Wednesday, July 15, 2015
Tuesday, July 14, 2015
Curse Compensation
CURSE COMPENSATION
Part seven of fifteen devotions in Heaven Enchantment Series
Genesis 3:14-19
Genesis 3:17-19: “To Adam He said, ‘Cursed is the ground
because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your
life. It will produce thorns and
thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your brow you will eat your
food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you
are and to dust you will return.’”
Compensation
[com-pen-SA-shon] means payment for damages done.
Why
is the “Curse” sin? There was only one
tree from which Adam and Eve were commanded not to eat; the tree of the
knowledge of good and evil—or God says in Genesis 2:16-17 that they would die. (Did eternal beings even understand death?) Check out Genesis 3:1-9:
Satan,
disguised as a snake, asked Eve if she could eat from every tree in the Garden. Eve confessed the one tree in the middle of
the garden from which she may not eat.
The
devil challenged what God said, insisting that she wouldn’t die! Instead, she’d be like God, knowing good and
evil. Eve decided that she would like that. The fruit looked good. She bit into it, and didn’t “die.” She handed the fruit to Adam.
Creation
held its breath. Adam ate the
fruit. Eden perfection vaporized.
The
sin exposed naked bodies as the Curse began infecting everything. Their “death” was now certain (Romans 6:23). The Father called to Adam, who was busy
making fig-leaf clothes. God patiently listened
to Adam and Eve’s finger-pointing explanations.
“She said he said, so she did…she said, he did…”
God’s
attributes—characteristics that make Him God—never change. God is just. That means that God is fair and
always correct. The Father expected
that sin would eventually infect Earth. For
Jesus witnessed “Satan fall like lightening from heaven.”
(Luke 10:18).
Genesis
3:14-19 showed that the Father was prepared:
He
cursed the snake. It must crawl on its belly and eat dust its
whole life.
He
judged Eve. She must endure pain in childbirth, and
desire only her husband, who’ll rule over her.
He
cursed the ground. It must make man work hard through thorns and
thistles, by the sweat of his brow he’d grow food.
He
judged Adam. He must work hard to support his family, and
then die.
God did not curse His children. Our heavenly Father already had a plan to
compensate for the Curse. It was
perfect.
Take
Home Nugget
God’s
plan for Curse compensation was to offer His kids eternal life! First, death had to be defeated, then
Paradise restored. See the lesson
linked below that supports God’s Son Jesus’ divine ancestry.
God
does not curse you, but offers Jesus to overcome the Curse.
This devotion is adapted from Heaven.
Chapter 10, “What Will it Mean for the Curse to Be Lifted?” Alcorn, Randy. © 2004. Tyndale House of Publishers,
Inc. Illinois.
J.D. Griffith
Written
for http://www.Biblestudyforkids.com
Friday, July 10, 2015
Living by Faith
LIVING BY FAITH
Part six of fifteen devotions in Heaven Enchantment Series
Hebrews 11:13-14: “All these people were still living by faith
when they died. They did not receive the
things promised; they only saw them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and
strangers on earth. People who say such
things show that they are looking for a country of their own.”
The
opening Scripture refers to believer’s faith heroes: Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham. Abel’s offering was better than Cain’s
because of his faith (Hebrews 11:4).
Enoch’s faith was so pleasing that God took him away (Hebrews 11:5). In holy fear, Noah built an ark. His faith condemned the world to destruction as
he became heir to righteousness (Hebrews 11:7).
Abraham
left everything he knew to go where God led him—when he was 75 years old! He lived in tents, settling in the “promised
land” as a stranger in a foreign country (Genesis 12:3, Hebrews 11:8-9).
Our
faith heroes were often enslaved, taken captive. They were frequently at war, living in
poverty. Their lives were often hard and
cruel.
What
promises God gave these faith heroes while they were alive are delivered in Heaven:
1) They wanted a home of their own. “I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem,
coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for
her husband.” (Revelation 21:2).
2)
They wanted Messiah to remain with them.
“And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Now the dwelling of
God is with men, and He will live with them.
They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their
God.’” (Revelation 21:3).
3)
They wanted to live in peace and joy.
“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).
4)
They were sure to receive promised rewards.
“Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with Me, and I will give to
everyone according to what he has done.”
(Revelation 22:12).
Present
day saints are inspired by faith heroes.
We learn, “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because
anyone who comes to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those
who earnestly seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6).
“We
live by faith, not by sight.” (2
Corinthians 5:7).
Take
Home Nugget
The lesson linked below compares deliverance that the
prophet Isaiah promised Old Testament Hebrews with what God fulfills to all
believers in heaven.
Faith
in the risen Christ opens the heavenly door for believers to enter.
This devotion is adapted from Heaven.
Chapter 14, “When and Where Will Our Deliverance Come?” Alcorn, Randy.
© 2004. Tyndale House of Publishers, Inc. Illinois.
J.D. Griffith
Tuesday, July 7, 2015
Heavenly Home
HEAVENLY HOME
Part five of fifteen devotions in Heaven Enchantment Series
John 14:2-3: “In My Father’s house
are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for
you. And if I go and prepare a place for
you, I will come back and take you to be with Me that you also may be where I
am.”
The
triumphal ride into Jerusalem was still ringing in the disciple’s ears. Jesus warned the Jews who continued disbelieving,
“As for the person who hears My words but does not keep
them, I do not judge him. For I did not
come to judge the world, but to save it.
There is a judge for the one who rejects Me and does not accept My
words, that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day.” (John 12:42-48).
He
probably let that sink in before continuing in verses 49-50, “For I did not speak of My own accord, but the Father who
sent Me commanded Me what to say and how to say it. I know that His command leads to eternal
life. So whatever I say is just what the
Father has told Me to say.”
Forewarned
is forearmed.
Now
was time for the Passover Feast. How
fitting that this is the last time Jesus and His disciples would dine together. Jesus, Himself, would be the LAST necessary Passover
Lamb sacrificed to atone for people’s sins!
Time
for a learning lesson:
Jesus
poured water into a basin and tied a towel around His waist. He washed His disciple’s feet, showing how
they are to serve one another (John 13:5, 15).
Feet-washing anchored Jesus’ news about His betrayal and upcoming death
(John 13:18-33). The opening Scripture intended
to comfort them after this awful shock.
That
Scripture still comforts believers today…often quoted at funerals. “Preparing a place” and “Take you to be with
Me” sounds like personal space and individual care for every believer.
God
always intended to dwell with His people.
See lesson linked below for specifics about where believers’ heavenly
home will be living with Jesus. Forever!
Take
Home Nugget
Revelation
21:1-3 says: “Then I saw a new heaven
and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and
there was no longer any sea.
“I
saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out from heaven from God,
prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.
“And
I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Now the dwelling of God is with
men, and He will live with them. They
will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God.’”
J.D. Griffith
Friday, July 3, 2015
Earthly Death
EARTHLY DEATH
Part four of fifteen devotions in Heaven Enchantment Series
Ecclesiastes 12:6-7: “Remember Him [Creator]—before the silver
cord is severed or the golden bowl is broken; before the pitcher is shattered
at the spring, or the wheel broken at the well, and the dust return to the
ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.”
Earthly death is not a myth. The opening Scripture makes death sound
poetic. The golden bowl, suspended by
the silver cord represents life. When
the cord snaps, the bowl breaks, representing death. The shattered pitcher and broken wheel represent
bodies returning to earth, releasing the spirit back to God (Genesis 2:7).
People
must die before going to heaven. But the
Bible tells about two exceptions in the Old Testament. AND the New Testament predicts that millions
of people will ascend to meet Jesus in the air one day! These exceptions are discussed in the lesson,
linked below.
After
bodies die, people’s spirits go immediately either to heaven or hell. Spirits await reunion with resurrected bodies…because
every soul exists forever. Christians are assured eternal life in
heaven. Nonbelievers are assured eternal
death in hell.
People
actually choose their eternities while living on earth!
Purgatory
is another of the devil’s myths. There
is nowhere people can earn their way
into heaven. Jesus’ death on the cross
purchased forgiveness of sins to whomever believes in Him as Savior (John 3:16).
Salvation is a FREE gift from the
Father. There is nothing anyone can do to earn or add
to that gift.
Heaven
is where the thief who was crucified on a cross next to Jesus still awaits
unification with his resurrected body today.
Jesus knew that his faith was genuine when he pled for Jesus to remember
him when Jesus comes into His kingdom.
Jesus assured him, “Today, you will be with Me
in paradise.” (Luke 23:43).
Take Home Nugget
Is there any connection of spirits between heaven and hell?
Luke 16:19-31 shows a rich man who
knew a poor man named Lazarus. Lazarus
used to beg for food at the rich man’s gate.
After they both died, the rich man was tormented in hell, while Lazarus
went to Abraham’s side in heaven. The
rich man could see Lazarus next to Abraham, far away. He cried out for Abraham to allow Lazarus to give
him some water.
But Lazarus could not reach across
the divide. The rich man wanted to warn
his brothers to avoid hell. Abraham
said, “Let your brothers listen to Moses and the prophets.”
That made the rich man even more wretched. He knew that his brothers would never believe in God.
Life
is short. Why risk hell torment? Why not accept Jesus as Savior today?
REMEMBER THOSE WHO DIED TO GIVE U.S.A. INDEPENDENCE FROM GREAT BRITAIN. HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!
