“Let not your heart be troubled, you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions, if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. I will come again, and receive you unto myself that where I am you may be also. John 14:1-3
These words from the Bible are generally spoken during a funeral service to aid in comfort for the bereaved family. A loving God is the proponent behind these comforting words. A kind and benevolent Heavenly Father is always there in this time of need. As true as this is the comfort lies in knowing that the one who has died has confirmed a reservation at the place Jesus promised. We want to be comforted in knowing that our loved ones have passed on to a better peaceful place and not a place of torment from the results of a sinful life that the Bible also speaks of.
Why does the Bible speak of this place of torments mentioned is various places in the scriptures? Do we believe it is real? Or do we think the writers of the Bible just made it up to scare people so they’ll try to be good. Words of Jesus proclaim it to be a real place. For example:
And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off and Lazarus in his bosom. Then 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.’ Luke 16:23, 24
The true God is a loving and caring God whose gracious nature is continually expressed in His Holy Word. But God’s Holy Word also expresses to us that we have a sin nature that must be considered despite His love for us:
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Romans 3:23.
We don’t want to believe this, but our society exhibits it and our social culture breeds it. This nature directed by the prevailing social structure, if uncontrolled, leads to a depraved life that makes eachone of us a slave of our own egotistical wills. The results of which are many. Some people are held so captive that they fall into the dregs of society and become the criminal element. These people must be captured, confined, hopefully corrected, but some may even put to death because of their actions. Others are capable of harnessing this sin nature and create a moral self-righteous life; rising to great cultural and political heights. While others fight daily with the sin nature; beset with drug, alcohol, sexual addictions, marriage problems and other social ills. The remaining group struggles among these extremes living their lives trying not to fall into the dregs and striving to attain moral enrichment. In relation to this; a large part of our social and political work force labors to cure these social ills and add balance to society. No matter where a person falls in this social group; from the worst to the best; no one can be good enough to meet God’s terms.
As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: Romans 3:10
This notion is difficult to comprehend. We do not want to be considered unworthy. We think. I’m not that bad. I go to church. I do my fair share. I donate my time and money. How could God feel this way? This situation doesn’t have to do with how God feels. It has to do with God’s justice. God created man to bring forth a race that could fellowship openly and freely with Him; a created race that would choose God because God chose them. This sin that terminated that plan had to be dealt with justly. When man sinned he became spiritually dead and carnally minded; separated from God.
For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Romans 8:6
Only God could restore this separation. When we turn from our sin and believe in Jesus Christ our sin nature is considered to have been put to death with Jesus and the risen Christ’s life giving spirit frees us to follow a new law and live in faith in Him.
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. Romans 8:2
I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. Gal. 2:20
knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. Romans 6:6
Even though Satan presumed he had ruined this fellowship between God and man when man was driven from Eden.
So He drove out the man; and He placed cherubim at the east of the Garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life. Gen. 3:24;
God had an ultimate plan to bring this fellowship to His original intention. And I will put enmity between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.” Gen. 3:15
This verse speaks of something historically forth coming that God and God only could perform. But this plan also involved an ultimate sacrifice.
For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16
Why did God have to deal so harshly with the sin problem? Sin broke the bond of faith and trust in man’s fellowship with God. This is the same faith, trust and fellowship that Satan broke with God in the heavenly realm in time past.
“How you are fallen from heaven, 0 Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations!
For you have said in your heart ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High. ‘Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, To the lowest depths of the Pit. lsa. 14:12-15
These words show how Satan tried to exalt his will over the will of God and failed. This same self-will was found to be the weakness in man. And with his fall man alienated himself from God. If we believe that God knows all then He knew that man would fall to this sin even before He created man. So why did He bother if this was going to be the outcome? We continually question all the war, crime and atrocities that have happened and continue. It doesn’t make sense. As I previously mentioned. God wanted fellowship with a being created in His image that had a free will to choose of his own volition. A being that would love God because God loves him; this is what must be acknowledged. In God’s ultimate plan for fellowship; God gave of Himself. If God had to provide the death of Christ Jesus on the cross to keep us away from the place of torments then true sin may be an evil that is a little beyond our limited understanding. However, the results of sin in crime and other atrocities that we see in our newspapers and newscasts should be warning enough that sin is repugnant to a life that a loving God would want for us. Accordingly, it is basically the sin of unbelief that creates man’s social dilemma and condemns man in his circumstance.
He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil John 3:18, 19
But what must we do to reconcile our relationship with a Holy God and purify our lives from sin? There are at least seven major religions of the world and hundreds of sub groups that try to explain who and what God is and the way to Him. Most of these require man to perform some good deed or act of self-sacrifice to be worthy of the God’s attention. Only in the Bible through Christ Jesus do we find the way to the true God as a gift from Him personally. God circumvented anything that Satan possibly could do to prevent man from coming to God in fellowship; that is, if man wanted to.
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. Eph. 2:8,9
All we have to do is accept it by faith.
that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9
Our only act is to acknowledge that we have sinned against God; that we repent of our sins and ask God to forgive us. If we do that, God will accept us into His family and keep us forever.
Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, Acts 3:19
My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. John 10:27-29
You may not wantto accept this or maybe some intellectual argument may make you think that this notion of faith and forgiveness is beyond its time. This skepticism is the driving force behind the evil of Satan’s work. He tries constantly to prevent man from finding a way to receive this gift of God in fellowship. Satan uses and has used throughout history every conceivable means to corrupt man’s relationship with the God who loves him. Don’t let anything prevent you from receiving this blessing from God and spending eternal life with Him who loves you. Read the bible and explore the truth for yourself. Following are some descriptions of God’s actions and results of your acceptance in Christ Jesus. These nuggets of scripture are mere fragments of the life that Jesus has for you in His word.
It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. John 6:63
God’s gift
For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: I Cor. 15:3,4
But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. Heb. 9:11, 12
And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. John 10:28
The result:
A new heart, a new mind, a new nature
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. ll Cor. 5:17
So God, who knows the heart acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us, and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. Acts 15:8,9
For this is the covenant that t will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. Heb. 8: 10
as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. II Pet. 1:3, 4
Angels rejoice
I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.
Luke 15:7
Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” Luke 15: 10
Let me note that the angels are rejoicing over your repentance. Repentance is the key to joy.
You know you have eternal salvation:
These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God. John 5:13
God will remember your sins no more
“I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; And I will not remember your sins.
Isa. 43:25
And you will never be alone
Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Heb. 13:5
teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. Matt. 28:20
Your embrace
that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height– to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Eph. 3:16-19
Your growth (God wants us to meet together, to study and grow in His Word)
as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, I Pet. 2:2
but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen. II Pet. 3:18
not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. Heb. 10:25
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. II Tim. 2:15
Your peace
andthe peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Phil. 4:7
If your desire is to have a life that is fulfilling and complete;
For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. Col. 2:9,10
accept God’s gift for your life; all you have to do is say the following prayer and God will come into your life and all His promises wilt be yours.
You will be there with Him and share in all His eternal blessings.
But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” II Cor. 2:9
Dear Heavenly Father, Please forgive me of my sins. I repent and will turn from my sins and let you rule my life from now on. I recognize that sin has separated me from you and a life, which you desire for me. I confess that Christ Jesus died for my sins and rose again for my life eternal with you. Thank you for your gift. I accept it and will use it for your purpose in my life. In Jesus name: Amen
Will you be there?
Copyright © J.H. Lawrence III 2019
Notice: there will be an opportunity in the future to request a PDF of a template of how to layout this tract in a booklet for your own use and also your church use. Come back for that.
