Land Where You Never Grow Old!

 

Quotation

 

“Even though I know I am saved, I still sin. My spirit has been saved and made righteous because of Christ's righteousness; my spirit is holy because of Christ's holiness.”

 

Barry Denzil Haney

 

Verse

 

For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

 

2 Corinthians 4:16

 

Reflection

 

Many people are afraid to die.

 

When this fear becomes so overwhelming, an intense fear of death or dying may develop called thanatophobia (death anxiety).

 

In the article, “Thanatophobia (Death Anxiety in the Elderly: The Problem of the Child’s Inability to Assess Their Own Parent’s Death Anxiety State”, Gary Sinoff offers this about death anxiety:

 

“Death anxiety is a universal and fundamental phenomenon, which affects humans to various degrees. Klein in 1948 described that actually death anxiety is one of the basic feelings of humanity and is the root to all anxiety.

Humans are the only species who are aware of the limitations to life and impending death.

 

Kübhler-Ross in her book On Death and Dying in 1969 stated that the problem of death anxiety is more a fear of death and psychological adjustment with the dying process.

 

She emphasized five different stages a person with end-of-life illness undergoes: denial that death is eminent, anger and resentment that others will live, bargaining to cope with death, depression when recognizing the inevitability of death and finally acceptance.”

 

What does God say about fear of dying!

 

As Christians, we do not need to be afraid of death of dying. The most important thing to remember is God loves you.

 

In Romans 8:39-29. Paul gives us this assurance about God’s promise to us:

 

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

When you have a personal relationship with Jesus, you are set free from the fear of death and dying.

 

In 1 Peter 1:3-6. Peter gives us this assurance:

 

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:

 

We do not need to be afraid of death, because God promises us a land where we will never grow old. He has prepared a place for us with Him in Heaven. In Revelation 21:3-5, the Bible describes this place where we will never grow old:

 

“And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.”

 

Illustration

 

Last week I read in the advice column in the paper about a couple who was celebrating 50 years of marriage. The husband wrote that someone commented, “Ken, 50 years is a long time.¨ He immediately responded: “Not nearly as long as it would have been without her.!” I couldn’t get the man’s answer out of my mind. All day long I kept thinking, not nearly as long as it would have been without her. Finally, I found myself starting to write about my life with Cynthia and the conclusion that all I really want from her is: Just one more day!

 

Prayer

 

Our Heavenly Father,

 

You have told us to fear no evil for You are with us.

Thank you for the assurance nothing will ever be able

to separate us from your love, not even death. Your

everlasting love gives us hope during times of trouble.

 

You have told us a place has been prepared for us in

Heaven, a place where there will be no more death,

pain, or sorrow. A place we will never grow old.

A place where we will spend an eternity with You!

 

In the precious name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior,

 

Amen!

 

Worship

 

Land Where We Will Never Grow Old

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1bDJCkWpxM

 

God Bless You,

Barry

 

1Sinoff, Gary. “Thanatophobia (Death Anxiety) in the Elderly: The Problem of the Child's Inability to Assess Their Own Parent's Death Anxiety State.” Frontiers in medicine vol. 4 11. 27 Feb. 2017, doi:10.3389/fmed.2017.00011

 

2Thompson, Larry. “Illustration.” Sermon Central, June 6, 2012. https://www.sermoncentral.com/sermon-illustrations/8120/last-week-i-read-in-the-advice-column-in-the-by-larry-thompson. 

 

 

 

Justice Imagined!

 

Quotation

 

“I believe the Bible is authoritative and life-changing, sufficient to solve any problem.”

 

Barry Denzil Haney

 

Verse

 

I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.

 

Ecclesiastes 3:17

Reflection

 

These are perilous times in which we live. This belief is confirmed whenever you listen to the world news – police brutality, racial injustice, Christian persecution, war time atrocities, etc. We are bombarded with the philosophy of tolerance. Religious tolerance is defined as the ability to appreciate spiritual values, beliefs and practices which are different from your own. According to this thinking, there is no moral absolutes, all things are relative, called moral relativism.

