DAILY DEVOTIONALS: 1.20.17

Eternity in Our Hearts - Greg Laurie - www.harvest.org

 

He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end. -Ecclesiastes 3:11

 

I read a story about a little dog named Mugsy, who was crossing the street one day and was tragically hit by a truck. His heartbroken owners buried him in the pet cemetery. They were sad they would never see their precious little pooch again.

 

But much to their surprise three days later, Mugsy was scratching at the back door. They could hardly believe their eyes. They opened the door and Mugsy came in, covered with dirt but breathing. They had buried him alive, but the industrious little pooch clawed his way out and found his way home.

 

Then I read another story about a cat named Clem. He left home one day, and his owners thought that was the end of him. But eight years later, Clem showed up, walked inside the house, and jumped into his favorite chair. They thought it couldn't possibly be Clem. But when they pulled out old pictures of Clem for comparison, there was no question. Clem had returned home.

 

God has built a homing instinct into the animal kingdom, but He also has put this inside every human being as well. It's a sense there is something more to life. You see, mankind has been created uniquely in the image of God. Ecclesiastes 3:11 says that He put eternity in our hearts.

 

Because of this, we never will be fully satisfied in this life. No matter what we achieve, no matter how many of our goals we reach, there always will be something missing.

 

When you put your faith in Jesus Christ, not only will you have a life that is worth living, not only will you find the meaning of life, but you also will have the hope of life beyond the grave. That is life during life-and life after death.

Ready to Go? - Greg Laurie - www.harvest.org

 

I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. -John 14:2-3

 

When you go on a trip, you must have your bags packed and be ready to move. In the same way, as followers of Christ, we're going on a trip. We don't know exactly when it will begin. It could be 20 years or 30 years from now. Or it could begin in 20 minutes or 20 seconds. That is why the Bible tells us to prepare to meet our God.

 

The prophet Isaiah said to King Hezekiah, "Thus says the Lord: 'Set your house in order, for you shall die, and not live'" (2 Kings 20:1).

 

Heaven is a prepared place for prepared people. The hope and promise to all Christians is that we have a place prepared for us by Jesus. He said, "I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also" (John 14:2-3).

 

Are you prepared? Is your house in order right now? Are you ready? Maybe you're saying, "What do you mean by ready? How does a person get ready?"

 

You get ready by having Christ in your heart and knowing your sin is forgiven, knowing your life is right with Him.

 

You don't want to be living in a backslidden or compromised state. You want to be watching, ready, and alert-and even looking forward to the return of the Lord. In fact, I think that is something of a litmus test of your true spirituality. You will be homesick for Heaven. It is not that you have a death wish; it's that you are homesick for Heaven.

 

Is your house in order? Are you ready to go? Then you won't have to fear what happens beyond the grave.

 

 

When a Christian Dies - Greg Laurie - www.harvest.org

 

Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord. -2 Corinthians 5:8

 

A number of books have reached the bestseller list that deal with alleged out-of-body experiences people claim to have had. And a Gallup survey revealed that some 8 million people claim to have had near-death journeys into the beyond.

 

But what happens when a Christian dies? Some teach that we go into a suspended state of animation and then later on are called into the presence of God. But in my understanding of Scripture, when a believer dies, he or she goes directly to Heaven. We go right into God's presence.

 

Remember the thief on the cross who hung next to Jesus? He said, "Remember me when you come into your Kingdom" (Luke 23:42).

 

Jesus told him, "I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise." Today. Jesus was saying, "It's going to happen for you right away."

 

Paul said, "I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me" (Philippians 1:23). He didn't say, "I long to go and hang around in a soul sleep for a few thousand years." Paul again said, "So we are always confident, even though we know that as long as we live in these bodies we are not at home with the Lord. For we live by believing and not by seeing. Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord" (2 Corinthians 5:6-8).

 

Once you leave your body when death occurs, your spirit goes into the presence of God. The moment you take your last breath on earth, you will take your first breath in Heaven.

 

That means we don't have to be afraid. It doesn't mean we want to die. But we don't have to be afraid.

 

The First One There - Greg Laurie - www.harvest.org

 

But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. -1 Corinthians 15:20

 

A question I'm often asked about Heaven is whether we will recognize each other.

 

While I can't cite any Scripture passage that absolutely guarantees we will recognize one another in Heaven, it's my belief that we will.

 

There are Scripture passages that would seem to point to that. When Moses and Elijah appeared with Jesus during His transfiguration, they were recognizable to Peter. He was able to look at them and somehow know they were Moses and Elijah.

 

It's also interesting that after Jesus' resurrection, when He appeared to the disciples on the Emmaus road and walked and talked with them, they didn't realize that it was indeed Him until their eyes were opened. Therefore, Jesus was recognizable but not immediately recognizable. He bore in His body the marks of the crucifixion. This gives us a picture of a resurrection body that is similar to the old earthly body but is different at the same time.

 

We're also told in 1 Corinthians 13, "Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known" (verse 12). We'll have a new knowledge and understanding that wasn't possible before.

 

The Bible says that Christ has become "the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep" (1 Corinthians 15:20). He was the first one there, so to speak. Considering the resurrection body of Jesus, I think we're given a broad outline of what our bodies will be like. The Scriptures say, "We shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is" (1 John 3:2). I think our resurrected bodies will be somewhat similar to our earthly bodies.

 

To live forever in this body would be a curse. But to live forever in a new body in the presence of God-that will be a blessing.

The Mercy Seat
“And thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee. And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat.” (Exodus 25:21-22)

 

In the “holy of holies” of the tabernacle, God would meet with Israel’s high priest once a year to commune with His people at a meeting place called the “mercy seat.” The Hebrew word was derived from the word for “atonement,” which in turn meant essentially a “covering” for the Ark of the Covenant. On the great day of atonement each year, the high priest was commanded to sprinkle the blood from the sin offerings on the mercy seat (Leviticus 16:14-15) to make an atonement for all the people.

 

This annual ceremony, of course, merely prefigures the full atonement that Christ would make one day when “by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us” (Hebrews 9:12). Since this blood has been sprinkled once for all on the heavenly mercy seat, as it were, we are now “justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God” (Romans 3:24-25).

 

In this verse, the word “propitiation” is the Greek word for “mercy seat” (and is so translated in Hebrews 9:5). That is, Christ Himself, with His atoning blood, is our mercy seat, where we can meet with God. Thus, the golden, blood-stained mercy seat becomes the very throne of God Himself, where He meets with those who believe on Him for salvation. “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (4:16). HMM

 

Jacob's Ladder Dream
“And Jacob went out from Beersheba. . . . And he lighted upon a certain place . . . and lay down in that place to sleep. And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.” (Genesis 28:10-12)

 

Prophetic dreams were uncommon even in ancient times (Hebrews 1:1) and were never for personal use (Jeremiah 23:16-32; Jude 1:8). Such dreams were rare until the book of Revelation.

 

Jacob had the most personal encounters with God recorded in Genesis, more than Abraham or any other patriarch. Jacob’s ladder was much more than a human construction. The Hebrew word cullam is used only this once. The root Hebrew word, culal, is similar, with the basic meaning of “highway” or “corridor” or “pathway.” The word carries the connotation of “lift up” (see Psalm 68:4).

 

Jacob’s “ladder” was probably a highway/causeway to and from the presence of God. Perhaps it was something like our science fiction ideas of a wormhole—a time warp in the fabric of space that permits nearly instantaneous movement from one spot in the universe to another.

 

The Creator would certainly be able to make a time warp channel for His messengers to get back and forth to Earth quickly. There may be many such channels. This cullam was “fastened” on the earth with its “source” in heaven. The angels of God were speeding up and down (through? on? in?) it.

