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Welcome my friends to season 3 of the Determined to Dance podcast. My prayer is that you’ll be encouraged to persevere daily in our chaotic world. Today’s episode, Is Death a Mystery? looks at what God’s Word has to say about death.
Show Notes: Is Death a Mystery?
Today’s episode brings us to myth number 3 in Jeff Walling’s book, Daring to Dance with God. He says: “Death is a mystery we can never understand.”
I have found throughout my life that few people like to discuss death. If you want to clear a room, just make dying, hospitals, and funeral homes the topic for conversation and people will ease their way to the front door. Death is a difficult discussion.
Could that be, as Walling points out, because there is such a mystery associated with it? People have seances to try and speak to the dead. They pray for loved ones who have passed away. They try many ways to find out what exactly lies at and behind death’s door.
Except they don’t look at what the Creator of the universe says in the Bible. God’s Word is full of scriptures giving us a peek behind death’s door and if you’ve given your life to Jesus and are following closely after Him, you’re going to like what you see.
- John 3:16 tells us: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” We are promised eternal life if we believe in Jesus. (NIV)
- John 11:25-26 confirms this: “Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?’” Jesus said we will never die. (NIV)
- John 14:1-4 goes a little deeper: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me so that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” Jesus is preparing a place for us and He will be there. (NIV)
- Luke 23:43 is reassuring: “Jesus answered him, ‘Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.’” This verse in reference to the thief on the cross is very comforting when you wonder if people can get saved when at the point of death.
- Revelation 21:1-7 shows the end: “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.” And he also said, “It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty, I will give freely from the springs of the water of life. All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children.”
Wow. Everything will be new. Fresh. Clean. And no death, sorrow, crying, or pain. And it’s true. I’m ready for no more death. This past week, our dear sweet puppy we’d had for two months got away from us and took off after a truck. He ran under the wheel, and his life ended. I was so angry at death, stealing such a joyful life away from us. But one day, death will no longer have a say. Life in heaven will be eternal. Are you prepared to meet God today? If you’re not sure, why not stop by my website at https://www.jenniferhallmark.com/home/themostimportantthing/ I share some of my testimony and how to pray a simple prayer for salvation.
Let’s pray: Father God, we love You. Thank you that You have a plan in place. That You sent Your Son to die for us and that if we believe and accept Him, our place will be at Your side throughout all eternity. Protect us and our loved ones until the day we meet You face to face. In Jesus’ name, we pray, amen.
Death doesn’t have to be a mystery. Dig into the Word of God today.
Today’s featured author is Betty Thomason Owens, author of Annabelle’s Ruth, Kinsman Redeemer, Book 1. After their husbands perish in a fishing boat accident, Connie Cross determines to follow her mother-in-law, Annabelle, from Southern California to Tennessee. Plunged into living conditions far below previous expectations, the two submit to the kindness of Annabelle’s cousin. But Connie has a secret that could change everything once again. Learn more at https://bettythomasonowens.com/my-books/annabelles-ruth/
Next week, we’ll look at what to do when we’re tired of dancing. Until then, stay determined to dance.
Links:
My debut novel, Jessie’s Hope
Video of the week:
I absolutely love music and each week I’d like to share a relevant song we can enjoy together
Thank you for listing the verses as a reminder.
You’re welcome!