Conscience, Decision and Destiny

“We have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.”(Hebrews 13:18)

We are all familiar with visual gauges in this automated age. For example: We have very elaborate dashboards on our automobiles with all kinds of needles and digital indicators telling us about everything from current speed to fuel level to tire pressure. These gauges prompt us to make choices — slow down, stop for gas, check the tires, and so forth. Likewise, “Conscience is the sensitive flickering needle which measures the relationship of conduct and values.”¹Conscience then, is the “dashboard” of life, literally located in the frontal part of your brain, “right before your eyes” so to speak.

Distinctly a human phenomenon, man is unique among the animals as he consciously, and sometimes unconsciously, looks over his life and behavior patterns, evaluating and passing judgment on them. His behavior is either in conformity with, or in conflict against, his value system.²

Your conscience reaches to the core of who you really are. Your conscience prompts you to evaluate moral choices. Those choices form your character. What is character? Character is the thoughts and feelings combined. That is a very simple, practical definition. The only thing that you will take from this life to the next is your character. Is your character fit for heavenly society? I didn’t ask if your body is fit; I’m talking about your character. Everyone who inherits heaven will get a new incorruptible body. But is your character fit for an incorruptible body?

In the judgment God takes into account the light available to each individual. He doesn’t hold anyone responsible for what they couldn’t know but He does hold us responsible for the light available to us.

“And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not [himself], neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many [stripes]. But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few [stripes]. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required.”(Luke 12:47-48a)

Ignorance may not keep an individual from being destroyed in the fires of hell but it does lessen the individual’s guilt and degree of suffering. If his thoughts and feelings are corrupt he is unfit for heaven and cannot be allowed entrance there; but those who had access to light and rejected the light will suffer far more severely before being executed.

This series of Godspeak™ Bible Guides contains great light and with that light comes responsibility. As you have read through this series of Bible guides, you have learned the truth about the nature and destiny of the human soul. You have learned that dead people are asleep. (See chapter 4) They don’t see, hear, think or speak. You have learned that all human beings are mortal. (See chapters 1-10) God grants immortality onlyto people who have faith in Him and that immortality will be bestowed in a bodily resurrection at the second coming of Jesus.The Bible, speaking of God, says, “He alone possesses immortality.” (1^st Timothy 6:16a NEB)

You have learned that hell is a future event, “the wrath to come.”It will serve its purpose and end with the complete eradication of both sin and sinners forever. (1^st Thessalonians 1:10; See also Malachi 4:1; Ezekiel 28:18-19; Psalm 37:20) Hell will take place on the surface of the earth completely burning up and sterilizing this old sin contaminated world. (See 2^nd Peter 3:1-18; Revelation 20:9-10) Afterward the earth will be recreated brand new without the slightest taint of sin. (See Revelation 21:1-5) Bite-a-Book™ 5, Hell: When, Where, and for How Long?is a captivating Bible presentation easily proving these points.

You have learned shocking things about the history of Christianity. You have learned that the main line of the Church actually became so perverted that it forbade people to read the Bible in their own language. Wow! That seems almost unbelievable but it is very true! Millions of people, many of them faithful obedient Christians were persecuted and murdered by other professing Christians in the name of Jesus Christ and under the authority of Church leadership! (See chapters 12, 13 & 16)

Perhaps most shocking and disturbing of all, you have learned through the prophecy studies in chapters 18, The Future Foretold, & chapter 19, Satan’s Last Deception, that Bible prophecy foretells a resurgence of that same form of persecution — Christian against Christian, just prior to the second coming of Jesus.

You have learned from Scripture that supernatural manifestations will begin occurring openly as we near the return of Christ. In Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21, Jesus warns us to beware of deceptions as He predicts the condition of the world just prior to His second coming.

The Bible indicates that extreme weather events, new, frightening diseases, geothermal disasters, and religious and racial conflicts will inundate the world as we near the return of Christ. Society today is riding a wild roller coaster of instability. The world will descend into deeper financial difficulties, precipitating tremendous social unrest involving labor union agitation, unprecedented crime, poverty, and hunger.

