THROUGH THE BIBLE IN THREE YEARS
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The prison warden spoke to the condemned man and told him he could order anything he wanted for his last meal. The warden offered suggestions, "Lobster, Filet Mignon, Beef Wellington, Caviar, Shrimp?"
"No, sir," said the prisoner. "I'd like just a bowl of mushrooms."
The warden asked, "Why mushrooms?"
The man answered, "Because I've always been afraid to eat 'em!"
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Heb 2:14-15
14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
KJV
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We are made "flesh and blood." We are human beings, created to exist in these bodies for a short time. THANK GOD it's only a SHORT time! We "suffer" as bond-slaves to sin in this mortal body!
We are weak because we are sinful. Our bodies get old, and then older. As they progress in age, our bodies get weaker. It's a natural result of our sin. And the natural end is DEATH. We gasp our last breath fighting for life. But we lose the "breath of life" which God breathed into our bodies, and we DIE!
THEN WHAT? The Bible declares that when we close our eyes in death, our spirit returns to God Who gave it (Ecclesiastes 12:6-7). Then, we are no longer "flesh and blood." Then, we are spirit. Then God DECIDES! He decides whether we receive eternal LIFE or eternal DEATH! He decides whether we belong to HIM, or the DEVIL! And His decision is based on whether we yielded our lives to Christ when we lived in our flesh.
Our Eternal and Holy God is Spirit. He took on a fleshly body for one main reason: to destroy death for our sakes. He defeated the devil when He willingly gave His life at Calvary's cross for us. Because Christ died and rose again, He has opened the way of eternal life to all who will surrender to Him.
Because God Himself came to die for us, and because He ROSE again, "He is ABLE!" He is able to deliver us from the bondage of sin, and the natural end called death! Paul said, "I .... am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day." (2Timothy 1:12) Paul had committed his LIFE to Christ.
Christ is able to encourage our lives today, and help us to live so that we sin less: "...in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted." (Hebrews 2:18)
And Christ is able "....also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them." (Hebrews 7:25)
My friend, if you have surrendered your LIFE to Christ, fear not death! For death is but a door which we enter at the end of our "flesh and blood" days. Death is a sweet release for believers because it takes us away from the presence and power of sin, and places us in the very presence and power of our Lord. When our mortal bodies become immortal, sin will no longer have place in our living. And our immortal bodies will also be incorruptible!
If you have surrendered your life to Christ, fear not death! Death is destroyed by our Master, Jesus!
Love ya,
Bruce