Brown's Daily Word 11-09-09

Good morning,
Praise the Lord for this new day. The Lord blessed us with a glorious weekend, with plenty of warmth and sunshine. Today, it is predicted, will be unseasonably mild. (The record for this date - in 1975 - was 66). Jessica and Tom came for the weekend. They were able to care for several wedding related matters, such as meeting with the cake lady, getting together with a couple of florists, and tasting foods at the reception center.
The Lord blessed us with a wonderful day in His house yesterday. One of the readings for yesterday was taken from Hebrews 9. “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, (28) so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.”
Some body has said: “Heaven Is Better Than You Think” and “Hell is Forever and It’s Not Funny.” You've probably heard the old saying, “The only things certain in life are death and taxes.” I’m not so sure that statement is absolutely true, though. I’m guessing that with enough deductions, loopholes, and “creative” accounting, some people avoid paying most, if not all, of their taxes. So, there is no guarantee about the taxes. However, that still leaves us with death.
According Hebrews 9: 28, the only things guaranteed in life are death and the judgement. People have used and continue to use some unusual methods to attempt to peer past the portal of death into the afterlife. People who say they have had “Near Death Experiences” write books to tell what they say eternity will be like. Books like Betty Eadie’s “Embraced by the Light” tells of her supposed “death” and her visit to heaven. Others attempt to find out about the afterlife by so called “psychic research”, such as attempts to contact the dead through mediums. The only sure word concerning life after death is the Word of God. In 1 Thessalonians 4:15 the Apostle Paul says, “But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.”
Some folks say that death is the end of existence. Others insist that when people die, they are "reincarnated" into something or someone else. If you ever see reincarnation in its rawest form such as in India where Hinduism has a firm hold, you will understand that Hindus see reincarnation as a hopeless cycle of endless misery. Reincarnation as it is presented today has been “Americianized” – that means changed to suit the needs of the American culture. When you hear someone in this country talk about reincarnation, it is always talk about coming back in another human form. It is interesting that it seems that they almost always were some important or famous historical figure in a previous life. But in India the people understand reincarnation to be an endless cycle whose only hope is to finally enter into Nirvana – the place of nothingness. Death almost always catches us by surprise. Sometimes death comes when it’s generally expected – after we have lived a long and full life. But at other times death comes abruptly – far too soon in our way of viewing things.
Death is no respecter of persons. It marches into the mansions of the rich and the squalor of the slums. It doesn't matter how well you feel or how in shape you are. No one escapes the certainty of death. In Hebrews 9:27 we are told, “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.” The word of God tells us that after death each of us will certainly face judgment. “So Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.”

The best is yet to be for those believe in Christ, those who belong to Him and those who serve Him with joy and obdience.
In Him,
Brown

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRxyO2e0DYU