TODAY'S PROMISE

"The Lord hears his people when they call

to him for help.

He rescues them from all their troubles."  

(Psalms 34:17 NLT)

TWO MORE FUNERALS

Perhaps one of the largest funerals I ever attended was of

a former coworker.  I worked with the man for about 23

years, so was pretty well acquainted with him.

This man was a sports fan through and through.  Apparently

most of his life all of his free time was spent either in sports

such as being a coach, umpire or fan.  Also he was well liked

both at work and in the community.

When I arrived for the funeral there simply was no parking

room.  So many people had come that I had to park at a 

distance from the funeral home.  And of course the building

was packed.  It was hard to find a place to sit.

During the funeral service all they could talk about was

sports.  This man's devotions to sports.  His family talked

about his love of sports.  Even the preacher that was 

officiating the service, all he could talk about was this 

man's love of sports.

But, what kept eating at me was the man ready for death?

In 23 years I never got any indication from the man that he

had any relationship to God.  Or that he had even pretended 

to serve or live for God in any way at all.  But I did know

 that he was an alcoholic.

I know, I did not know his heart.  I do not know if in his

last years he turned to God in anyway.  But for the best I knew,

while all these people were telling what a good man this 

guy had been - HE WAS NOW BURNING IN THE DEVIL'S

HELL.

Then, there was Jeanie's funeral.

We knew Jeanie and her husband for years.

They published a small Christian newspaper

in this area for years.  Both Jeanie and her 

husband lived to serve God.  If you could be 

around them the talk was going to be about living

 for God.  They loved God with all their hearts.

They had no children or family in this area.

But all of God's children were their family.

I went to Jeanie's funeral.  Circumstances as 

they were, her husband had to officiate her

funeral.  If I remember correctly, counting all

the guests, Jeanie's husband and the funeral home

employees, There was a total of nine of us at

Jeanie's funeral.

Sad.  Yes, that is, that Jeanie had passed away.

But all of us were able to rejoice because she 

was now with Jesus Christ, the God she served

in heaven.

You guess which of the two deceased I would 

choose to be if I were in their place.

TODAY'S QUOTE

“A missionary once taught an ignorant

Chinese woman that she was God’s child.

This new-born child of God stood at the

railway station when a bombing raid

began.  She raised her oil-paper umbrella 

‘I am God’s child, so I can’t be hurt!’ she

screamed to the crowd. ‘Whoever gets 

under my umbrella with me will be safe.’

Four helpless ones crowded under the

umbrella with God’s child.  When the raid

was over, only those five stood alive and

unharmed amid the shambles.  Under the 

umbrella of the Almighty they had found

their refuge until this tyranny was past.”  

Agnes Sanford in her book 

“The Healing Light”. 

p.154,155

RELIGION WILL SEND YOU TO HELL

RELIGION WILL SEND YOU TO HELL

"SLAVATION"

"Let us begin by understanding each other.

When we speak about salvation we are not talking

about religion.

"Many people suppose that Salvation and Religion

are the same thing, but that is a mistake.  Salvation

and Religion are by no means identical.  You may have

a great deal of Religion without having a bit of 

salvation.

"It is true that the Bible speaks of a Religion which

is 'pure and undefiled,' but even this Religion is not

Salvation, but only a product of Salvation.  The

Bible frequently warns against Religion as a

substitute for Salvation.

"The dictionary will tell you that the word "Religion"

is derived from a root meaning 'to heed' or 'to have a

care.'  It is the opposite of 'neglect.'

"It is a good thing to take heed and have a care for

the things of God, but even this will avail nothing

unless it leads to Salvation.

"Religion by itself is death.  Salvation is Life.

"How is Salvation Obtained?

"No one gets Salvation by getting Religion.  Nor

by joining the Church.  Nor by turning over a new

leaf and trying to serve God.  Nor by praying.  Nor

by confessing his sins.  (The promise of 1 John 1:9

is for those already saved).  Nor by sorrow for sin.

Nor by asking God to forgive his sins.  By none of

these means is Salvation obtained.

