Get ready to start a journey…a journey through the pages of the Bible and the pages of your life.
Stephen was a man “full of God’s grace and power” who “performed amazing miracles and signs among the people” (Acts 6:8). When opposition came against the early Christians, he was one of the first to be arrested. As he faced the accusers during his trial, all who saw him said “his face became as bright as an angel’s” (Acts 6:15).
After a windy day, dead branches lay all over our yard. Dead branches are, well, dead. No leaves; no life. We either throw them away or put them on top of our firewood to be used for kindling. Okay, my wife, Lori, either throws them away or puts them on top of the firewood.
Heaven is actual existence. Heaven is not a state of mind. Jesus told his disciples that he was going to get it ready. He promised he would come and take his followers to be with him. We will not float forever in a mental neverland. Heaven is real.
Jesus’ words in today’s passage were spoken to a woman in despair. Her brother, Lazarus, had died, and she felt the sharp pains of grief; but Jesus reminded her that while physical death was inevitable, spiritual death was not. Those who believe in Jesus “will never ever die.”
There are many reasons you may have for not being a Christian. You may not feel like you need Jesus. You may not believe the Bible to be true. You may have had a bad experience with a church or with Christians. However, there is one thing that we can all agree on—we are all going to die.
The ending starts at the beginning. At birth, the body, always vulnerable to a disease or tragic demise, begins the process of aging, which culminates in a worn-out, weakened fight for the last breath. Death is the feared and final enemy (1 Corinthians 15:26).