Volume 48 # 47, -- November 21, 2008
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Are You Headed To Heaven Or Hell?
The death of a saint is precious in the Lord's sight.
"Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints."
(Psalms 116:15) The death of an unsaved person is a sorrow and grief to God.
"But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral,
sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which
burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death." (Revelation
21:8)
There will be a resurrection of the body. Our faith in the
resurrection is based on the word of God. "And many of those who sleep in
the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and
everlasting contempt." (Daniel 12:2) The dead will be raised. All the dead
will come forth from the grave. "Do not marvel at this; for the hour is
coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth --
those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done
evil, to the resurrection of condemnation." (John 5:28-29)
How will I be judged on the final day? There is no
doubt that you are going to face God in judgment. "And
as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment."
(Hebrews 9:27) Each individual will face God in judgment. None will escape. "But why do you judge
your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all
stand before the judgment seat of Christ." (Romans 14:10)
On the Day of Judgment you will be there to give account of
yourself to God. "So then each of us shall give account of himself to
God." (Romans 14:12)
The word of Christ is the standard of judgment. "He who
rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that
which judges him -- the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last
day." (John 12:48) We will be accepted or rejected based on the words of
Christ.
The way you live your life is important. The deeds, words and
thoughts of your life will be judged on that day. "For we must all appear
before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done
in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad." (II
Corinthians 5:10)
The result of judgment will be one is saved and another is lost.
"And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous
into eternal life." (Matthew 25:46) Are you ready for the judgment day?
Is Hell real? The Bible forcefully teaches that God
will punish the wicked for their unbelief and disobedience. "It is a
fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." (Hebrews 10:31)
Please do not die lost!
There should be a fear in our hearts of losing our soul in hell.
"And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But
rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell."
(Matthew 10:28)
Hell is terrible because it is a horrible place of torments.
"...These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with
brimstone." (Revelation 19:20) Hell is a lake of eternal burning. It will
be so horrible that those who are there will weep and gnash their teeth.
"And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be
weeping and gnashing of teeth." (Matthew 25:30)
The punishment of the wicked is suffering and sorrow forever and
ever. (Mark
Is there a real Heaven? Heaven must be real otherwise
Jesus could never have said what He did in John 14:2-3. "In My Father's
house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to
prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come
again and receive you to Myself; that where I am,
there you may be also."
Heaven is the place where Jesus is now. One day He will return
from heaven to gather those who have been faithful to Him. (I Thessalonians
4:16-17) Those that deny that heaven is a place prepared for every true
Christian deny the word of God.
Heaven is prepared for those that will prepare to go to that
place. Heaven is the great goal of every child of God. Our reward is in heaven.
"Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in
heaven..." (Matthew 5:12) Are you preparing yourself for heaven?
Heaven is a prepared place for those that prepare.
In heaven, Christians have a house not made with hands waiting for them.
"For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have
a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens."
(II Corinthians 5:1)
Heaven is an inheritance which is reserved for the faithful
children of God. "To an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that
does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you." (I Peter 1:4)
Heaven will be a far greater reward than all our labors and trials
could deserve. "For I consider that the sufferings of
this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be
revealed in us." (Romans 8:18)
Heaven is for those that are partakers of the divine nature. "By which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious
promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having
escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust." (2 Peter
1:4)
Heaven is man's greatest goal to gain and to lose it is the
greatest loss that can be imagined. In heaven, "God will wipe away every
tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying.
There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away."
(Revelation 21:4)
A true Christian is a person living a Christ-like life, preparing
for heaven. "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now
live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave
Himself for me." (Galatians 2:20)
To become a Christian: (a) Hear the gospel (Romans
- - - -
Charles Box
News & Notes
1. Prayer List: In Need Of
Prayers: James Arnold (father of Kyle Arnold), Jerry Barr, Thomas Bent,
Jan Blackwell, Shirley Boutwell, Charles Box, Sr., Dannie
Box, Ida “Jean” Brazell, Dorothy Buck, Olive George
Collins, Shirley Curry, Nell Davis, Bobby Fullington,
Judy Green, Roy Goodwin, Billy Heartsill, Margie
Henry, Jeff Hughes, Dot Killingsworth, Mary Lawrence,
George Lewis, Becky McCeary, Carol McDonald, Mable McLain, Renny McNaughton, Roland Mitchell, Reba Miller, Margaret Munro,
Curtis Newton, Abby O’Connor, Cynthia Olive, Jeff Owens, Betty Pitts, Mary
Powell, Zachary Reynolds, Tete Stabler,
Bobby Stallings (brother-in-law of Deborah Stallings), Sarah Stidham, Ted Tindal, Corrine
Till, Juanita Turner, Richard Watts, Mary Williams and Kim Willett. Crowne Health Care: Mary Alexander, James
Alford, Gene Buck, Gladys Childs, Kathy Johnson, Wallace Murry,
and Myrtle Perdue. Pine Needle: Mary Lou Phelps. Georgiana Nursing Facility:
Helen Autrey, and Doris Pierce. Shut-Ins: Emma Lee Gafford, Jean Hayes, and Doris Taylor.