 

At the source, Jacob saw none other than the Yahweh (the I AM) of eternity standing in His “official” glory (compare Revelation 1:10-16). This vision verified to Jacob that God was with him and that God Himself would secure the eternal promises made to Abraham. This dream is unique in all Scripture. Jacob was an unusual man. HMM III

 

Jacob's Plain Life
“Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents.” (Genesis 25:27)

 

Jacob has often been given a bad reputation for his deception of Isaac. He is branded a liar and worse, while the Scriptures describe him very differently. To begin with, the Hebrew word translated “plain” in our text is tam, everywhere else rendered as “perfect” or “upright.”

 

The same word is used most often by God Himself of Job—a “perfect” and “upright” man (Job 1:8). All other references in the Bible where tam is used verify this upright and undefiled character. The deception is not rebuked by God, and Jacob is honored by God far more than Isaac. In fact, Jacob is renamed “Israel” by God—hardly a punishment for a bad life, but rather a recognition of a great life (Genesis 32:28).

 

The sin of Isaac and Esau is infinitely greater. Esau has “sold” and “despised” the birthright (Genesis 25:33-34). Isaac would have given that blessing to Esau (Genesis 27:1-4) in spite of God’s plan (Genesis 25:23). The intention of Jacob and Rebecca was to prevent a horrible disobedience and catastrophe.

 

Jacob’s action gave him no temporal advantage and was taken at great personal risk. Jacob spent 20 years in exile and servitude to his wicked uncle Laban, 14 of them for Rachel and Leah (Genesis 29:20-29). While there, he endured the awful trickery of Laban, but God gave him 12 sons and one daughter (Genesis 29:31–30:24).

 

God’s intervention and Jacob’s careful attention to detail brought wealth and a growing confidence that God had turned his life around, providing the leadership his family needed to leave suddenly and go with confidence back to the land of Abraham (Genesis 31), having received personal assurance from God (Genesis 32:24-30).

 

May we all have the reputation of a “plain” life. HMM III

 

Isaac's Life of Contrast
“And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents. And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob.” (Genesis 25:27-28)

 

Isaac’s early life became the biblical picture of Christ (Genesis 22:7-9). Not only did Isaac lay down his life voluntarily, but he continued to show great evidence of God’s presence and promise. He had personal instruction in faith from Abraham (Genesis 18:19) and had been given direct evidence of God’s sovereignty in his life (Genesis 24:67).

 

Even before the birth of his sons when he was 60 years old, Isaac interceded for Rebecca and the children (Genesis 25:21). It is certain that he had firsthand knowledge of God’s plan for the boys (Genesis 26:2-53; 28:1-4), yet in spite of his knowledge, Isaac “loved Esau” (our text).

 

He knew that God had chosen the younger child to rule (Genesis 25:23). He knew that Esau was an ungodly man (Genesis 27:46), and he knew that Esau had married pagan wives (Genesis 26:34) in spite of God’s command to the contrary. But Isaac was determined to give the birthright to Esau. The single reason Scripture cites for Isaac’s irrational behavior was that he loved Esau and the savory meat Esau brought in from hunting (Genesis 27:1-4).

 

Isaac finally gave the blessing to Jacob, but he would have blessed Esau; he would have gone against God’s command, and he “trembled exceedingly” when he knew that he had been overruled by God (Genesis 27:30-33). Ultimately, Isaac submitted to God and instructed Jacob in righteousness (Genesis 28:1-5). The pain in Jacob’s life, the agony of Rebecca’s separation from her son, and the torn testimony of Isaac were all caused by an incorrect “love.” HMM III

 

Eliezer's Faithful Service
“And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had . . . go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac.” (Genesis 24:2, 4)

 

Abraham required a most sacred vow from Eliezer (Genesis 15:2) to secure a bride for Isaac from the line of Shem rather than from the Canaanites (Genesis 24:3-4, 9). Eliezer had Abraham’s complete trust, with access and permission to all of his wealth (Genesis 24:10).

 

The Bible notes how Eliezer prepared for the success of the mission with adequate resources (employees, wealth, etc.), and went straight to his destination with no wasted time en route. Along the way he must have anticipated how to discern a proper wife and asked God for verification that He approved of the selection.

