June 10, 2018 (Sunday)
Someone asked Billy Graham, “What happens to us in the first minute after we die?” He replied:
“… the Bible certainly does indicate that when we die we enter immediately into God’s presence if we belong to Christ. From our earthly point of view, death looks somewhat like sleep–but not from God’s point of view. Paul declared, ‘We are confident (of eternal life), I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord’ (2 Corinthians 5:8). Elsewhere he wrote, ‘I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far’ (Philippians 1:23).
“Later, we will be given new bodies–bodies that will never age or be subject to death, because they will be like Christ’s resurrection body. As the Bible says, ‘The dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed'” (1 Corinthians 15:52).
Death is not to be feared or dreaded if you are a follower of Christ. When we die, those who have accepted Christ will immediately enter God’s presence. We will receive new bodies that do not age, and enjoy eternal life in heaven.”
The words of Charles Haddon Spurgeon, exceptionally gifted preacher of the Word of God in times past:
“Dear believing soul, don’t be slow to confess that the Lord has been your ever-present help! And though now your burden is very heavy, you will find added strength when you remember pleasant times of the past, when the Lord lightened your load, and made your heart leap for joy. Yet it will be even more pleasant to anticipate the future. The night is dark, but the morning comes. Over the hills of darkness the day breaks forth. It may be that the road is rough, but its end is almost in view, you have been climbing up the steep sides of the mountain, and from the top of it you can view your glorious inheritance. True the grave is still before you, but your Lord has snatched the sting from death, and the victory from the grave.
“Do not, O burdened spirit, limit yourself to the confining miseries of the present hour, but let your eye gaze with fondness on the enjoyment of the past, and view with equal love the infinite blessings of eternity past, when you did not exist, but when God chose you for himself, and wrote your name in his book of life; and then let your glance flash forward to eternity future, to see the mercies which will be yours even here on earth, and the glories which are stored up for you beyond the skies. There is glory yet to be revealed. And we wait in patient hope and expectancy.”
No More Night
Walt Harrah
1983
“God will wipe away every tear from their eyes” (Revelation 7:17)
The timeless theme, Earth and Heaven will pass away
It’s not a dream, God will make all things new that day
Gone is the curse from which I stumbled and fell
Evil is banished to eternal hell
No more night, no more pain
No more tears, never crying again
And praises to the great, “I AM”
We will live in the light of the risen Lamb
See all around, now the nations bow down to sing
The only sound is the praises to Christ, our King
Slowly the names from the book are read
I know the King, so there’s no need to dread
No more night, no more pain
No more tears, never crying again
And praises to the great, “I AM”
We will live in the light of the risen Lamb
See over there, there’s a mansion
Oh, that’s prepared just for me
Where I will live with my Savior eternally
No more night, no more pain
No more tears, never crying again
And praises to the great, “I AM”
We will live in the light of the risen Lamb
All praises to the great, “I AM”
We? re gonna live in the light of the risen Lamb.