The Final Outcome

 It is the final outcome that really matters. It is how we end our life that counts. God promises that the final outcome for his children will be complete. Not one will be missing. Death is hard for us to deal with since it is so final. We don’t like things to be final. That’s why we like shopping at big stores like Lowe’s and Walmart, where we can take our purchases back if we change our minds, but with death, there is no changing our minds. The Bible explains death to us, but it is up to each of us to deal with it. For example, one of those explanations is found in the book of Isaiah, where there is a comparison of life and death.

The events of Isaiah chapter 34 are events of finality. No changes or refunds will be allowed. You choose it, you keep it. You won’t find a more solemn chapter in the Bible. It is both frightening and revering. This is the final outcome of those who choose their own way and ignore God’s offer of eternal life. The Bible says we will be held accountable whether we like it or not. Those who choose to dismiss the Bible’s prediction of what will happen can do so, but it doesn’t change the events. Here is a glimpse of what that outcome will be for those who have rejected God. “For the Lord has a day of vengeance, a year of retribution, to uphold Zion’s cause” (Isaiah 34:8).  “All the stars of the heavens will be dissolved and the sky rolled up like a scroll; all the starry host will fall like withered leaves from the vine, like shriveled figs from the fig tree” (Isaiah 34:4).

While chapter 34 is scary, chapter 35 is comforting. It’s a picture of God’s salvation and the final outcome of those who have chosen God. Isaiah describes a picture of eternal life: “The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy. The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon; they will see the glory of the Lord, the splendor of our God” (Isaiah 35:1-2). Some find it hard to believe that there could be a place like heaven where God’s glory will shine forth for all eternity. God knows that we will need encouragement during the tough times we face in life to believe there is such a perfect place.

God wants us to encourage each other. Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way;  say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you.”  Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped.  Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert (Isaiah 35:3-4).

God never runs low on resources. You will never find God on empty. We learn to encourage each other in the Lord. It’s what we are supposed to do, “Strengthen the weak and fearful among” by pointing them toward God.  God is here to help us. We believe that one day, God will right all the wrongs.

Should a Christian Be Involved In Government?

 Should Christians be involved in government? The answer is yes! There are many examples of godly men and women engaged in government. Daniel advised kings over many decades. Esther used her influence to save her people and implement fair and just laws. Jeremiah spoke to the king and leaders of the nation to influence their policies. Joseph credited God with his placement as prime minister of Egypt. According to Paul in Romans 13, government is ordained by God to promote good and restrain evil. God authorizes the government to wield the sword for the administration of justice. Solomon wrote: By justice a king gives a country stability, but those who are greedy for bribes tear it down” (Proverbs 29:4). He also stated, Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin condemns any people” (Proverbs 14:34).

However, we are told not to trust human leaders because they cannot save us (Psalms 146:3). We are to pray that our leaders will adhere to godly policies. When they don’t, we pray that they will change their ways or be removed. We are to love good and hate evil (Psalms 97:10).

We should pray that God raises up godly young men and women who desire to serve their nation in places of leadership. Two worldviews are vying to dominate control of our nation. One is the godless humanist view, which ignores God and biblical morality. The other is a biblical view that embraces biblical principles. The two views are diametrically opposed to each other. While we live in this world, we must obey scripture and follow God’s laws. There will always be opposition to God’s ways, but that does not mean we should give up. On the contrary, we should fight for justice and righteousness. Wilber Wilberforce is an excellent example of fighting for the right and winning. He fought for many decades to see slavery abolished in England, and he did finally see that happen.

Even when we have good leaders, we know that they will fall short because they are humans, and humans fail. Even when their intentions are good, they often fail to bring them into reality. Our only realistic hope is the kingdom of God. God has promised a King who will be wise and understanding, a just Judge who will rule with righteousness and faithfulness. There will never be true peace until Jesus brings it to this world.

Jesus is qualified to lead us and to bring peace to this world. These qualifications are not found in this capacity in any human leader. The Spirit of the Lord rests on him. Jesus will not leave us alone to fight these battles. God encouraged Jeremiah with these words: “I will make you a wall to this people, a fortified wall of bronze; they will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you to rescue and save you,” declares the Lord” Jeremiah 1(5:20).

 

Part of Your Own Answer to Your Prayer

When David became King of Judah, he commended some courageous men who were loyal subjects of King Saul. They had marched through enemy territory to claim the bodies of Saul and his sons, who had been killed in battle where they were defeated by the Philistines. The enemy had abused the bodies, impaling them on a wall. But, the men of Jabesh came under the cover of darkness and recovered them. They took them back to their towns and gave them a burial. Their mission had been dangerous but successful.

