WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO SEE WHEN YOU STEP INTO ETERNITY?

BIBLE PASSAGE:
“I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive
for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.”
(Revelation 1:18)

MEDITATION:
Eternal life seems so unnatural to us from our perspective.
However, this was God’s design before sin entered the world.
With sin came its companion – death. Jesus was the One who
overcame death. What He accomplished made it possible for
the promise of eternal life to be given to all who place their
trust in Him.

It is fruitless to engage in a lengthy debate with those who deny His
divinity. Those who have committed their lives to Him can understand
the essence of this verse, but those who do not have a relationship with
Him, struggle to wrap their minds around it. When He says
    “I am alive for ever and ever”
it encourages those of His family to remember that there is hope at the
end of their earthly journey.

The Son has eternal life and has been given authority over all flesh by the
Father. For this reason, Jesus is able to give eternal life to as many as the
Father has given Him.
    For you granted him authority over all people that he
    might give eternal life to all those you have given him.
    (John 17:2)

This is why He made the amazing statement to Thomas.
    Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the
    life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
    (John 14:6)
Jesus is “the life”. He alone has immortality and offers it
to those who come to Him.

The eternal life which Jesus offers is not some future promise,
but is granted the instant a person believes in Him. He gave
assurance to Martha when she spoke about her brother Lazarus.
    Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and
    the life. He who believes in Me, though he may
    die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes
    in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
    (John 11:25-26)

“Do you believe this?”
is the question every person has to answer for themselves. It is not
to be answered from a factual standpoint; it is to be answered from
the heart.

When He says He ‘holds the keys of death and Hades’ that means He
can open the door to escort people in and lock the door to keep them
there. Does He want to do that? Of course not! Those who are locked
in are there because of the choice they have made while living their
earthy lives. He gave up heaven to become human in an effort to
encourage people to make the right choice.

ACTION:
When you reach the end of your earthly journey, will you see Jesus
with open arms welcoming you to your heavenly home, or will you
see Him with the keys to death and Hades?

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, my faith and trust is in Your Son, Jesus Christ.
He is the One who gives me hope for tomorrow and encouragement
for today. I look forward to the day when He welcomes me home,
but at the same time, I don’t want to see others missing out. Help
me to live a life that will point others to Jesus and give me the
courage to speak up boldly whenever necessary. Lord Jesus, I
know You are alive because You live in the hearts of all those
who love You!”

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