Do people go to Heaven or Hell immediately upon death?

 

Interesting question isn't it? 

 

I had always believed that it was immediate.  That is the way it is presented in funerals. We often speak of the recently departed as looking down on us from Heaven at that very moment.  We envision dying and in an instant we are standing at the Pearly Gates walking into Heaven. 

 

But is that Scripturally accurate? 

 

I read the following Scripture this morning.  I haven't studied this issue in depth but this one Scripture where Paul is speaking to the Governor Felix before being sent in chains to Rome calls all of that into question. 

 

Acts 24:15(NKJV)

I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust. 

 

Does this mean that every single person who has ever lived and died is still at the pre-trial level.  They haven't been judged by Jesus yet?  (Scripture tells us that God delegated judgement to Jesus - 2nd Tim 4:1-2) They are all still in their "holding cells", their graves, awaiting trial?  The Just and the Unjust alike? 

If that is truly the case then for some reason that just doesn't seem as comforting as having judgement happen instantaneously does it? 

Oh well.  I am extremely grateful for all that God has done for me and continues to do for me.  I am extremely grateful that at the end of the line is Heaven for those who know Jesus, even if we have to wait a little bit of extra time.  :)

 

If you don't know Jesus yet, there is no better time than now to get to know Him.    Let Him know what is going on in your life and how He can help you.  Jesus stand there ready to help but you have to invite Him in.  How do you do that?

 

Just have a conversation with Him.  "Dear Jesus…."

Ever had God tell you to take a hike? :)

I love the way God deals with me. 

 

I am a bit of a procrastinator.  I was going to go to prayer and Bible study yesterday and God told me to take a hike.  :)

 

I love the paradigm of God the Father and that is the way He was dealing with me yesterday.  He recognized that I was using my prayer and Bible time as an excuse to not do what I really should have been doing at the time. 

 

God essentially said, " stop hiding behind Me.  Knock it off and go do what you know you need to do!"
 

Tough love baby!!!!

 

Thank you God!!!

 

Nothing new under the sun.

 

As we watch our world swirl deeper and deeper into the abyss I am reminded that there is nothing new under the sun.  In this case I am referring to a few people whipping a crowd into a mass frenzy as we have seen happen with this whole Covid 19 thing.  The whole world has gone insane over a disease that according to the Centers For Disease Control (CDC), has a mortality factor of just 0.14%.  That means that out of every 1,400 people who get Covid 19; only 1 person dies.  The other 1,399 people live.

 

I ran across these verses in my readings today.  While the issue here was different, what it demonstrated for me is that people have been whipping other people into mass frenzies, often for their own gain; for eons!

Acts 19:23-41(NKJV)

And about that time there arose a great commotion about the Way. 

For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Diana, brought no small profit to the craftsmen. 

He called them together with the workers of similar occupation, and said: “Men, you know that we have our prosperity by this trade. 

Moreover you see and hear that not only at Ephesus, but throughout almost all Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away many people, saying that they are not gods which are made with hands. 

So not only is this trade of ours in danger of falling into disrepute, but also the temple of the great goddess Diana may be despised and her magnificence destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worship.”

Now when they heard this, they were full of wrath and cried out, saying, “Great is Diana of the Ephesians!” 

So the whole city was filled with confusion, and rushed into the theater with one accord, having seized Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians, Paul’s travel companions. 

And when Paul wanted to go in to the people, the disciples would not allow him. 

Then some of the officials of Asia, who were his friends, sent to him pleading that he would not venture into the theater. 

Some therefore cried one thing and some another, for the assembly was confused, and most of them did not know why they had come together. 

And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander motioned with his hand, and wanted to make his defense to the people. 

But when they found out that he was a Jew, all with one voice cried out for about two hours, “Great is Diana of the Ephesians!”

And when the city clerk had quieted the crowd, he said: “Men of Ephesus, what man is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is temple guardian of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which fell down from Zeus? 

Therefore, since these things cannot be denied, you ought to be quiet and do nothing rashly. 

For you have brought these men here who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of your goddess. 

Therefore, if Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen have a case against anyone, the courts are open and there are proconsuls. Let them bring charges against one another. 

But if you have any other inquiry to make, it shall be determined in the lawful assembly. 

For we are in danger of being called in question for today’s uproar, there being no reason which we may give to account for this disorderly gathering.” 

And when he had said these things, he dismissed the assembly.

As Ecclesiastes says "there is nothing new under the sun."

Are you rejoicing or do you feel guilty?

Society today seems intent on promoting mediocrity for all and shame for those who have actually worked hard and achieved something.

 

What does God say about achievement?  Take a look!

 

Deuteronomy 12:7(NKJV)

And there you shall eat before the Lord your God, and you shall rejoice in all to which you have put your hand, you and your households, in which the Lord your God has blessed you.  

