2022-05-28
2 Korintiërs 5:1 ABA
Wanneer jy sterf, verlaat jy eenvoudig ‘n mindere vorm van lewe en betree ‘n groter een. Dink aan die eerste wet van termodinamika: nie energie (soos jou gees en siel), of materie (soos jou liggaam) kan vernietig word nie. Hulle kan in ander vorms getransformeer word, maar hulle kan nie tot niet gemaak word nie. Burris Jenkins het dit so gestel: ‘Geen enkele atoom in die skepping kan ophou bestaan nie. Volgens die wetenskaplikes kan dit slegs van vorm verander. Ons kan nie enigiets verbrand nie; ons verander dit bloot van ‘n vaste vorm na ‘n gas toe. Geen energie of krag word ooit vernietig nie; dit verander net van een vorm in ‘n ander een toe.’ Wat gebeur dus wanneer jy sterf?
Die Bybel sê: ‘Wanneer ons liggaam eendag soos ‘n tent opgevou en in die grond weggebêre word, is dit nie klaar met ons nie. Gelukkig nie. Dan breek ‘n splinternuwe lewe by God aan wat nooit sal ophou nie. Terwyl ons nou nog in hierdie ou aardse tent van ons aansukkel, kry ons swaar. Ons sien baie uit na daardie nuwe hemelse liggaam… Intussen gaan dit maar bitter moeilik met ons hier in ons aardse liggaam. Ons sug en kla. Ons sien regtig uit na die dag dat hierdie sterflike liggaam van ons vervang word met ‘n nuwe liggaam. Dan sal hierdie sterflike liggaam van ons plek maak vir ‘n hemelse liggaam wat vir altyd sal bestaan… Om te verseker dat ons veilig by Hom sal aankom, het Hy sy Gees aan ons gegee. Die Heilige Gees is die waarborg dat God sy woord sal hou’ (verse 1-5 DB).
Dink so daaroor: Jou laaste dag op aarde sal jou beste dag ooit wees! Hoe wonderlik is dit nie?
Sielskos: 1 Kon 3-5; Matt 13:1-9; Ps 128; Spr 12:10-11
2 Corinthians 5:1 MSG
When you die, you simply leave a lesser form of life and enter a greater one. Consider the first law of thermodynamics: neither energy (as in your soul and spirit) nor matter (as in your body) can be destroyed. They can be transformed into other forms, but they can’t be annihilated.
Burris Jenkins said it this way: “No single atom in creation can go out of existence, according to the scientists; it only changes in form. We cannot burn up anything; we simply change it from a solid to a gaseous state. Neither is any energy or force ever destroyed; it is only changed from one form to another.”
If man ceases to exist, He will be the one thing in the world that does. So when you die, what happens? The Bible says: “When these bodies of ours are taken down like tents and folded away, they will be replaced by resurrection bodies in heaven – God-made, not handmade – and we’ll never have to relocate our “tents” again. Sometimes we can hardly wait to move – and so we cry out in frustration. Compared to what’s coming, living conditions around here seem like a stopover in an unfurnished shack, and we’re tired of it! We’ve been given a glimpse of the real thing, our true home, our resurrection bodies! The Spirit of God whets our appetite by giving us a taste of what’s ahead. He puts a little of heaven in our hearts so that we’ll never settle for less” (vv. 1-5 MSG).
Think of it like this: Your last day on earth will be your best day ever! How awesome is that?
Soul food: 1 Kings 3-5; Matt 13:1-9; Ps 128; Pro 12:10-11
2022-05-27
Job 14:14 KJV
After AD 616, the first Christian missionaries came to the courts of King Edwin in Northumbria, England. In his great hall, ablaze with the light of numerous torches, they presented the gospel. The king listened, then consulted his advisors. One nobleman said: “Life is like a banquet hall. Inside is light… fire… warmth and feasting, but outside it is cold and dark. A sparrow flies in through a window at one end… and out through a window at the other end. That is what life is like. At birth we emerge from the unknown, and for a brief while we are here… with a fair amount of comfort and happiness. But then we fly out into the cold… dark… unknown future. [Can] this new religion… lighten that darkness for us[?]”
