2025-12-18
1 Corinthians 15:38 NIV
Benjamin Franklin, who was a printer, wrote an epitaph for his grave. And even though it never ended up on his tombstone, it has been passed down in history for its cleverness and wisdom. “The body of Benjamin Franklin, printer; (like the cover of an old book, its contents torn out, and script [stripped] of its lettering and gilding), lies here, food for worms. But the work shall not be lost, for it will, as he believed, appear once more, in a new & more elegant edition, revised and corrected by the Author.” What a wonderful way to describe what’s going to happen to us someday.
The apostle Paul used seeds as a metaphor: “But someone will ask, ‘How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?’ How foolish! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or of something else. But God gives it a body as he has determined” (vv. 35-38 NIV).
A pastor explains: “When you plant your garden, you may toss a kernel of corn into the furrow and cover it. When it comes out of the ground, it will still be corn; it will be the same in essence. But what comes out of the ground is not the kernel. It’s the whole stalk. It’s much bigger, much better, and much more impressive.” And your new resurrection body will be as superior to your old body as the stalk is superior to the seed; it will be a body specifically designed for everlasting life.
Soul food: Zech 12-14; John 21:15-25; Ps 47; Prov 31:6-9
2025-12-17
Johannes 14:2 NLV
Die Bybel praat meer as vyfhonderd keer oor die hemel en verskaf detail van ons ewige tuiste. Kort voordat Hy na die hemel vertrek het, het Jesus sy dissipels bemoedig deur te sê: ‘In die huis van my Vader is daar sommer baie kamers… Ek gaan soontoe om vir julle plek gereed te maak. En as Ek gegaan en vir julle plek ingerig het, kom Ek terug en sal julle na My toe neem sodat julle ook kan wees waar Ek is’ (verse 2-3 NLV).
Die Griekse woord wat in vers 2 as ‘plek’ vertaal word, is ‘topos,’ wat na ‘n spesifieke plek verwys. Die Hemel is ‘n werklike, fisiese plek, waar ons eendag saam met Jesus en ons verloste geliefdes sal woon. God het in elkeen van ons se harte ‘n honger na die hemel geplaas (sien Prediker 3:11).
Tydens die Tweede Wêreldoorlog het Franklin Roosevelt dit moeilik gevind om weens sy fisiese gestremdheid tussen die troepe te reis, dus het sy vrou, Eleanor, sy plek ingeneem. Die soldate was mal oor haar. Sy het as die president se oë en ore gedien. Op een reis het sy ‘n aand saam met ‘n groep soldate deurgebring en daarna vir haar man gesê dat hulle net op een gedagte fokus – die verlange om die geveg te voltooi sodat hulle huis toe kon gaan. Dit is hoe God se verloste kinders oor die hemel voel.
Ons is op planeet Aarde ontplooi, maar ons opdrag is slegs tydelik. Die Psalmdigter het gesê: ‘U goedheid en trou vergesel my al die dae van my lewe; en ek sal bly in die huis van die Here so lank as wat ek lewe’ (Psalm 23:6 NLV). Dis ons verwagting – om vir ewig in die huis van die Here te woon.
Sielskos: Sag 9-11; Joh 21:1-14; Ps 12; Spr 31:1-5
John 14:2 NKJV
The Bible talks about heaven over five hundred times, with details about our eternal home. Shortly before He returned to heaven, Jesus comforted His disciples by saying, “In My Father’s house are many mansions… I go to prepare a place for you. And… I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (vv. 2-3 NKJV).
The Greek term translated “place” in verse 2 is “topos,” which refers to a specific and locatable place. Heaven is a real, physical place, where we will one day live with Jesus and our redeemed loved ones. And God has set inside each of our hearts a hunger for heaven (See Ecclesiastes 3:11).
During World War II, Franklin Roosevelt had a difficult time traveling among the troops because of his disability, so his wife, Eleanor, took his place. She actually became a favourite of the soldiers. She sent cables and letters back to the president, serving as his eyes and ears. On one trip to the Pacific, she invested an evening in chatting with a group of soldiers, and afterward told her husband they had only one thought on their minds – the longing to finish the battle so they could return home. That’s how God’s redeemed children feel about heaven.
We’re deployed on planet Earth, but our assignment is only temporary. The psalmist said, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever” (Psalm 23:6 NKJV). That’s what we are anticipating, isn’t it? Living in the house of the Lord forever.
Soul food: Zech 9-11; John 21:1-14; Ps 12; Prov 31:1-5
2025-12-16
Matteus 14:14 NLV
As jy wonder: ‘Hoe kan ek seker wees dat God gewillig is om my gesond te maak?’ lees dan die volgende: “‘n Melaatse man het na Hom toe gekom, voor Hom gekniel en Hom gesmeek met die woorde: ‘As U wil, kan U my gesond maak.’ Jesus het hom innig jammer gekry, sy hand uitgesteek en hom aangeraak met die woorde: ‘Ek wil dit vir jou doen. Word gesond!’ Net daar het die melaatsheid verdwyn – die man was gesond… Gevolglik het soveel mense Jesus begin omring…” (Markus 1:40-42, 45 NLV).
Nie net is God gewillig om ons te genees nie, Hy reageer met deernis op ons siekte en lyding. ‘Toe Jesus dit hoor, het Hy in ‘n skuit daarvandaan weggegaan na ‘n afgeleë plek om alleen te wees. Maar die skare het dit uitgevind en vanuit hulle dorpe oorland agter Hom aan gekom. Toe Jesus uit die skuit klim, sien Hy dat daar reeds ‘n massa mense bymekaar was. Hy het ‘n diepe deernis vir hulle gevoel en hulle siekes gesond gemaak’ (Matteus 14:13-14 NLV).
‘Twee blindes wat langs die pad gesit het, het gehoor dat Jesus daarlangs verbygaan. Hulle roep toe aanhoudend: ‘Here, Seun van Dawid, ontferm U tog oor ons!’… Jesus het gaan staan en hulle laat roep. ‘Wat wil julle hê moet Ek vir julle doen?’ vra Hy vir hulle. Hulle het gesê: ‘Here, ons wil sien!’ Daarop het Jesus hulle innig jammer gekry en hulle oë aangeraak. Dadelik kon hulle sien, en hulle het agter Hom aan gegaan’ (Matteus 20:30, 32-34 NLV).
Het Christus se krag afgeneem? Nee. Het Hy vandag minder medelye teenoor sy verloste kinders as wat Hy destyds vir die menigte gehad het? Nee. Kom dus met vertroue na Hom toe, bid en glo Hom vir jou genesing.
Sielskos: Sag 5-8; Joh 20:19-31; Ps 67; Spr 30:29-33
Matthew 14:14 KJV
If you’re wondering, “How can I be sure God is willing to heal me?”, read this: “And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean. And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed… and they came to him from every quarter” (Mark 1:40-42, 45 KJV).
Not only is God willing to heal us, but He responds to our sickness and suffering with compassion. “He departed thence by ship into a desert place apart: and when the people had heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the cities. And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick” (Matthew 14:13-14 KJV).
One day two blind men were sitting on the roadside when they heard that Jesus was passing by. Immediately they cried out: “‘Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou son of David.’… And Jesus… said, ‘What will ye that I shall do unto you?’ They say unto him, ‘Lord, that our eyes may be opened.’ So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him” (Matthew 20:30, 32-34 KJV).
Has Christ’s power diminished? No. Does He have less compassion toward His redeemed children today than He had for the multitude back then? No. So, come to Him with confidence, praying and believing for your healing.
Soul food: Zech 5-8; John 20:19-31; Ps 67; Prov 30:29-33
