Romans 4:1 … "What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?"
The main object of this chapter is to show that the doctrine of justification by faith, which the Apostle Paul was defending, was also found in the Old Testament.
The question might still be asked, as to whether this justification ... was because of their being circumcised in conformity to the Law. To answer this, Paul shows us that Abraham was justified by faith even before he was circumcised; therefore if we were justified by works, faith then would be of no use; and the promises of God would have no effect.
Because Abraham was justified by faith, and not by the works of the law; his faith was imputed or counted unto him for righteousness. Since Abraham was justified by faith, while he was in an uncircumcised state, before the law was given; salvation must also be for the Gentiles as well as the Jews.
Romans 4:13-14 … "For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect … "
If the Jews ... who are under the law, are seeking righteousness by the works of the law and their obedience to the law; if they by works only should be made heirs of the "promise" … then faith is made void. For if the right to the inheritance is by the works of the law, there is no room left for faith; and the promise is made void and of no effect.
If salvation is by works, there is no purpose then for God to promise; or therefore no purpose for men to believe; for the thing promised would no longer depend upon God's promise, but upon man's obedience to the law; which would then necessarily make void the promise of God.
If people are justified by the Law … if they are "acceptable" to God by conformity to the institutions of Moses, the law; then they can not depend on any promise made to Abraham, or his seed. They cut themselves off from all the promises that come through faith, and stand on their own works, independent from faith; and that's not a good place to be.
This is as true now as it was then. If people seek to be justified by depending on their morality or a form of works, they can not depend then on any promise or covenant with God. It is clear, therefore, that such an attempt at salvation can not be successful.
Romans 4:16 … "Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all …"
God appointed "faith" to be the condition of the promise. The promise is secured, not through obedience to the law, but through faith by grace … and so the promise is sure to all the seed … to all … both Jews and Gentiles have a right to all the blessings contained in the covenant made to Abraham; for the promise was given to Abraham while he was a Gentile.
The promise of the inheritance could not be annulled by the law that came after it; for it is by faith and of grace alone, making it sure to all believers, to all of the seed of Abraham.
Romans 4:18 … "Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken …"
How did Abraham believe in hope? "Hope" … is a primary word which means to anticipate with an expectation or confidence.
The Amplified reads this way … "For Abraham, human reason for hope being gone, hoped in faith …"
We could say it this way … "without reason for any expectation of this promise being fulfilled in the natural, Abraham anticipated with confidence, and did not weaken in faith." (My translation)
Romans 4:20 … "He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God …"
There is no reason to stagger at, or hesitate about any of the promises of God, since they are made by the One who cannot lie; the One that is faithful to perform them; the One whose promises have never failed ... and yet most of us still stagger at the promises of God.
Abraham did not stagger, for he … "was strong in faith" … nothing moved him, no difficulties discouraged him; even when he considered the age of his flesh. He just left it up to God.
Romans 4:21 … "And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform."
He had not only faith, but full assurance of faith, that what God had promised, God was also able to perform; being fully persuaded that it would be as God had said. Abraham's confidence was this, that 1.) The truth of God … bound God … to His promise; and 2.) The power of God would enable Him to fulfill it.
This statement shows us how Abraham hoped on in faith, believing the promise God gave him. Faith and hope brought him confidence, even with all human reason for hope being gone.
"God is bound" … to His Word of promise to fulfill it, and because He is Truth … only "truth" can ever proceed from Him.
Abraham's confidence comes down to this … "that the truth of God" … since He can be nothing less, bound God to fulfill His promise to him; therefore God could do nothing less or He wasn't God; and he was confident that God had the power and ability to perform it.
I have tried to say three different ways … that God's own truthfulness binds Him and obligates Him to fulfill all of His promises to believers … believers who are like Abraham … those who without any other reason for any expectation of God's promises being fulfilled in the natural, anticipate with confidence, and do not weaken in faith … just because God said it.
That's why Abraham could "hope in faith." He knew "God is bound" to His Word.
We need to know and believe that also.
Comments welcome.
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Friday, October 21, 2011
The Book of Enoch
Enoch prophesied according to Jude 1:14-15 …
"And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, to execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him."
The following passage is from the apocryphal Book of Enoch, (which has questionable authenticity) as directly from him or based upon handed down tradition.
"Behold he comes with ten thousands of his saints, to execute judgment upon them, and to destroy the wicked, and to strive (at law) with all the carnal for everything which the sinful and ungodly have done and committed against him."
Compare how much alike what Jude writes with what Enoch has been given credit for saying … or does Jude just quote from The Book of Enoch with his own words? Had Jude read The Book of Enoch or was he just continuing to hand down Jewish tradition?
The Book of Enoch … which was known to the fathers of the second century, was lost for some centuries with the exception of a few fragments; but an entire copy written in Hebrew was found in an Ethiopic Bible, in 1773, by Bruce. It became known to modern students through a translation from this into English by Archbishop Lawrence, in 1821.
The book consists of revelations supposed to have been given to both Enoch and Noah, and its object is to vindicate the ways of divine providence, to set forth the retribution reserved for sinners, angelic or human, and "to repeat in every form the great principle that the world … natural, moral, and spiritual … is under the immediate government of God." (It is, isn't it?)
Besides an introduction, the book embraces five parts …
1.) A narrative of the fall of the angels, and of a tour of Enoch in company with an angel through heaven and earth, and of the mysteries seen by him.
2.) Parables concerning the kingdom of God, the Messiah, and the Messianic future.
3.) Astronomical and physical matter; attempting to reduce the images of the Old Testament to a physical system.
4.) Two visions, representing symbolically the history of the world to the Messianic completion.
5.) Exhortations of Enoch to Methuselah and his descendants.
The book shows no Christian influence, is highly moral in tone, and imitates the Old Testament myths.
The reference to the contest of Michael the archangel with the devil, over the body of Moses in Jude 9; because it is not mentioned anywhere in the Old Testament, but interestingly is found in the apocryphal Book of Enoch, probably raised doubts as to its authenticity in Jude.
As to The Book of Enoch, if quoted by Jude; his quotation of a passage from The Book of Enoch gives an inspired sanction only to the truth of that passage, not to the whole book itself.
I think, as there is some slight variation between Jude's statement and The Book of Enoch, that Jude, though probably not ignorant of The Book of Enoch, agrees with the current tradition of the Jews as to Enoch's prophecies; just as Paul, in 2nd Timothy 3:8 (below) mentions the names of the Egyptian magicians … Jannes and Jambres … although they are not mentioned in the Old Testament.
In all events, the prophecy ascribed to Enoch by Jude was really Enoch's, being sanctioned as such by the inspired writer Jude. So also the narration as to the Archangel Michael's dispute with Satan concerning the body of Moses therefore is … by Jude's inspired authority … declared true.
2nd Timothy 3:8 … "Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses …"
The names of these two men are not mentioned anywhere else in the Bible. They are supposed to have been two of the magicians who resisted Moses in Exodus 7:11 … who opposed their miracles to those of Moses and Aaron. It is not certain where the apostle Paul obtained their names; but they are frequently mentioned by many Hebrew writers, and also by others; so there can be no reasonable doubt that their names were correctly handed down by tradition.
Nothing is more probable than that the names of the more distinguished magicians who attempted to imitate the miracles of Moses, would be preserved by tradition; and although they are not mentioned by Moses himself, this should not lead us to doubt the truth of the tradition respecting their names.
By the rabbinical writers, they are mentioned as the Egyptian magicians who opposed Moses in Egypt, and are also called "the sons of Balaam." The more common account is that they were the princes of the Egyptian magicians. There is no reason to doubt that these were in fact the leading men who opposed Moses in Egypt, by attempting to work counter-miracles.
This is not an endorsement of The Book of Enoch as true. I just found some interesting facts and comparisons worth knowing.
Resource material edited from the "Albert Barnes" and "Jamieson, Fausset and Brown" Commentaries.
Comments welcome.
"And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, to execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him."
The following passage is from the apocryphal Book of Enoch, (which has questionable authenticity) as directly from him or based upon handed down tradition.
"Behold he comes with ten thousands of his saints, to execute judgment upon them, and to destroy the wicked, and to strive (at law) with all the carnal for everything which the sinful and ungodly have done and committed against him."
Compare how much alike what Jude writes with what Enoch has been given credit for saying … or does Jude just quote from The Book of Enoch with his own words? Had Jude read The Book of Enoch or was he just continuing to hand down Jewish tradition?
The Book of Enoch … which was known to the fathers of the second century, was lost for some centuries with the exception of a few fragments; but an entire copy written in Hebrew was found in an Ethiopic Bible, in 1773, by Bruce. It became known to modern students through a translation from this into English by Archbishop Lawrence, in 1821.
The book consists of revelations supposed to have been given to both Enoch and Noah, and its object is to vindicate the ways of divine providence, to set forth the retribution reserved for sinners, angelic or human, and "to repeat in every form the great principle that the world … natural, moral, and spiritual … is under the immediate government of God." (It is, isn't it?)
Besides an introduction, the book embraces five parts …
1.) A narrative of the fall of the angels, and of a tour of Enoch in company with an angel through heaven and earth, and of the mysteries seen by him.
2.) Parables concerning the kingdom of God, the Messiah, and the Messianic future.
3.) Astronomical and physical matter; attempting to reduce the images of the Old Testament to a physical system.
4.) Two visions, representing symbolically the history of the world to the Messianic completion.
5.) Exhortations of Enoch to Methuselah and his descendants.
The book shows no Christian influence, is highly moral in tone, and imitates the Old Testament myths.
The reference to the contest of Michael the archangel with the devil, over the body of Moses in Jude 9; because it is not mentioned anywhere in the Old Testament, but interestingly is found in the apocryphal Book of Enoch, probably raised doubts as to its authenticity in Jude.
As to The Book of Enoch, if quoted by Jude; his quotation of a passage from The Book of Enoch gives an inspired sanction only to the truth of that passage, not to the whole book itself.
I think, as there is some slight variation between Jude's statement and The Book of Enoch, that Jude, though probably not ignorant of The Book of Enoch, agrees with the current tradition of the Jews as to Enoch's prophecies; just as Paul, in 2nd Timothy 3:8 (below) mentions the names of the Egyptian magicians … Jannes and Jambres … although they are not mentioned in the Old Testament.
In all events, the prophecy ascribed to Enoch by Jude was really Enoch's, being sanctioned as such by the inspired writer Jude. So also the narration as to the Archangel Michael's dispute with Satan concerning the body of Moses therefore is … by Jude's inspired authority … declared true.
2nd Timothy 3:8 … "Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses …"
The names of these two men are not mentioned anywhere else in the Bible. They are supposed to have been two of the magicians who resisted Moses in Exodus 7:11 … who opposed their miracles to those of Moses and Aaron. It is not certain where the apostle Paul obtained their names; but they are frequently mentioned by many Hebrew writers, and also by others; so there can be no reasonable doubt that their names were correctly handed down by tradition.
Nothing is more probable than that the names of the more distinguished magicians who attempted to imitate the miracles of Moses, would be preserved by tradition; and although they are not mentioned by Moses himself, this should not lead us to doubt the truth of the tradition respecting their names.
By the rabbinical writers, they are mentioned as the Egyptian magicians who opposed Moses in Egypt, and are also called "the sons of Balaam." The more common account is that they were the princes of the Egyptian magicians. There is no reason to doubt that these were in fact the leading men who opposed Moses in Egypt, by attempting to work counter-miracles.
This is not an endorsement of The Book of Enoch as true. I just found some interesting facts and comparisons worth knowing.
Resource material edited from the "Albert Barnes" and "Jamieson, Fausset and Brown" Commentaries.
Comments welcome.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
It's Not Rocket Science
Romans 14:22 - 23 ... "Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth. And he that doubteth is damned … for whatsoever is not of faith is sin."
My interpretation … "Whatever is not done with a full conviction that it is right, is sinful; whatever is done when a man doubts whether it is right, is sin."
The whole scope of this scripture requires us to understand the Apostle Paul is simply saying that a man should not do a thing doubting its correctness; that he should have a strong conviction that what he does is right; and that if he doesn't have this conviction, it is sinful. In all cases, if a man does a thing which he does not believe to be right, it is a sin, and his conscience will condemn him for it.
The context shows that Paul means that whenever actions are done by a Christian which he does not believe are right, he sins in doing them. If he is doubtful whether they are right, he must not do them.
Hebrews 3:12 ... "Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God."
The writer of Hebrews says that a heart of unbelief is evil. Why evil? Men often feel that it is a matter of little consequence whether they have faith or not, provided their conduct is right; and hence, they do not see or admit to the importance of what is said about the consequences of unbelief in the Scriptures.
Provided their conduct is right? Is their conduct the same as their works? Which moves the heart of God to answer or reward the believer? Works (conduct) or faith? Faith will win out every time. It all comes down to faith, which is belief, or the opposite, doubt and unbelief. In fact …
Hebrews 11:6 says ... "Without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."
"He that cometh to God" ... for any reason … even in worship ..."must believe that He is" ... that God exists. This is the first thing required in worship.
We cannot come to Him in an acceptable manner if we doubt His existence. We do not see Him, but we must believe that He is; even though we cannot form in our heart and mind a completely correct image of God, this should not prevent us from having a true conviction that there is a God.
But the declaration here, implies more than having just a general belief that there is a God. It is necessary that we have this belief exercised in the act of coming before Him, and that we should realize that we are actually in the presence of the Lord when we do.
"That he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him" ... The phrase, "diligently seek" means ... to search out, investigate, crave, demand, enquire, seek after.
This is equally as necessary as the belief that He exists. If we do not believe that God hears and answers our prayers, there would be no reason to call upon Him. It is also not meant that the desire of the reward is to be the motive for seeking God. The writer of Hebrews is not making that point; but he is saying, why approach Him unless we have this belief.
As in all things dealing with spiritual matters … a measure of faith must be exercised.
Many times we can even make some lawful things wrong or sinful for us to do, simply because we make a personal conviction against them ourselves with what is called … making a law unto yourself.
Romans 14:14 ... "I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: (speaking of eating food) but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, (or sinful) to him it is unclean."
Even though God doesn't care if you do something that isn't sinful, (example … eating meat on Friday) but you personally believe it is sinful for you to eat meat on Friday … and you go ahead and eat meat on Friday anyway, you have sinned in your heart against God because you willingly went against your personal conviction.
You may be in error thinking it is a sin, but it would not be proper for you to act in violation of what you suppose God requires of you. You have made it a law unto yourself.
This is why it is so important to learn how the Holy Spirit speaks to you. You need to know and recognize His voice … even though it won't be an audible voice, you will still hear him in your heart, not with your ears.
James speaks somewhat to this in his letter to the Jewish believers … "If any of you lack wisdom, (especially in temptations) let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth (or chideth) not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed."
I believe some of this wisdom we need, also includes what our convictions should be.
1st John 3:20-21 ... "If our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God."
I don't believe the word "condemn" is the proper word to use in this verse. Satan condemns, God convicts … there is a difference. Actually, the proper meaning of, "our heart condemn us" … is ... "our consciences find fault with," instead of the word condemn.
So, what is this telling us? Our self-made laws, our self-imposed convictions should be based on what our heart and our conscience is telling us. If our heart says "no" to a certain thing, God is giving you a check in your spirit to reconsider what you are about to do.
Likewise, if there is no conviction ... "then have we confidence toward God" … concerning whatever we are about to enter into. Of course, some things the flesh wants to do … the Scripture very plainly states are either sinful, or else not good for us to indulge in.
So, if you don't know, you're unsure, ask God for wisdom, and then let the Holy Spirit deal with your heart. He will, you know. But you have to be willing to listen.
In other words … in dealing with most sins … it's not rocket science.
Comments welcome.
My interpretation … "Whatever is not done with a full conviction that it is right, is sinful; whatever is done when a man doubts whether it is right, is sin."
The whole scope of this scripture requires us to understand the Apostle Paul is simply saying that a man should not do a thing doubting its correctness; that he should have a strong conviction that what he does is right; and that if he doesn't have this conviction, it is sinful. In all cases, if a man does a thing which he does not believe to be right, it is a sin, and his conscience will condemn him for it.
The context shows that Paul means that whenever actions are done by a Christian which he does not believe are right, he sins in doing them. If he is doubtful whether they are right, he must not do them.
Hebrews 3:12 ... "Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God."
The writer of Hebrews says that a heart of unbelief is evil. Why evil? Men often feel that it is a matter of little consequence whether they have faith or not, provided their conduct is right; and hence, they do not see or admit to the importance of what is said about the consequences of unbelief in the Scriptures.
Provided their conduct is right? Is their conduct the same as their works? Which moves the heart of God to answer or reward the believer? Works (conduct) or faith? Faith will win out every time. It all comes down to faith, which is belief, or the opposite, doubt and unbelief. In fact …
Hebrews 11:6 says ... "Without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."
"He that cometh to God" ... for any reason … even in worship ..."must believe that He is" ... that God exists. This is the first thing required in worship.
We cannot come to Him in an acceptable manner if we doubt His existence. We do not see Him, but we must believe that He is; even though we cannot form in our heart and mind a completely correct image of God, this should not prevent us from having a true conviction that there is a God.
But the declaration here, implies more than having just a general belief that there is a God. It is necessary that we have this belief exercised in the act of coming before Him, and that we should realize that we are actually in the presence of the Lord when we do.
"That he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him" ... The phrase, "diligently seek" means ... to search out, investigate, crave, demand, enquire, seek after.
This is equally as necessary as the belief that He exists. If we do not believe that God hears and answers our prayers, there would be no reason to call upon Him. It is also not meant that the desire of the reward is to be the motive for seeking God. The writer of Hebrews is not making that point; but he is saying, why approach Him unless we have this belief.
As in all things dealing with spiritual matters … a measure of faith must be exercised.
Many times we can even make some lawful things wrong or sinful for us to do, simply because we make a personal conviction against them ourselves with what is called … making a law unto yourself.
Romans 14:14 ... "I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: (speaking of eating food) but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, (or sinful) to him it is unclean."
Even though God doesn't care if you do something that isn't sinful, (example … eating meat on Friday) but you personally believe it is sinful for you to eat meat on Friday … and you go ahead and eat meat on Friday anyway, you have sinned in your heart against God because you willingly went against your personal conviction.
You may be in error thinking it is a sin, but it would not be proper for you to act in violation of what you suppose God requires of you. You have made it a law unto yourself.
This is why it is so important to learn how the Holy Spirit speaks to you. You need to know and recognize His voice … even though it won't be an audible voice, you will still hear him in your heart, not with your ears.
James speaks somewhat to this in his letter to the Jewish believers … "If any of you lack wisdom, (especially in temptations) let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth (or chideth) not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed."
I believe some of this wisdom we need, also includes what our convictions should be.
1st John 3:20-21 ... "If our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God."
I don't believe the word "condemn" is the proper word to use in this verse. Satan condemns, God convicts … there is a difference. Actually, the proper meaning of, "our heart condemn us" … is ... "our consciences find fault with," instead of the word condemn.
So, what is this telling us? Our self-made laws, our self-imposed convictions should be based on what our heart and our conscience is telling us. If our heart says "no" to a certain thing, God is giving you a check in your spirit to reconsider what you are about to do.
Likewise, if there is no conviction ... "then have we confidence toward God" … concerning whatever we are about to enter into. Of course, some things the flesh wants to do … the Scripture very plainly states are either sinful, or else not good for us to indulge in.
So, if you don't know, you're unsure, ask God for wisdom, and then let the Holy Spirit deal with your heart. He will, you know. But you have to be willing to listen.
In other words … in dealing with most sins … it's not rocket science.
Comments welcome.
Friday, October 7, 2011
The Death of a Child
I can only imagine the grief and sorrow a parent must go through when a child dies. I have watched from the sidelines a few times when family or friends have lost children through sickness, accidents and now once again in a recent case of SIDS or crib death.
The very first experience I had concerning the death of a child happened when I was around five or six years old. My aunt and uncle lived next door to us so I was able to watch this whole thing play out in front of my young eyes.
My aunt had given birth to a baby that developed some kind of heart condition which caused it's little heart to grow too fast. Evidently from what I was told, it's heart enlarged to the point where it couldn't breath anymore. That summer I watched my aunt sit under a shade tree with her sick little baby praying to God that the Lord Jesus Christ, would heal her little boy. But it wasn't to be. He died.
When I was in my late twenties, I was talking to my uncle about his baby dying that summer, when he shared what I am going to share with you. My uncle was a believer in Jesus also, as was my aunt. In fact he was very close to the pastor of the church both of our families attended. I guess you could say he was the pastors right hand man.
Well anyway, Pastor told my uncle that the Lord had impressed upon him so strongly, that he believed that when a child dies, that child remains a child in Heaven until the parents get to Heaven where they are then allowed to watch their child grow up to full stature in the Lord.
Did he have Scripture for that? No. There is none. Does it hurt to believe that? I don't think it does … in fact it might bring a small amount of comfort, don't you think?
If I remember correctly … the reason my uncle and I were talking about this subject was because of another death of a child in our family. The youngest sister of my aunt had her daughter die in her arms as they rushed this sweet, beautiful little four year old girl to the hospital one morning. The details aren't important other than … how do you accept something like this?
A couple of years or so after the death of this little four year old girl, her grandmother died. As I was working on my job a few days later … a scene opened up in front of my eyes that now as I look back on what I saw and heard, I wonder if it was a vision from the Lord … it was that real. I saw a part of Heaven unfold as if I had just walked into this beautiful grassy park with flowers all in bloom and a fresh mountain breeze blowing gently. Everything was perfect ... but I was only there as an observer.
The next thing I saw was my little four year old cousin that had died in her mothers arms, standing next to Jesus. About the same time, I saw Grandma as she first arrived in Heaven, and Grandma was headed to the both of them. But there was something different about the way she looked. Grandma was no longer bent over, but rather was walking tall and straight as she approached them. I also noticed her wrinkles were gone … it was Grandma, only younger.
As Grandma came closer to them, my little cousin turned to Jesus and as she tugged on His sleeve, He bent down so He could hear her whisper … “Can I show Grandma around?” A smile came across the face of Jesus and He gave her a nod of approval as He stood back up.
I will never forget that smile as Jesus sent her over to her grandmother. He just beamed as He watched this sweet little thing take her grandma's hand and say … “Grandma, what took you so long? I've been waiting for you.” And off the two of them went.
It's been thirty-five years since I was given this glimpse into the spirit realm; just a little peek into Heaven … and it's just as real now as I hit the keys on this keyboard as it was back then.
And now … the recent crib death or SIDS, sudden infant death syndrome. A young couple who attends our church just lost their five month old baby. He was perfectly healthy one evening as he was placed in his crib for the night, but never woke up the next morning. Instead of a smiling baby, these parents woke up to unbelievable devastation, pain, grief, sorrow … it was all there.
I am unsure if I have the right answer for everyone, but what I believe works for me. So that brings me to this question … “What would Heaven be like without children?” Doesn't Heaven need the sound of laughter and giggles of children playing?
When SIDS happen … there is a reason, but it's known only to Him. When God … the one who owns even our breath, decides to take back what really belongs only to Him anyway; do we willingly submit to His will … even though we don't understand it. Do we really have a choice in the matter? We can't change what happened.
The truth is, all we can do is trust Him each day for the care of our children and then say from our hearts at the end of the day … thank you Lord.
But … if God's care isn't exactly the same as we are asking and believing Him for, will we say by faith anyway … “The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.”
Having never gone through the death of a child myself … although I watched my daughter lose her first child … I would hope, had I gone through that loss, that I would remain strong and continue to believe that God's will was fulfilled in my child’s life … even through death.
My two girls are middle aged now, but they are still my children, and I pray every day for God's keeping power over their lives. I never want to find out if I have what it takes to hang on to God if I were to lose a child to the final enemy … death.
May God be praised.
Comments welcome.
The very first experience I had concerning the death of a child happened when I was around five or six years old. My aunt and uncle lived next door to us so I was able to watch this whole thing play out in front of my young eyes.
My aunt had given birth to a baby that developed some kind of heart condition which caused it's little heart to grow too fast. Evidently from what I was told, it's heart enlarged to the point where it couldn't breath anymore. That summer I watched my aunt sit under a shade tree with her sick little baby praying to God that the Lord Jesus Christ, would heal her little boy. But it wasn't to be. He died.
When I was in my late twenties, I was talking to my uncle about his baby dying that summer, when he shared what I am going to share with you. My uncle was a believer in Jesus also, as was my aunt. In fact he was very close to the pastor of the church both of our families attended. I guess you could say he was the pastors right hand man.
Well anyway, Pastor told my uncle that the Lord had impressed upon him so strongly, that he believed that when a child dies, that child remains a child in Heaven until the parents get to Heaven where they are then allowed to watch their child grow up to full stature in the Lord.
Did he have Scripture for that? No. There is none. Does it hurt to believe that? I don't think it does … in fact it might bring a small amount of comfort, don't you think?
If I remember correctly … the reason my uncle and I were talking about this subject was because of another death of a child in our family. The youngest sister of my aunt had her daughter die in her arms as they rushed this sweet, beautiful little four year old girl to the hospital one morning. The details aren't important other than … how do you accept something like this?
A couple of years or so after the death of this little four year old girl, her grandmother died. As I was working on my job a few days later … a scene opened up in front of my eyes that now as I look back on what I saw and heard, I wonder if it was a vision from the Lord … it was that real. I saw a part of Heaven unfold as if I had just walked into this beautiful grassy park with flowers all in bloom and a fresh mountain breeze blowing gently. Everything was perfect ... but I was only there as an observer.
The next thing I saw was my little four year old cousin that had died in her mothers arms, standing next to Jesus. About the same time, I saw Grandma as she first arrived in Heaven, and Grandma was headed to the both of them. But there was something different about the way she looked. Grandma was no longer bent over, but rather was walking tall and straight as she approached them. I also noticed her wrinkles were gone … it was Grandma, only younger.
As Grandma came closer to them, my little cousin turned to Jesus and as she tugged on His sleeve, He bent down so He could hear her whisper … “Can I show Grandma around?” A smile came across the face of Jesus and He gave her a nod of approval as He stood back up.
I will never forget that smile as Jesus sent her over to her grandmother. He just beamed as He watched this sweet little thing take her grandma's hand and say … “Grandma, what took you so long? I've been waiting for you.” And off the two of them went.
It's been thirty-five years since I was given this glimpse into the spirit realm; just a little peek into Heaven … and it's just as real now as I hit the keys on this keyboard as it was back then.
And now … the recent crib death or SIDS, sudden infant death syndrome. A young couple who attends our church just lost their five month old baby. He was perfectly healthy one evening as he was placed in his crib for the night, but never woke up the next morning. Instead of a smiling baby, these parents woke up to unbelievable devastation, pain, grief, sorrow … it was all there.
I am unsure if I have the right answer for everyone, but what I believe works for me. So that brings me to this question … “What would Heaven be like without children?” Doesn't Heaven need the sound of laughter and giggles of children playing?
When SIDS happen … there is a reason, but it's known only to Him. When God … the one who owns even our breath, decides to take back what really belongs only to Him anyway; do we willingly submit to His will … even though we don't understand it. Do we really have a choice in the matter? We can't change what happened.
The truth is, all we can do is trust Him each day for the care of our children and then say from our hearts at the end of the day … thank you Lord.
But … if God's care isn't exactly the same as we are asking and believing Him for, will we say by faith anyway … “The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.”
Having never gone through the death of a child myself … although I watched my daughter lose her first child … I would hope, had I gone through that loss, that I would remain strong and continue to believe that God's will was fulfilled in my child’s life … even through death.
My two girls are middle aged now, but they are still my children, and I pray every day for God's keeping power over their lives. I never want to find out if I have what it takes to hang on to God if I were to lose a child to the final enemy … death.
May God be praised.
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