We who believe in the resurrection can answer, “Yes!” A faulty heartbeat, a malignant cell, or a tragic accident can end life as we know it. But that’s not the end. And unless you believe that, here is what you’re left with: “If Christ weren’t raised… all you’re doing is wandering about in the dark, as lost as ever. It’s even worse for those who died hoping in Christ and resurrection, because they’re already in their graves.
If all we get out of Christ is a little inspiration for a few short years, we’re a pretty sorry lot. But the truth is… Christ has been raised up, the first in a long legacy of those who are going to leave the cemeteries” (1 Corinthians 15:17-20 MSG). For the believer, the end of life on earth is the beginning of a glorious life with Christ in heaven!
Soul food: 1 Kings 1-2; Matt 12:38-50; Ps 45; Pro 12:7-9
Job 14:14 NCV
After 616 AD, the first Christian missionaries came to the courts of King Edwin in Northumbria, in the north of England. In his great hall, ablaze with the light of many torches, they presented the gospel. The king listened, then consulted his advisors. One nobleman said: ‘Life is like a banquet hall. Inside is light… fire… warmth and feasting, but outside it is cold and dark. A sparrow flies in through a window at one end… and out through a window at the other end. That is what life is like. At birth we emerge from the unknown, and for a brief while we are here… with a fair amount of comfort and happiness. But then we fly out into the cold… dark… unknown future. [Can] this new religion… lighten that darkness for us[?]’
When we believe in the resurrection, we can answer, ‘Yes!’ An illness or a tragic accident can end life as we know it. But we also know that death isn’t really the end. ‘If Christ weren’t raised, then all you’re doing is wandering about in the dark, as lost as ever. It’s even worse for those who died hoping in Christ and resurrection, because they’re already in their graves.
If all we get out of Christ is a little inspiration for a few short years, we’re a pretty sorry lot. But the truth is that Christ has been raised up, the first in a long legacy of those who are going to leave the cemeteries’ (1 Corinthians 15:17-20 MSG). When we put our trust in God, the end of life on earth is just the beginning of a glorious new life with Christ in heaven!
1 Kings 1-2; Matt 12:38-50; Ps 45; Pro 12:7-9
Job 14:14 NLV
Die eerste sendelinge het na 616 N.C. by koning Edwin se hof in Northumbria, Engeland, aangekom. In sy groot saal, verlig deur die vlamme van talle fakkels, het hulle die evangelie aangebied. Een edelman het na die tyd gesê: ‘Die lewe is soos ‘n banketsaal. Binne is daar lig, vuur, warmte en feesviering, maar buite is dit koud en donker. ‘n Swaeltjie vlieg by die venster in en by ‘n ander venster uit. Dis hoe die lewe ook is. By geboorte kom ons uit die onbekende na vore en vir ‘n kort rukkie is ons hier en ervaar ‘n redelike hoeveelheid gemak en geluk. Dan vlieg ons weer na die koue, donker, onbekende donkerte uit. Kan hierdie godsdiens die donkerte vir ons verlig?’
Ons wat in die opstanding glo, kan met vertroue antwoord: ‘Ja!’ ‘n Foutiewe hartklop, ‘n kwaadaardige sel, of ‘n tragiese ongeluk kan die lewe soos ons dit ken, beëindig. Dis egter nie die einde nie. ‘En as God Hom nie lewendig gemaak het nie, is julle nog maar net soos julle altyd was, van kop tot tone in die sonde… Dan is nie net ons nie, maar ook al die ander Christene wat al dood is, sonder enige hoop totaal verlore. As Christenskap net iets beteken terwyl ons nog op hierdie aarde is en daar vir ons niks meer oor is daarna nie, is ons ‘n hopelose spul mense vir wie ander net baie jammer kan voel. Die waarheid is heeltemal anders: God hét Christus lewendig gemaak nadat Hy aan die kruis dood is. En Christus is maar die eerste Een van nog baie om te kom, dit waarborg Hy’ (1 Korintiërs 15:17-20 DB).
Vir die gelowige, is die einde van lewe op aarde die begin van ‘n glorieryke lewe saam met Christus in die hemel!
Sielskos: 1 Kon 1-2; Matt 12:38-50; Ps 45; Spr 12:7-9