 

Are you rejoicing in all to which you have put your hand, or are you feeling guilty about your achievements? 

If you are feeling guilty, ask yourself if feeling that guilt is really appropriate.

 

Or another way to put it is; who ya gonna follow, God or society?!

Does God customize His messages for you?

 

It never ceases to amaze me how God uses different ways to speak directly to me.  It is interesting how He can turn my attention to certain Scriptures and make sure I focus on just the parts He wants me to pay attention to.  I had one of those experiences today. 

 

I was reading in the OT today when all of a sudden the passage I was reading had a new meaning to me.  It was a passage I have read many times before but had never thought of in this way.  God linked it directly to something that is happening in my life right now.  It was encouraging and it made me smile.  It was like "Thanks God, I needed that!".  (Just to be clear.  Nothing bad going on.  Something happening in my life in good way :)

But here is what I noticed today that I think is the neatest part.  Have you ever had the experience of reading Scripture some days and your mind wanders?  Your eyes are seeing the words but your brain isn't even processing them.  It seems like it is just blah, blah, blah.

Well it was like that at first today.  And then all of a sudden this particular verse jumped off of the page at me.  It was actually about two paragraphs.  And then as I read on, it went back to blah, blah, blah.  So I went back to where it started to be blah, blah, blah and read it again.  My mind wandered again.  I tried it a third time.  My mind wandered again.

It was like God was saying that those two paragraphs were the part He wanted me to focus on today.  The rest of it didn't matter for what He was trying to tell me or teach me at that moment.

I think it is pretty cool when God customizes His messages to me.  Would you like God to take an interest in you like that?  It's easy.  It starts with Jesus, God's son.  Ask Jesus to come into our life.  Just have a conversation with Jesus.  Let Him know what you need or are looking for in life. 

 

"Dear Jesus….."  

Faith

 

As I've mentioned before, I read one chapter from the OT and one chapter from the NT and then just contemplate what God spoke to my through His word that day.  The one thing that spoke out to me today was the word Faith.

 

I just love it when God connects the dots.  At first I didn't get it.  We know that our salvation is based on our faith.  The word faith is used a lot in the New Testament.  A lot!

As you know, one of my Scriptural study principals is confirmation of a concept in both the OT and the NT.  As I thought about it I couldn't really think of any mentions in the OT about faith so I decided to look into that.  Here is what I found.
 

The word faith is used 229 times in the Bible.  Two references in the OT and 227 times in the NT.  You read that right.  Only 2 times in the whole OT. 

So is the whole faith construct a NT thing not really confirmed in the OT?  Hmm.

That is when God stepped in and connected the dots for me.  Essentially, if it walks like a duck and talks like a duck…it’s a duck! 

In the OT, I was reading Moses' speech to the Israelis before sending them forth into the promised land.  God simply took that opportunity to point out that Moses demonstrated his faith in God in a very real way.  The OT didn't use the word faith in his journey but he demonstrated it in a very concrete way. 

God led me to other examples Like Abraham and said just because I didn't use this specific word or that specific word, don't get hung up on that.  Was the concept of faith itself demonstrated in a very real way?  If so then there is your confirmation!

Thanks for clearing that up Lord!  :)

It is and always has been a heart issue!

 

As you know, I always look for confirmation between the Old and the New Testament of any theory that I have.

One of the things I have commented on before is that while Paul had kind of a cantation that has to be said to be save, Jesus always said it was a heart issue.  Jesus wasn't looking for "magic words".  He was looking at your heart.

 

And just to be clear I am referring to the whole "believe in your hear and speak it with your mouth" thing.  That was added by Paul.  Jesus just said it was a heart issue. 

So imagine my surprise today when I ran across this verse.
 

Deuteronomy 8:2(NKJV)

And you shall remember that the Lord your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. 

 

Isn't that interesting.  Confirmation in the OT!  :)

Wisdom of the Old Testament

No, I'm not talking about Proverbs.  This is a more general observation.

 

I have often marveled at the wisdom that you find in the Old Testament.  Some of the dietary rules for example were later born out by science.  I mean who hasn't been told to wash your hands before you eat? 

So I noticed this today.  It is part of the passage where Moses is telling the Israelites that God will drive out the nations before them as He gives them the promised land.  What caught my eye was the detail that I highlighted.
 

Deuteronomy 7:22-25(NKJV)

And the Lord your God will drive out those nations before you little by little; you will be unable to destroy them at once, lest the beasts of the field become too numerous for you. 

But the Lord your God will deliver them over to you, and will inflict defeat upon them until they are destroyed. 

And He will deliver their kings into your hand, and you will destroy their name from under heaven; no one shall be able to stand against you until you have destroyed them. 

