake” (Psalm 23:1-3). 

Significance  ~  This is probably the best known complete chapter in the Bible.  Shepherds provide for all the needs of the sheep.  Christ provides for all the needs of His people. 

Comment  ~  Abundant Life Now has previously published at least four posts about Psalm 23.  One in particular “Where is your God? – 2 of 2” is worth your review in regards to how our Great Shepherd provides for us (and surrounds us with His love). 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .

Myth, 48

~ There Is No God ~

Opening Comment  ~  This is the most foolish position any person can take.  “The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God’” (Psalm 14:1a, 53:1a).  “Even the demons believe — and tremble!” (James 2:19b). 

Interesting Scripture  ~  The natural world of the Creator is enough for any thinking person to believe in God.  “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.  For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.  Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man — and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things” (Romans 1:18-23).

Think About It  ~  What rational person could believe that an unabridged dictionary could start production following a massive explosion in a print shop?  Or how about the complexity of this universe resulting from a “Big Bang” that started with no raw materials? 

Conclusion  ~  There is no way I could muster up the amount of faith it would take to be an atheist! 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .