CHRISTIAN WITNESS & TESTIMONY
FAITH THAT MOVES MOUNTAINS
THE CHRISTIAN OUTDOORSMAN'
Real-Life Tales of Outdoor Hunting Adventure
...that Glorify God
"MESSAGE OF THE LIVING"
by Steven G. Coy
"For He is not the God of the dead but of the living, for all live to Him. (Luke 20:38)
This message is about the living. Not just a message about the physically living as we commonly think. It goes far beyond that. It's about the spiritually living. It has to do with life versus death, light versus darkness, and rejoicing versus wailing. Those are the three components of this Message of the Living.
Life vs Death
The Bible clearly delineates two kinds of people - those who are spiritually alive, and those who are spiritually dead. The difference is Jesus Christ. Those who are without Jesus are dead in their trespasses and sin, and those with Jesus in their hearts through faith are alive with his Spirit. It is written, "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.” (I Corinthians 15:22).
The Apostle Paul wrote to believers at Ephesus, "And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins,". He continued, "But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),"
(Ephesians 2:1 and 4,5)
So what's the difference between life and death? Jesus. Jesus is the difference between eternal life and eternal death. It is written, “...the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:23)
Light vs Darkness
Scripture teaches that God is light and the source of all true light. The Apostle John wrote, "This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is
no darkness at all.” (I John 1:5)
Scripture also teaches that man, outside of true relationship with God, walks in darkness. Darkness is, obviously, the absence of light. If God is light, the absence of God is therefore darkness. Man outside of God walks in darkness. John wrote, “... men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil."
(John 3:19)
If God is light, and men walk in darkness, how can the two be reconciled? In other words, how can man walk in light as God is in the light? The answer again is Jesus. Jesus is the Reconciler between God and man. He is the Go-between, or the Mediator, "For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus." (I Timothy 2:5) A mediator is one who brings two opposing or alienated parties or individuals together.
The Apostle Paul was called to preach good news of the Gospel and to testify of the resurrected Christ. Jesus Himself charged him, “to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.” (Acts 26:18) As Jesus is the difference between life and death, He is also the difference between light and darkness.
Rejoicing vs Wailing
Scripture teaches there will be two kinds of people on judgment day. One will experience a wailing and gnashing of teeth. This will occur when the ungodly -- those who have refused God and his offer of forgiveness of sins through faith in Jesus Christ – suddenly realize that their time has come, that their number is up. Jesus declared, "The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire.
There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”
(Matthew 13:41,42)
Again as recorded in Matthew, “So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth." (Matthew 13:49,50)
There will be second kind of people at the end of this age. These will be the people who have believed in God and His answer for the forgiveness of their sins, which is Jesus Christ. Of them it is written, "But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God; yes, let them rejoice exceedingly. Sing to God, sing praises to His name; extol Him who rides on the clouds, by His name which is the Lord, and rejoice before Him.” (Psalm 68:3,4)
The psalmist knew the joy of God's salvation and declared boldly,
“...I will rejoice in Your salvation ... I have trusted in Your mercy; my heart shall rejoice in Your salvation.” (Psalm 9:14 and 13:5)
In summary, what is this Message of the Living? It is life, it is light, it is rejoicing. It is victory over death, over darkness, over wailing at the realization of the loss of eternal life.
The Message of the Living... is JESUS the CHRIST.
There will be two kinds of people at the end of the age, and two eternal outcomes or destinies. Have you made your choice?
(c) s.g. coy 2015