You shall burn the carved images of their gods with fire; you shall not covet the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it for yourselves, lest you be snared by it; for it is an abomination to the Lord your God. 

 

God said He would give the Israelites the promised land little by little.  The reason was that there were not enough Israelites to hold all of the land if God had given it to them all at once.  If you don't have enough people to control the land then you don't really own it. 

God mentions the beasts of the fields but it applies to human animals as well.  It made me think of a more recent time in history where this principal was born out.  Back in the early 1800's, after Mexico fought for it's independence from Spain they had a problem. 

They captured all of this land but didn't have enough people to occupy it and tame it.  So there was this little country to the northeast called Texas.  Yes, Texas was it's own country before it joined the United States. 

Mexico invited the Texans to settle in the land which would help Mexico occupy the land.  Over time Mexico allowed so many Texans in that Mexico could no longer control their own land  which led to a war which led to Mexico losing a bunch of the land that they couldn't control because they didn't have enough people.

Isn't interesting that the Old Testament offered this warning way back in the day!

Acts 10 - a watershed moment!

 

I've read Acts 10 many times.  I've always focused on God telling Peter that all people should here the Word of God. 

 

What I don't think I have ever made note of before though is that I think this is the first place in Scripture where God gives the Holy Spirit to someone other than a Jewish person.

 

I don't know about you but I find that to be a watershed moment.

 

Can you imagine not having the Holy Spirit in you?  Not having that direct line to God so that He can guide you?

I know I am incredibly thankful for that.  If you have never experienced that direct line to God, it starts with accepting Jesus.  That's just a fancy way of saying asking Jesus to guide your life.  Have a talk with Jesus and let Him know what you need and see where it goes from there.

 

"Dear Jesus…."

So you think eating meat is immoral?

First let me say that I am not against being vegetarian.  I eat very little meat myself anymore.  But that is by choice, not because I feel that there is anything morally wrong with eating meat. 

My issue here is with people who cast the choice of eating meat or not as a moral one.  I ran across this verse today.  I'm sure I've taken note of it before but I thought I would point it out again.

 

Acts 10:9-13(NKJV)

The next day, as they went on their journey and drew near the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour. 

Then he became very hungry and wanted to eat; but while they made ready, he fell into a trance 

and saw heaven opened and an object like a great sheet bound at the four corners, descending to him and let down to the earth. 

In it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. 

And a voice came to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.”

 

That is God telling Peter specifically to kill and eat animals.

God doesn't tell people to do immoral things.  Case closed in my opinion.

As I said above, I eat very little meat today but that is simply a food choice. 

 

Giving God the credit and praise!

 

I am praising God today for a miracle in my life.  I want to give Him all the credit and glory!

 

I little over a year ago I was really overweight with many of the health issues that go along with being overweight.  Diabetes runs in my family and if I wasn't diabetic I must have been pretty darn close. 

My Grandma and my Dad were both diabetic.  I watched my Dad go through a couple of years of 3 times a week dialysis.  What a tough existence.  Not something I wanted to go through but unfortunately I could see I was almost certainly headed in that direction.  Needed to lose weight but didn't have any real hope of doing so.

 

That is when God brought Noom back around into my attention span.  Noom is a weight loss app for your phone that I had started keeping an eye on about a year previous.  I had checked it out and it seemed to make sense but I wanted to see if it had staying power before I tried it.

 

At just the right time, when I was ready, God dropped the thought into my brain, "hey remember that Noom thing?".  I love the way God does that.  He just plants the seed, points me in the right direction, and sends me down a new path.

Long story short.  I signed up.  How much did I want to lose?  I picked 50 pounds because it seemed like such and impossible number.  They said it would take 7 months.  I lost the first 50 pounds in 4 months.  Decided to head down to 160 pounds.  I am slightly under that today.  I lost over 80 pounds in 7 months and have kept it off. Noom taught me how to eat healthy.

Here is why I give God the credit and glory.  I had tried to lose weight on my own many times in different ways.  Usually lost short term and then gained it back and more.  But even when I did lose weight on my own it was a struggle and I hated it. 

Once God stepped in and showed me the direction I needed to go the rest was easy.  Not only was it easy but it was enjoyable and fun!  Really kind of weird.  Doesn't mean it is a perfect world.  I still have cravings and I still have the occasional night where "the elephant gets out" and I eat everything in sight.  But the system I learned to deal with issues like that works most of the time.

 

So here is the additional blessing of trusting and following God.  Because of all that weigh loss my health has improved dramatically.  I am no longer obese.  In fact my BMI is now in the normal range.  My medications for my couple normal ailments have been adjusted down or eliminated. 

And best of all, my A1C was right in the middle of the normal range.  Folks, I don't believe this would have ever happened without God's intervention.  I am so grateful for this new lease on life.  Thank you Lord!!!