2. Baptized Into Christ:
David Moore was baptized into Christ this week. David’s address is
3. Congratulation: Congratulation
to Ashley and Jason Holladay on the birth of their son, Joshua Thomas. He was
born November 14th. He weighed seven pounds fifteen ounces and was
twenty inches long.
4. Sympathy Expressed:
Our love and sympathy is expressed to (a)
Ramona Newton and her family in the death of her grandfather, Ralph Sims. (b) the family
of Don Shirley.
5. Sign-Up Sheets: The
sign up sheets for 2009 are on the bulletin board. Please sign up now.
6. Birthdays: Celebrating
a birthday this week are: November 25th Joe Arnold,
Randy Fullington and Horace Martin, November
26th Mary Arnold, and November 28th Rebekah Stallings.
7.
Food Committees: There is a need
to up date the food committee lists. If you are not on a food committee please
sign one now.
8. Ladies Bible Class:
The Ladies Bible Class has concluded for this year. Class will begin again on
9. Nursing Home: There
will be no classes at the Crowne Health Care on
Saturday, November 29th and Saturday, December 27th.
10.
11. Thank You: (a) Dear
Brothers & Sisters in Christ, Thank you so much for the love and concern
you have shown me during my illness. I appreciate every prayer said on my
behalf. Thanks for the calls, cards, food, and visits. I’m enjoying the pretty
plant also. I love you all. Marie Curlee
(b) Dear Walnut Street Family, Thank you so much for your kindness,
thought, and prayer you have shown during my Aunt’s (Diane Hoffman) illness and
death. The family appreciated your support and it will never be forgotten. My
father (Larry) wants to thank every
12. Parent/Youth Meeting: Attention, parents and youths! There will be a youth event planning meeting following the evening services on Sunday, November 23rd. We will be meeting in the fellowship hall directly after services. At this meeting, we will schedule youth events for the rest of this year and as much as we can of next year. Please bring your calendars and ideas with you so that we can all plan and be prepared for the youth’s future events.
The Son of God Helps Us as Christians
One’s living right and doing right does not
prevent him from suffering. Last week, we noticed this. We also noticed that
God will help us if we are doing His will. The Son of God is there for us as
well. When we are obedient to Christ, He becomes our High Priest and our Savior.
“Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the
things which he suffered; and being made perfect, he became the author of
eternal salvation unto all them that obey him.” (Hebrews 5:8-9) He continues to serve as High Priest and He
makes intercession to God on behalf of God’s people. “Wherefore he is able also
to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by
him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.” (Hebrews 7:25) The Son of God took upon Himself “the fashion
of a man.” Philippians 2:5-11 teaches us about the true humility of Jesus, the
Son of God. Because of Jesus allowing Himself to be
such, He was able to really understand temptation personally. “For we have not
an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but
was in all points tempted like as we
are, yet without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15)
Jesus is merciful. The Son
of God also understands God’s call for His people to be holy. Because
of Him, we don’t have to be without hope when we sin. Because of Him, we are able to repent and
return to the Lord. So, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in
time of need.” (Hebrews
Jesus loves and cares about every soul. The
Son of God is there for us. We notice when the Lord gave the Great Commission
in Matthew 28:18-20 that we are to “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.”
However, oftentimes we neglect this following phrase, “and, lo, I am with you always, even
unto the end of the world. Amen. Let us
never forget that the Son of God is there for us when we do God’s will.
- - - - Jeff Stacy
Put your hope
in God’s unfailing love.
Don’t just own a Bible; read it!
(334-382-3001)