About 9.11 memorial ceremony!
A. In the event, they feature a 9 years old boy reading a letter he wrote to his father.
His father was a fireman died in the tragic event for saving others! At the time he was in his mother’s womb!
All major TV stations in their report specially feature this line from that letter.
Dear father, I know you are in heaven watching over us. Please do not worry, mammy is doing a wonderful job, bringing me up!
This line touched billions of hearts and that included mine!
This 9 years old boy said, he knows his father is in heaven watching over him and his mother.
B. Today, we will learn what says in the Bible about people being in heaven!
1. Man is appointed to die once and after that judgment! Heb.9:27
To be in heaven one has to pass through judgment. Man does not go direct to heaven after death! Heb.9:27
2. The good doers rise to life. The evildoers rise to condemnation. Jn.5:29
If I were the judge, I would let all those sacrificed their own lives to save others to go to heaven!
3. 2 Tim.4:1à In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom,…
Here we see Jesus is the judge!
C. How would judgment be? For the time for judgment to begin at the house of God: and if first at us, what the end of them that obey not the gospel of God? 1 Peter 4:17
1. Judgment to begin with the house of God!
Jesus said to his disciples: Mark 16:15-16
Go preach the gospel to all creation, he who believes and is baptized shall be saved; but he who believe not shall be condemned.
Ac.2:47 Praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
To be in heaven one has to bein the church of Christ before he died!
1 Jn.1:9à If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
The saved, while living as member of the church committed sins, he must pray to God for forgiveness of sins!
These are the people who get to go to heaven!
Ro.8:1à There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus.
From Ro. 8:1 and Ac. 2:47man must know what does it mean to live as a member of the church!
Gal.3:27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ did put on Christ.
Thank God, when we stand in front of Christ to be judged, we do put on Christ!
2. Re.20:11-14à Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them.
And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life.
The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.
The sea gave upthe dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done.
Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death.
Each person was judged according to what he had done!
I know if I had to be judged according to what I had done, I would not be in heaven after death!
The rest, I can only let you think about it!
In Lk.16:19-31 Jesus told us a story. So that we may decide how we will live before we died!
A rich man lives in luxury. Another man was poor and very sick. The rich man did not help him!
After dead the rich man behold him being comforted in paradise!
While the rich man suffering much pain in flame. He begged Abraham send people to help him. He was refused.
And he begged Abraham to send someone to his still living 5 brothers to warn them. So they will not go to where he was!
This request was refused also! Abraham told him while his brothers were living, let them listen to what says in the Bible!
He argued, if someone rise from the dead to tell them, they will listen!
Abraham said, if they don’t listen to the Bible, they will not listen even if someone rise from the dead!
Conclusion: I spent my life, telling people to listen to what says in the Bible.
While still living, come to believe Jesus is the Christ, be baptized and put on Christ and live as a member of the church of Christ until death!
How many listening?
Let us all be reminded:
If you were to be judged according to what you had done, will you be in heaven after death and praying for your love ones?
Besides, will their request be granted? This is why we must be sure to put on Christ at all time, including at the time of judgment!
Please be sure to remember, we must put on Christ even at time of death. Specially at time of judgment!
For they are the only one who can be in heaven praying for his love ones!
Besides, if we wait until we are in heaven to pray for them, would that be any use?
Read the story again! If you want to pray for them, it is at living not after death!
They don’t listen either way! Who can we blame, if one is in hell!?
Preach this on September 18, 2011.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdoE4PPwFS8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJLToraRg_Y
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOnig3XMhTQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzPZjWCgrok