THE RETURN JOURNEY (Part 4)
1 THESSALONIANS 4:16-17
Death is a necessary end, whether you are old or young, healthy or sick, rich or poor. Everyone will die one day. On that day, every secret, every sin, every good deed, and every sacrifice to God and humanity shall be revealed.
Every day, people pass away, and statistics reveal that for every thousand deaths, one person enters heaven while nine hundred and ninety-nine fall into hell. Today is the time to re-examine and judge ourselves—to see if we are truly ready to meet our God. Each day, a believer should live as if tomorrow may not come (Ecclesiastes 9:4-12).
Jesus said in Matthew 6:33, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all other things shall be added unto you.” In John 14:27, He also says, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
Now is the time to seek Jesus and a life of righteousness. When you are right in God’s presence, He can bring peace to your situations.
Jesus told us authentically in Luke 16:19-31 the story of the rich man and Lazarus. Christ is the source of life (John 1:4), and anyone without Christ is already lost (John 3:18). Jesus says in Revelation 16:15, “Behold, I come as a thief; blessed is he that watcheth and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.”
Revelation 21:7 says, “He that overcometh shall inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.”
A believer will not face eternal death but will be raised to life at the rapture. For a believer, death is merely a transition to eternal life, while for every unbeliever, hell awaits even before judgment. John 3:36 states, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life; and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth in him.” Finally, Revelation 20:15 says, “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”
“Are you prepared to meet your God?”
(The Recreated Vessels)
