THROUGH THE BIBLE IN THREE YEARS
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
Someone asked a "good ole Southern boy" if he believed in election.
He said, "Yes, Sir! I shore do! The Lord is votin' for me, the devil is votin' against me, and the way I vote, casts the election!"
**********************************************************************************
1 Thess 4:14
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
KJV
**********************************************************************************
What a glorious promise in the verse above!
The soul that is "asleep" in Jesus is at rest and gloriously praising Him day and night! There is no such thing as a "soul sleep," for Jesus said to the dying thief, "TODAY shalt thou be with me in Paradise!" (Luke 23:43)
The body does sleep in the ground, and turns to dust from whence it came. But the spirit of the person returns immediately to be with the Lord.
That spirit is the breath of God which causes a person to have a "living soul," or eternal existence (Genesis 2:7). They who "rest in the Lord," do so happily, and their "works do follow them!" (Rev. 14:13)
They are resting for a great event! That great event is when Jesus returns to earth and shall rule for 1,000 years.
Then He shall "bring with Him" all those who have surrendered their lives to Him. He shall grant them the opportunity to "sit with Me (Him) on my throne" (Rev. 3:21). They shall take part in His overcoming power.
Dear believer, think not of death as the end, but as the beginning! Death is the end of the "corruptible" and the beginning of the "incorruptible." It is the end of the "mortal" and the beginning of "immortality." (See 1Corinthians 15:53-54)
Think not of the suffering of this day, but look to the hope of tomorrow!
Then shall we no longer be saints in sin and corruption, but we shall be saints in glory!
Love ya,
Bruce