 

Eliezer’s request indicated he had in mind a lady who must be strong, healthy, and industrious, with no delusions of a life of ease. She must also be gracious, sensitive, and compassionate. Eliezer’s prayer did not presume. He knew the assignment and was asking for guidance on how to “see” the character of the potential wife (Genesis 24:12-14).

 

Eliezer was further aware of his being “in the way” (Genesis 24:27). That is, he was clearly aware that he was acting under godly authority and was seeking the leading of the Lord Himself. “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD” (Psalm 37:23), and our paths are directed when we “acknowledge him” (Proverbs 3:6).

 

After Eliezer completed defining his task, he insisted that an immediate decision be made so that he could finish his assignment. Once the family and Rebecca agreed, Eliezer made sure that the mission was completed by bringing the new bride home to Isaac (Genesis 24:32-67). Would to God that all of us were as faithful (1 Corinthians 4:2). HMM III

 

Lot's Fateful Choice
“And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere. . . . Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.” (Genesis 13:10-11)

 

Some otherwise righteous folks are unable to handle wealth. Lot and Abram had become so wealthy “that they could not dwell together” (Genesis 13:6), and Lot fell into the classic temptation—loving “all that is in the world” (1 John 2:16).

 

Beginning by pitching “his tent toward Sodom” (Genesis 13:12), Lot later “dwelt in Sodom, and his goods” (Genesis 14:12). And even though he was “vexed” by the “filthy” behavior of those with whom he was living (2 Peter 2:7-8), Lot finally “sat in the gate of Sodom”—a Hebrew idiom for holding a political place of power in the city (Genesis 19:1).

 

We are told that Lot was a just and righteous man (2 Peter 2:7-8). But ungodly choices always produce tragic results. When the angels arrived to bring God’s judgment, his children had intermarried with Sodomites and had been lost (Genesis 19:12-14). His wife wouldn’t leave (Genesis 19:26), and his wealth was destroyed with the destruction of the cities.

 

Lot’s reputation and eternal place in Kingdom history are equally tragic. Although rescued by the angels, his legacy is: “Remember Lot’s wife” (Luke 17:32). Although granted his wish to live in a “little” city (Genesis 19:20), his daughters corrupted themselves with him, and the pagan nations of Moab and Ammon were the result (Genesis 19:30-38). Although we will see Lot in heaven, he became the epitome of one whose works are “burned” and he is saved, “yet so as by fire” (1 Corinthians 3:13-15). Even small ungodly choices can cause us to lose “a full reward” (2 John 1:8). HMM III

 

Abraham's Separation Test
“Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac. And the thing was very grievous in Abraham’s sight because of his son.” (Genesis 21:10-11)

 

After Isaac had been weaned, Sarah noticed Ishmael mocking her and Isaac (Genesis 21:9). During the years since Hagar had given birth to Ishmael (at the insistence of Sarah), Abraham had grown to love Ishmael and had no doubt treated him and Hagar with respect. Now this sudden banishment was demanded under terms that were both harsh and apparently arbitrary.

 

Nonetheless, God approved because Hagar and Ishmael had become the specific illustration of a distinction between the “flesh” and the “heir” (Genesis 21:12). Although God would take care of Ishmael for Abraham’s sake, Abraham must separate himself and his family from that which would never become part of the Messianic line (Galatians 4:23-31).

 

The contrast of the two sons is a major teaching in Scripture. Galatians 3:16-29 provides most of the main biblical information. The promise was made to “the seed” (as singular), and the focus is on Christ, not Isaac. All people are under sin and are given the promise by faith. When we believe, we become children of God, in vivid contrast to the “son of the bondwoman.”

 

That faith is outside of physical relationships, and we become heirs according to the promise. That sacred relationship has been verified by God Himself (Hebrews 6:17-20), making us nothing less than joint-heirs with Jesus Christ (Romans 8:17-21). Thus, all who are heirs can never be connected to the “bondwoman” (Galatians 4:30-31). HMM III