I remember our two-year-old son standing in my size-13 shoes. Sometimes kids want to grow up fast, overnight. But that’s not how most things work in real life. Plants take a while to grow, in stages. The same is physically true of animals and people. Jesus Christ worked lovingly and patiently with Peter to help him grow in commitment over time.
Since I was young, I dreamed of finding the “right” person to marry. I longed for someone to spend my life with—someone who would stand with me through the good times and the challenges. Like so many others, I wanted a spouse I could depend on. The key to realizing such a wonderful relationship is in its foundation, its center.
We saw in Part 1 that to be “asleep in Christ” refers to a born-again believer who is physically dead and awaits the return of Christ. That is when believers will “wake up”! That is our great hope for the future. Now let’s see more of the how and when those who are asleep in Christ will get up.
Many sincere Christians believe that upon death a believer goes to heaven to live with the Lord. They even teach that those who died are conscious and are “looking down” upon those of us on earth. This teaching opens the door to spiritualism and evil spirit impersonation of the dead (familiar spirits). What do the scriptures say about those who are “asleep in Christ”?
In the Eastern culture of the Bible, the word “father” is used of someone who begins or supplies something. God, our heavenly Father is the beginner and source of mercy, glory, spiritual ability, and light.
In Part 1, we saw the great truths in Psalm 91 that show God’s great love and protection for the Messiah. Now we will see in Philippians 2 how God kept His promises to Jesus Christ by raising him from the dead and making him lord. And we will see in Ephesians 6 what we have today with Christ in us, the hope of glory. We can trust in our heavenly Father’s unlimited supply, and not in man’s meager attempts at sufficiency.
Sometimes it’s pretty easy to trust in people. It is how we were taught since birth. We put our confidence in our Dad and Mom that they will feed, clothe, house, and love us. We trust in our school teachers to give us what we need to know. We even trust our employers to pay us what we’ve agreed upon.
Life has been full of challenging pressures, learning adventures, and great times with my heavenly Father. I love how the challenges and difficulties can bring me one of two ways. Either I end up doing things my way, or I get into the Word and do it God’s way.
1,990. Yes, it’s been 1,990 years since the day of Pentecost in 28 A.D., when the Christian church began. And that’s something to get fired up about!
Memorial Day recognizes those who gave their lives in service to America. Originally known as Decoration Day, it originated in the years following the Civil War and became an official federal holiday in 1971. Here is poem to commemorate it.