Message from Scripture: 8/13/2021

 

Our message from Scripture today is Matt. 10:28: “Don’t fear those who kill the body but are not able to kill the soul; rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”

 

In our Scripture reading today, Jesus points out there is more to life than our physical existence. To allow our fears to dominate us, to control us, is a response that comes from sin. We see this in the garden of Eden, when Adam and Eve, having sinned by eating the forbidden fruit, sought desperately to hide from God. By violating God’s will, the warning God offered of physical death became a reality, and fear has gripped humanity over experiencing this ever since. The irony of it all is, until our Lord returns, with only two exceptions, everyone who has lived has also died. No efforts on the part of mankind have been able to stop it. Somehow, someway, everyone will die.

 

Jesus, however, tells us the fear of dying is not the divine response, as it is sin based. To fear God, to understand He has our lives, our eternity, in His hands, is the better response. It drives us to Him, to find forgiveness, and life as He intends it to be lived. Instead of fear, there is hope, and promise, and peace, no matter what happens in the flesh. Since it is He who judges, and determines by His righteousness heaven or hell for each of us, we should place our trust in Him.

 

There is no greater sadness than to see a loved one pass from today. There is no greater assurance than to know we can meet again. There is no greater fear for some than to think one will die, but there is a greater fear, that one will die lost. As long as there is life, there is hope. Sin binds us in its fetters to cause distress and terror, but Jesus sets us free and offers us the promise that death is the door to eternal life (Heb. 2:14-15).

 

Today, let’s go out to serve our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in confidence, that no matter what happens, if today we meet the Lord, He will welcome us with open arms. God bless.

 

Robert