When David heard what they had done, he sent messengers to them saying: “The Lord bless you for showing this kindness to Saul your master by burying him” (2 Samuel 2:5). Then he prayed for them:  “May the Lord now show you kindness and faithfulness, and I too will show you the same favor because you have done this. Now then, be strong and brave, for Saul your master is dead, and the people of Judah have anointed me king over them”(2 Samuel 2:5-6).

They likely never expected a commendation from David, whom King Saul considered his enemy. David, however, never considered Saul his enemy. He was moved by their bravery and the respect and honor they showed to Saul and especially his beloved friend Jonathan, so he asked God to show them kindness and faithfulness.

David, however, went further. He not only asked God to bless them, but he said he would also do the same: “And I too will show you the same favor because you have done this.” David said he would be part of the answer to his own prayer. He would be the one who God would work through to bless them.

It is a wonderful thought to think that we can be part of the answer to our own prayers. God wants to use us to bless others and show them kindness. First, David prayed a wonderful prayer but also asserted that he wanted to be part of the answer.

Many find it shocking to think that they could be part of the answer to their prayers. What can happen when we see ourselves as vessels that God can pour his Spirit into and bless others is amazing.

 

Grief is God's Gift

 Death terrifies us and leaves us confused; often, it brings guilt, shame, anger, loneliness, and despair. Even when we are expecting death to come—it is still hard, and we feel the same emotions. When it comes suddenly with no warning, we are more stunned and often angry that it caught us off guard and we had no time to prepare for it. So we mourn. We mourn for those we lose. Sometimes, we see our loved one suffer, and we pray that death will bring relief, but when it comes, we still feel lonely, and we weep. We all know death is inevitable for everyone, even for ourselves. Still, we avoid thinking about or talking about death because we don’t know how to come to terms with it.

Death is our enemy. There is no experience greater than death that leaves us feeling helpless. Death brings us tears of loss, separation, and departure. We feel the immediate pain of seeing the empty chair. Death is no respecter of a person. It makes no difference in wealth or poverty, famous or unknown, race or culture—all are affected. If not for the Gospel of Christ, death would leave us all hopeless.

The death of a loved one comes over us like a cloud. It takes our words away. We might even wonder if it is a bad dream, and then we feel the shock of reality that death has stolen our loved one. It is hard to know what to say in the face of death. What do you say to a dying friend or a grieving family that will help them?

At the same time, death is a way of putting things into perspective. We are no longer consumed with petty things. Suddenly, we see our own mortality much more clearly. The good qualities of a person are rarely seen as clearly as they are at their death. At his death, Edwin Stanton, the secretary of War, said of Lincoln: “Now he belongs to the ages.” But most of us are speechless, and it takes some time to think about the qualities and character of the person before we are ready to say anything.

There is nothing normal about death. It is unnatural. Death came to us because of sin: “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned” (Romans 5:12).

First, we enter the stage of denial. Denial, when witnessing death, is a natural defense mechanism that our brains use to protect us from the immediate shock and loss, allowing us to gradually process the reality of what has occurred. What has happened to us is personal and unnatural even though tomorrow, the world goes on as if nothing has happened, and that doesn’t seem right.

Second, we experience the loss. The horror of the tragedy is what was and but now is not. This is the pain of grief. It is a terrible sense of loss. We shall not know the eternal without loss until we are at home with the Lord.

Third, we need to express our emotions with words. The pain is our sense of what we have lost. When we attempt to put our grief into words, whether with a friend or at the funeral. it is proper that we speak about the good that has been lost.  There is no need to pretend that the person was something they were not, but this is the time to focus on the good of their life. That is why we are grieving. Putting our grief into words in this way helps us to understand our sadness by allowing us to see its cause of good that has been lost.

One day, there will be no more death: “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (Revelation 21:4). But until that day comes we need to grieve because it God’s way of helping us heal.

After a long snow and ice storm and freezing temperatures, we all know you have to clean your headlights, or you will have trouble driving at night. That is what grief is. It’s helping you see and understand what you have lost and how to deal with it. It's wiping away the confusion and despair to see your way forward.

As we grieve, it is important for us to remember the good. It is a time to put into words what we have lost and recognize those things that were God’s gift to us. Therefore, we should learn to thank God in our grief.