Serving Rascals, Clumsy Disciples, and Physically and Mentally Ill Believers with the Unconditional Love of Jesus Christ
I once scorned ev’ry fearful thought of death.
When it was but the end of pulse and breath,
But now my eyes have seen that past the pain
There is a world that’s waiting to be claimed.
Earthmaker, Holy, let me now, depart,
For living’s such a temporary art.
And dying is but getting dressed for God.
Our graves are merely doorways cut in sod.
— Calvin Miller
It’s time to attach faces to numbers. In less than 24 hours, 1577 will commit suicide. If you look closely, you can see faces.
As believers, these are our business. They are God’s business. Be aware of this. And pray.
For more valuable information see:
http://www.facebook.com/puttingafaceonsuicide AND http://nami.org/
When I was a boy I was terrified of death. The very thought of being six feet deep in a small box, with maggots, rottenness and decay terrorized me. I also had an incredible fear that someone would make a
mistake and that I would wake up entombed in a buried coffin. Just thinking about it now unsettles me. It was an anxiety that required diversions. Which I suppose led me down the road of escalating drug and alcohol abuse. It undoubtedly led to much of my psychological issues that I deal with today.
Here is 2 Timothy 1:10, “Which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. Scripture says that Jesus has ”abolished death”. I have learned to love that word, “abolish”! It means to nullify, eliminate or make obsolete. This is a decisive and a dramatic word which soothes my fear, and calms my mind.
It’s like he pulled the plug. Death does not operate for the believer, because he did a disconnect for us. I used to think my terror was unique to me. I felt like I couldn’t tell anyone that I had those moments alone when I would be overwhelmed by morbid thoughts of death. But Jesus destroyed the devil!
“We are people of flesh and blood. That is why Jesus became one of us. He died to destroy the devil, who had power over death. But he also died to rescue all of us who live each day in fear of dying”, Hebrews 2:14-15 NCV.
“The fear of death is ingrafted in the common nature of all men, but faith works it out of Christians.“– V. Powell. When an athlete goes into intense training he/she will develop in their muscles “lactic acid” (or for the geeks out there– 2-hydroxypropanoic acid) Lactic acid is what causes the soreness and cramps in an overworked muscle. Trainers will stretch and manipulate the athletes limbs to extract this acid. Death has infused our souls, faith works it out of us.
Fear of death is nothing to be ashamed of. Almost all of us have had those disturbing moments that seem irrational. But it’s not a question of rationality, but of faith. Do I really believe that Jesus unplugged death for me? He made the deliberate decision to change the status quo for me. It wasn’t an afterthought, but a definite act, purposeful and well thought out.
“I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, if anyone observes My teaching [lives in accordance with My message, keeps My word], he will by no means ever see and experience death.“ John 8:51, Amplified.
A tremendous promise for the believer, especially the believer who is anxious about death. We are free now, free to live life in outrageous freedom! I proclaim Jesus’ promise to you, you are free!
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These are odds and ends that would not fit in this post. I didn’t want to trash them so here you go. <3
“Christian! Death cannot hurt you! Death is your best friend – who is commissioned by Christ to summon you from the world of vanity and woe, and from a body of sin and death – to the blissful regions of glory and immortality, to meet your Lord, and to be forever with him.” –Wm. Mason
“Death is no more than passing from one room into another. But there’s a difference for me, you know. Because in that other room I shall be able to see.” —Helen Keller
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“The Gospel of Jesus Christ is a message of grace. It’s God doing for you what you could not do for yourself. You owe a debt you cannot pay. He paid a debt He didn’t owe. Look at it this way: God treated Jesus Christ as though He had lived your life so that He could treat you as though you had lived Jesus Christ’s life.”
James McDonald
Long ago, something happened. It was the most pivotal and critical event in the history of the universe. It was cosmic and earth-shaking– changing everything. In a real way history has become “His-story” and rightfully so. The complete overhaul and transformation of the human race is to bring Him glory and honor, for ever and ever.
At the heart of this momentous work, is the staggering principle of subsitution. Replacing my life of sin and rebellion, the wonderful life of Jesus is mine. You could say, we have switched places. He became my sin, so I could be righteous. On the cross, God treated Jesus as if He had committed every sin ever committed by every person who would ever believe.
Broken Believers 