REMEMBER THOSE WHO DIED TO GIVE U.S.A. INDEPENDENCE FROM GREAT BRITAIN. HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!
J.D. Griffith
Tuesday, June 30, 2015
Dispelling Myths
DISPELLING MYTHS
Part three of fifteen devotions in Heaven Enchantment Series
John 8:44
John 8:44: “You belong to your
father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not
holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language,
for he is a liar and the father of lies.”
If heaven is so enchanting, why don’t we
know more about it? The devil actively
tries keeping heaven a secret. He used
to be a beautiful and powerful angel when he lived in heaven, you know. Then he became too proud to bow down and
worship God.
“How
you have fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to earth, you who
once laid low the nations! You said in
your heart, …‘I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself
like the Most High.’” (Isaiah 14:12-13a,
14 is often used to compare the King of Babylon to Satan's fall).
The
devil is like a spoiled kid who may not have his way. He’s been throwing temper tantrums ever since
he was tossed out where God’s kids get to live.
“No!!!” we hear him protest. His
purpose is to cheat believers from getting to, or even wanting to spend
eternity in the paradise of heaven!
My
question is, “Why don’t seminaries teach what the Bible reveals about heaven? Why don’t believers hear sermons about
heaven?” The Bible mixes in plenty of enchanting
passages that teach the truth. Apostle
Paul struggled whether he’d prefer to live or die in Philippians 1:23-24: “I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is
better by far; but is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.”
He
certainly imagined heaven to be paradise with Jesus. Jesus’ disciples recognized Him immediately
after His resurrection. They watched His
resurrected body eat and walk around. Thomas put his finger where the nails made
holes in His hand, and touched the scar in His side (John 20:27).
This
is #3 of this series’ twelve devotions.
Readers already learned how to follow Jesus to heaven and understand
their resurrection destiny. Are you
getting eager to see for yourself how enchanting heaven is?
Take
Home Nugget
People
will have real, glorified bodies in heaven—not float around as disembodied
spirits strumming harps on clouds!
Resurrected bodies will be perfectly healthy and strong. We’ll live on a physical earth that will be
made new…see lesson, linked below. We’ll
enjoy the same things that will continue to delight us. We’ll live in cities in nations. Jerusalem will be the capital.
Read
Revelation 21-22 because the devil hates your learning the truth about heaven.
J.D. Griffith
Friday, June 26, 2015
Resurrection Destiny
RESURRECTION DESTINY
Part two of fifteen devotions in Heaven Enchantment Series
1 Corinthians 15:1-22
1 Corinthians 15:16-17, 19-20: “For if the dead are not raised, then Christ
has not been raised either. And if
Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.
…If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than
all men. But Christ has indeed been
raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.” !!!
(Emphasis mine.)
Destiny
[DES-tin-ee] means purpose, one’s fate, one’s future. Jesus was born for the purpose to die as “the
Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world!” (John 1:29).
As the “Alpha and Omega,” the beginning and the end, Jesus agreed to
this plan BEFORE the creation of the world. (Revelation 1:8).
Nothing
surprised Jesus. “Who, being in very
nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but
made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human
likeness. And being found in appearance
as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a
cross!” (Philippians 2:6-8).
It’s
no wonder that Jesus was “different” from other people!
By
age twelve, He understood that His Father was God in heaven. So, He remained in Jerusalem after the
Passover Feast to talk with teachers in the temple. Mary was frantic searching for Jesus, “Oh
no! I lost God’s Son!” Was this when Mary figured out that Jesus
knew His destiny? (Luke 2:41-49).
Jesus’
Spirit recognized that His destiny was death on a cross. BUT,
He also grasped that His destiny was being resurrected from the dead. Those two bookends supported every word Jesus
uttered. He must have enjoyed showing
off the Father’s person and power. The
miracles, how cool!
Jesus
obeyed the Father, fulfilling the law and every prophesy written about Him in
the Bible (Matthew 5:17, Mark 14:49).
But no person with whom Jesus interacted knew that His life was an “open
book” (the Bible.)
People
can’t use that excuse today. Believers learn
Biblical instruction how we are to think, talk and act. And yet,
is anyone righteous apart from Jesus?
Aren’t
we glad that we worship a God who’s different from everyone else?
Because
Jesus had resurrection destiny, His believers do, too.
Take Home Nugget
What’s
your purpose in life? Dying to self,
carrying our cross following Jesus and resurrection are believers’ destiny. Holding
firmly to that allows us to live in freedom and power. Praise God!
Will
people have bodies in the resurrection?
What kind of bodies? See lesson
linked below to learn more.
Any
life purpose other than living God’s will is idolatry.
J.D. Griffith
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