 

We think of justice in terms of tolerance and moral relativism, justice imagined!

 

Many are beginning to believe human justice is inadequate.

 

In the article entitled, “The Scales of Justice Teeter in Human Hands”, Bonnie Kristian offers this quote from Esau McCaulley, a Wheaton professor of New Testament, found in a New York Times article written shortly after the Chauvin verdict was announced:

 

 “’The pessimism despairs of progress, he said, while the pietism “assumes our only hope is the sweet by and by, in which God swoops in at the end of all things to solve our problems.’ Rejecting both embittered striving and passivity, McCaulley counsels ‘a third way, rooted in the idea that a just God governs the universe’ and invites us to join him in his good work.”

What is Biblical justice?

 

We were created in God’s image, to be His representatives on Earth. It was our responsibility to abide by God’s morals and concepts of justice. Unfortunately, Adam and Eve, because of pride and the temptations of Satan, decided they were like God. The decided they would define good and evil for themselves.

 

In the Bible we here about God’s retributive justice, where individuals are punished for their wrongdoings, but most of the time God describes the concept of restorative justice.

 

In the article, “Justice”, the authors define the combination of God’s righteousness and restorative justice:

 

“Taken this way, the combination of righteousness and justice that God dictates means a selfless way of life in which people do everything they can to ensure that others are treated well and injustices are fixed.”²

 

In the final analysis, the Christian’s idea of justice comes from God’s word. The Holy Spirit reveals to us God’s character and His ideas of justice – he is loving, kind, and merciful, while at the same time righteous, holy, and just.

 

In closing, in the article, “The Immutability of God”, Bob Deffinbaugh says this about God’s immutability:

 

“There is no comfort to be found in the immutability of God for the sinner. But for those who have trusted in God’s provision for sinners, there is no greater comfort than to know that the God who chose us, called us, and promised us eternal salvation changes not.”³

 

 

Illustration

 

The story has been told of a man who was caught and taken to court because he had stolen a loaf of bread. When the judge investigated, he found out that the man had no job, and his family was hungry. He had tried unsuccessfully to get work and finally, to feed his family, he had stolen a loaf of bread. Although recognizing the extenuating circumstances, the judge said, “I’m sorry, but the law can make no exceptions. You stole, and therefore I have to punish you. I order you to pay a fine of ten dollars.” He then continued, “But I want to pay the fine myself.” He reached into his pocket, pulled out a ten-dollar bill, and handed it to the man.

 

As soon as the man took the money, the judge said, “Now I also want to remit the fine.” That is, the man could keep the money. “Furthermore, I am going to instruct the bailiff to pass around a hat to everyone in this courtroom, and I am fining everyone in this courtroom fifty cents for living in a city where a man has to steal in order to have bread to eat.” The money was collected and given to the defendant.

 

This is an excellent example of justice being meted out in full and paid in full—while mercy and grace were also enacted in full measure.⁴

 

Prayer

 

Our Heavenly Father,

 

Thank you for being a loving, kind, and

merciful Father to us, while at the same

time righteous, holy, and just. You are

unchanging providing us with hope.

 

Thank you for choosing us, imagining us

in Your dreams. Because of Your

immutability, we know Your promise to us

of eternal salvation changes not!

 

In the precious name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior,

 

Amen!

 

Worship

 

This is My Prayer – Charlie Dicks

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2M1UIlfWqc

 

God Bless You,

Barry

 

 

1Kristian, Bonnie. “The Scales of Justice Teeter in Human Hands.” ChristianityToday.com. Christianity Today, April 22, 2021. https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2021/april-web-only/human-justice-limits-chauvin-floyd.html. 

 

2“Justice.” Bible Project. Accessed April 25, 2021. https://bibleproject.com/learn/justice/. 

 

3Deffinbaugh, Bob. “The Immutability of God. Bible.org. Accessed April 25, 2021. https://bible.org/seriespage/12-immutability-god. 

 

4Michael P. Green. 1500 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2000. Print.