Thousands of years of recorded history lays out the trail of blood leading to a bloody cross upon which God in Jesus Christ died for our sin and guilt. He rose from the dead three days later declaring His power over death and the Father’s acceptance of His sacrifice so we can be forgiven and all guilt removed. Satan has no legal ground for accusations. But it doesn’t end here.
Jesus’ death and resurrection opens the door of heaven for every believer. We have the divine promise that one day soon Jesus will return to this earth, not to sit on a throne and rule this present world but to bring justice, life and a new heaven and earth. In one of John’s visions he saw this: The heavens receded like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and everyone else, both slave and free, hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains.They called to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can withstand it?” Authentic love requires justice to be served for every evil deed, thought and word! Jude 14b-15 “See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones to judge everyone, and to convict all of them of all the ungodly acts they have committed in their ungodliness, and of all the defiant words ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” Nothing has or will escape God’s sight nor can He forget, except for sins forgiven. He warned us in Mt. 7:13-14 that the majority of people will reject or ignore God and be thrown into hell for their rejection of Christ and sin. Is this unfair? No! What is not fair is that God took the punishment and suffering for us, without our asking or deserving it. By faith, surrender and living in a relationship with Jesus Christ we will live in paradise forever. We will be resurrected with a body like Jesus’ resurrected body. There will be no temptation to sin, no anger, fear, depression, boredom, or jealousy and so on. As Paul says, no eye has seen nor ear has heard what God has in store for those who love him.
We don’t need books written by those who say they’ve been to heaven. We have God’s word. Two people have been to heaven and came to earth, Jesus and Paul. 2 Corinthians 12:1-4 I know a man [Paul] in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. . . . was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell. Notice Paul didn’t write a book about his experience because he wasn’t permitted to talk about it. What he saw was beyond what our language can describe and our small brains can comprehend.
Because of the trail of blood recorded in the bible and the resurrection there is real hope and assurance that beyond this world is one that is perfect and prepared for all who are baptized and place their faith and trust in Jesus Christ as savior from sin.
~ This ends the trail of blood. ~
Pr. Bob Snitzer
By the Way:
August 30, 9:00Sunday morning worship. Sermon: Sincere Love – Romans 12:9-21
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