Passed out of Death to Life! Hosanna!

 In John 6, Jesus declares that those who hear His Word, and believe the Father who sent Him, do not come into judgment, but pass out of death into life.  Two things from this statement catch our attention: one, those who don't hear the truth or refuse to believe in God's plan that Jesus died and was raised to save them, are still dead and will be judged.  Two, we who believe have passed out of death into life.  In simple terms, we are resurrected with Him and now enjoy and participate in His fullness of life forever.  Hosanna!

On the other hand, we recall in Luke 9, when the man wanted to follow Jesus but also wanted to go bury his father first, and that Jesus said, "Let the dead bury the dead.  Follow Me."  Jesus called unbelievers "dead."  Or in the pivotal John 3:16 verse, that those who believe in Him should not perish.  Our darkened minds do not grasp the truth that man has fallen and that God's words to Adam and Eve are still true, "if you eat of this fruit, you shall surely die."  Man, because of sin, is already condemned and will perish unless Someone saves him.  

Romans 5:18 states this fact and exchange clearly, "Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life."  

When I was a kid and someone said, "Isn't it great that God saved us?" my response was, "Yes, would you pass the potatoes?"  In other words, I had no concept of what my condition was and how great His rescue of me was.  The closer we get to knowing God's heart and His mercy, the more we realize what an awesome feat Jesus accomplished by taking all men's sins upon Himself and shedding His own blood to completely pay for our sin.  No wonder Psalm 21:6 says we are "most blessed" forever.  With this realization, today is a good day to exclaim with the crowd, "Hosanna!  (which means God, save us)  Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the Highest!

God has abundantly shown His love for each of us.  As we realize we have passed from death to life (John 6:24), have no condemnation (Romans 8:1), and participate in the very nature of God (2 Peter 1:4) forever, how can we make any other response than what is revealed in Revelation 19, "Hallelujah!  Salvation and glory and honor belong to the Lord our God!" 

Reality

 Life and Death are reality.  God's Word brings this truth into focus.  David speaks, in Psalm 11, about the foundation, and man's attempt to destroy God's truth.  Yet "The Lord is in His holy temple, the Lord's throne is in heaven; His eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men.  The Lord tests the righteous, but the wicked and the one who loves violence His soul hates."  Clearly God knows and is not mocked by man's audacity to choose flesh and death over the Way of life.  

This has been an up and down week for me.  I received a call from someone that came to know the Lord about 50 years ago and was very much alive and dynamic in the Spirit as a teenager.  I had completely lost touch and had not talked to her for all that time.  So it was disheartening to hear that she had a tough marriage for 12 years, got divorced, and then embraced the homosexual lifestyle.  She tried to defend her choice and accused me of being a "fundamentalist."  All I could say is that God's Word is true and of course, I believe it.  In the conversation I tried to point out that I would not judge her, and she would not judge me, but we will all stand before God and His Word will judge us. (John 12:48)  God's Word never changes, and clearly describes what is good and what is bad.  Eternity is forever decided by our choices.  

On the other side of the coin, a good friend and dedicated Christian in Wisconsin went home this week.  I had been in touch with his wife and saw such love of God and peace as he slowly moved toward eternity.  How great is his time of coming before the living God with joy!  Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.  It is precious because our eyes and heart get to experience the very presence of God.  Psalm 11 concludes with the righteous beholding His face.

My heart and mind has been overwhelmed with the reality of life and death.  Clearly God created us to know Him and obey Him that we may enjoy His glory and presence forever.  Well done, good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Father.  The reality of heaven and hell and the just judgment of God are not talked about much in the church these days, but Romans 2:6-10 states an eternal truth.  God  “will render to each one according to his deeds: eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality;  but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil."  He promises glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good. 

When all is said and done, nothing matters as much as our eternal destiny.  God not only "tests us with His eyes upon us," but He also is with us (Jehovah Shammah) every step of the way to help us get there, a very present help in times of trouble.  He leaves the 99 to go after the lost stray.  So this word is simple, let the love of God constrain you to do good and the blood of Jesus wash you and keep you in His peace.  May we celebrate forever His glory.