"Salvation is obtained through a definite receiving of

the Lord Jesus Christ as one's personal Savior.  The

instant this is really done, Salvation is an accomplished

fact.  This is shown by John 1:11,12.  'He came unto 

His own, and His own received Him not.  But as many

as received Him, to them gave He power to become

the sons of God, even to them which believe on His

name.'

"The next verse goes on to tell what happened to those

who 'received Him,' that is, those who 'believed on 

His name.'  They were at once 'born...of God.'

"Just so it is today.  As many as receive the Lord Jesus

Christ as their personal Savior, giving up all else and

cleaving only to Him for Salvation, are instantly and

forever saved.  His own declaration of John 5:24 stands

good through all time; - -

"'Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that hearth My word,

and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life,

and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed

from death unto life.'

"Salvation is in Three Tenses

"There is the past tense.  When a man takes the Lord

Jesus as his own Savior, he may at once and ever after 

truly say, 'I am saved!'  Putting the matter in the past

tense as to the time, he may truly say, 'Then and there

I was saved!'  This work is instantaneous; it is Salvation

from the penalty of sin.

"'There is the present tense.  When a man is born again,

the Holy Spirit begins to work in him, both to will and 

to do of God's good pleasure, and to conform him to the

image of Christ. This work is progressive; it is Salvation 

from the power of sin.

""There is the future tense.  When the Lord Jesus comes

again it will be 'apart from sin, unto Salvation' (Heb. 9:28)

It is then that we who are now the sons of God will be 

instantly changed into the image of Christ: 'we shall be

like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.'  (1 John 3:2).  

This is instantaneous; it is Salvation from the presence 

of sin."

- W.L.P.

TODAY'S PROMISE

"Those who are honest and fair,

who refuse to profit by fraud,

who stay far away from bribes,

who refuse to listen to those who

plot murder,

who shut their eyes to all enticement

to do wrong -

these are the ones who will dwell on high.

The rocks of the mountains will be their

fortress.

Food will be supplied to them,

and they will have water in abundance."   

(Isaiah 33:15,16 NLT)

THE FUNERAL

Today I actually did a task I hate to do.  I went into town
to pick up some needed things,  On the way home I was
arriving at the entrance to one of the local cemeteries when
a funeral procession came and I had to pull over and stop.

In this area it is common to see one motorcycle cop leading
a funeral procession with his lights flashing.  But not this
funeral procession.  I think it was about four motorcycle
cops with their lights flashing followed by at least two
police cars with their lights flashing.  Then of course a long
procession of cars with their lights flashing followed up by
no less that six more police cars with their lights flashing.
WOW!

I could not help but look down into the cemetery when I
was allowed to proceed.  In the cemetery just inside of the
entrance was an honor guard of men on both sides of the
road in black suits and white military type hats, standing
at attention, saluting with one hand and holding a rifle
with the other hand.
DOUBLE WOW!

That sure was not anybody I know.  But I had to stop and
think.  That person's body is going into the grave just like
all of us will.  However, their soul, the real person, is either
in God's heaven, or the Devil's hell now..  Perhaps when
finally I am put in a hole and covered with dirt - I might
even be way better off than who ever that WAS because,
 I am in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ himself.

God tells us about a certain rich man who died;
"... the rich man also died, and was buried:
And in hell he lift up his eyes, being
in torments,"
(Luke 16:22,23 KJV)

That particular man Jesus Christ was telling us
about did not gain a thing by being rich or well
liked or famous.  He still ended up in hell.  What
was his gain then?

God also said,
"And just as each person is destined to die
once and after that comes judgment,"
(Hebrews 9:27 NLT)

ARE YOU READY FOR THAT DAY?

TODAY'S QUOTE

Image courtesy of: www.Pixabaycom. 

“But God said to him, ‘You fool!  You will

die this very night.  Then who will get every-

thing you worked for?’   

Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly

wealth but not have a rich relationship with

God."
- Jesus Christ. (Luke 12:20,21 NLT)