The True Believers Privileges.

Our future is Death, what does it mean to a true Believer?

You may find the idea that the act of "dieing" for a True Believer is actually a privilege as for many people the idea of dieing would be very frightening to them. However, if you think about it as both Peter and Paul, the apostles, had thought about the situation, though they wanted to spend as much time as possible on earth telling this world how to receive their salvation through Jesus, because serving Jesus here on earth was very important to them, but they also realized that it would be more wonderful to be personally with their Saviour and Lord in heaven and all that is offered there.
2 Corinthians 4:15-18.

"15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.
16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal."

2 Corinthians 5:1

"1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:"

1 Peter 5:10,11.

"10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
11 To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever."

There are two events that we all have to be involved in, first, our personal appearing and arrival as a baby into this world, and secondly our departure from this world in our physical death.
The definition of death is "an instance when physical life is ended," but is this really true?
The Bible teaches that all people, who have been created by the joining of a male and female cells, whether they were then born physically as a baby or not born, have eternal life, i.e. the physical death we all have is only just part of our real life.
Death is the result and effect of sin on Mankind and not some effect of "nature."
The event, which is true physical death by a person living on the earth, only really happens once, though some have apparently had near death experiences, or they were temporally brought back to life by the action of God through Jesus.
Note that the Bible does record two people who appeared not to have died but taken directly to heaven, Enoch and Elijah:-
Genesis 5:22-24.

"22 And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters:
23 And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years:
24 And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him."

"11 And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. "

There is only one record of a human who died and then came back to life forever, that is Jesus. The Bible contains many records of people that Jesus raised from the dead, but they all died again later in life.
The Bible records that Jesus, the Son of God, came to earth as a human, later in His earthly life He was crucified on the cross. Then after three days of burial, God the Father raised Him back to life and He is now alive forever, the God-Man. Thus proving that we all do have eternal life, but the question is, where will you be spending it?

Hebrews 9:27.

"27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation."

Hebrews 2:14.

"14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage."

"1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens."

One day we will all be subjected to the plans of God for His creation Mankind. God is pure and holy and cannot allow disobedience and sin, so sometime we will all be subject to His punishment, unless we have already received forgiveness through the blood of Jesus Christ.

"55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

2 Peter 3:9.

"9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."

Acts 13:36,37.

"36 For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption:
37 But he, whom God raised again, saw no corruption. "

"To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time."

Hebrews 4:10,11

"10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. "

What is the True Believer future?

The True Believer has a wonderful future, at sometime in the future, it could be today, we shall be taken out of this world into our future home, into heaven, where there is only perfection and no more death.
1 Corinthians. 15:51-57.

" 51 Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

Unfortunately those who have rejected the gift of salvation through Jesus will have a future which could still have pain and death until there final day of life and then comes the final day of judgement, when they will enter into eternal punishment. Do not reject the gift, the alternative is terrible.

"7 He that over cometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death."

2 Timothy 1:10

"10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:"

1 Peter 1:3,4

"3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time."

Revelation 21:3,4.

"3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away."

John 3:12,13.

"12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."

>Ephesians 1:11

"11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:"

For a True Believer the act of dieing is only a transition from an inferior place, this world, into a far superior place of residence, heaven. However, our earthly body is just not suitable for heaven, so it has to be left behind.

1 Corinthians 15:50

"50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption."

For each one of us, every day that we have could be the day that God takes the "spirit of life" from us. For a True Believer this call home should be a time of joy. A true Believer should have no concern about this event.
However, for some Believers any event which involves us leaving this world could be a time of great concern. Why? How have you served the Lord since He gave you your salvation? Are each of us living our lives here on earth working for our Saviour, thinking about what our future holds with Him?

Psalm 31:14,15

"14 But I trusted in thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my God.
15 My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me."

What are the two future choices ? Heaven and Hell.

Philippians 3:20,21.

"20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself."

2 Corinthians 5:20,21.

"20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."

Matthew 7:21-23.

"21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. "

"1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God."

Colossians 3:1-4.

"1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory."

Are you one of those who has rejected the love of God? Then you have a terrible future and you should be very anxious about the future and your death.