Confident Love

In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the Day of Judgment, because in this world we are like him.
(1 John 4:17)

Meditation

For me, the most depressing scenario concerning my death would be there is nothing after this. We just die and turn to dust. If this life is all there is, with all the heartache and pain, death would be the cruelest, anticlimactic outcome. No wonder, the people who have no faith, have such a fatalistic attitude about death. However, God gave us the will and desire to live. So now, I don’t have to fear death like I did before I was saved, although I do still fear the pain that might accompany death. I’m wimpy like that. However, I KNOW where I’m going when this life is over. I have confessed Christ as my Lord and Savior and I am reborn and changed forever. I don’t have to guess or have some unrealistic hope about the afterlife that is waiting for me.
After I cross that threshold from here into eternity, I know who will stand with me on Judgment Day. Jesus loves me so much he will act as my advocate and I will be found innocent, even though I have no defense. My sins should separate me from the Father forever, but Jesus paid the price for my sins on the cross, once and for all. That’s the only defense required by the Father. However, if I had continued in my sinful lifestyle after I made that confession then all I would have done was utter a few hollow words and gotten wet in my baptism. My final destination would still be the punishment of Hell. In the completeness of Christ’s love, I strive to follow in his every footstep. I count on the scriptures to show me what his footsteps are.
Don’t get me wrong, because I’m a fallen human, I fail him daily. However, I know that he loves me and has forgiven my shortcomings. When I turned my life over to Christ, the Holy Spirit came into my heart. He’s guiding me to that final destination in heaven. Do you KNOW your final destination? If you don’t, does that cause you to be a little uneasy about your eventual death? You don’t have to be, if you ask someone who knows the truth. They will be happy to lead you to Jesus where you will find confidence in your final destination. If you don’t know someone who does, get a Bible and start reading. As you read, ask God to help you understand what you’re reading. I recommend starting with the Book of John. Find a Bible believing and preaching church and start attending.




Daily Prayer

Dear Lord, you are great and mighty, full of grace and mercy. Your love is perfection, and your discipline is just. Because of our sins, we deserve the ultimate punishment of death. However, because you love us and your unfailing grace, we are found innocent through the cleansing blood of Jesus. We thank you, Lord, for taking away the fear of death that gripped our hearts while we were still slaves to our sins. With the surety of a promise already kept, we look forward to the day when we will be with you forever. We have exchanged our fear of dying with the hope of an eternity we cannot even imagine from our experience in this life. We want to always keep your commandments, but when we fail, please forgive us and set us back on the righteous path. Your love for us knows no bounds and is made complete on Judgment Day, when Jesus will defend us against the accusations of Satan. While we are here, Lord, help us to be a reflection of Jesus to the unbelieving world around us. Renew us daily by the indwelling of your Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen!

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