Attempts to cope with these rapidly expanding traumas will lead to a solidarity league between governments and major religious powers in an attempt to bring “everyone” (including God) on board with a universal solution to economic and societal problems. The persecution foretold in Revelation 13 will be worldwide. The trouble just around the corner will be unlike any that has ever come before both in scope and intensity.

“And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation [even] to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.”(Daniel 12:1b)

Your conscience has been properly educated through prayerful Bible study. Now you will respond to what you have learned. You cannot avoid making a choice, for even to “refuse to choose” is in itself a choice. Now you will decide whether to play on God’s side or the devil’s side on the grand stage of the theater of the universe. (See chapter 3)

Human nature shrinks from ridicule by those in our social circle. Many of us are afraid of not fitting into so-called “orthodoxy.” As a result, we behave as though church unity and family unity are more important than Bible truth. Jesus calls us to a much finer decision.

“If any [man] come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. . . . So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. . . . He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.” (Luke 14:26, 27, 33, 35b)

Taken in its proper context, the word “hate” means to love less — it does not mean to hate in the classic sense. To love unbelieving family members less than we love Christ means that we follow Christ wherever He leads, even if that places us at odds with family members. Families and churches will often force out anyone who does not acquiesce to the “orthodox” belief system of that household or church body. In order to face ridicule and rejection with inner peace, we need supernatural help, which can only come from a vital connection with Jesus.

Do you face painful rejection by family or friends, or even loss of employment or property? Jesus promises,

“And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.”(Matthew 19:29)

Mark, in his account of Jesus’ statement, notes that we receive a “hundredfold now in this time.” When we forsake family or church membership, God does not leave us destitute. We become members of a new family of caring brothers and sisters who will soon inherit with us eternal life in the paradise of God on this renewed, refreshed, recreated planet. We also have sweet fellowship with the “Comforter” the Holy Spirit and with holy angels. (See John 4:16-17; Matthew 18:10)

I have been no stranger to sorrow and tragedy in my life, but during the year 2011, I endured some devastating losses that shook me and rocked my world unlike anything I had ever experienced before. And then I was diagnosed with a rare, aggressive form of prostate cancer! It had metastasized to my bones. The physical pain was excruciating and yet the mental was even worse. My precious family had been torn from me six months before and now my body was under attack. My suffering seemed to me even worse than the suffering of Job.

I have a sensitive conscience. So as I looked back over my life and saw so much failure and sin, it was more than I could bear. I felt deserted by God; I thought my probation was over — surely He wouldn’t have allowed that terrible string of disasters to come upon me with such lightening-bolt speed if I weren’t a hopelessly lost man, or so I thought. I felt that I must be a Saul or an Esau, in other words, a dead man walking — a hopelessly lost man just marking time for a few more days until the blood clot in my lung killed me or the cancer in my bones and prostate ate me up. I would then molder in the grave till the second resurrection and face the “second death” — what a horrible mental state I was in. (Revelation 20:5-6) I know how the lost will feel on judgment day; I have experienced the mental hell they will endure — oh friends turn to the loving God now before it is forever too late! Hell — oh no, you don’t want to go there!

How ironic that after spending several years researching and writing about death and hell that I should be blindsided with the loss of my beloved wife and children; my material possessions began fading away before my eyes; my reputation was being unjustly smeared and then suddenly I was body-slammed with a painful terminal disease — all this in a six month span of time. I had suffered a coup de main!

There I lay in a hospital room on the 7^th floor, with tubes and needles stuck in me in various places. I was all alone, staring at the ceiling, pondering the looming coup de grâce — a blood clot was lodged in my right lung threatening to kill me almost instantly if it moved to the wrong location. And even if the blood clot didn’t get me, the cancer was working on killing me in a much more gruesome way, so the blood clot method of dying actually seemed somewhat preferable. Believe it or not, I actually regained my sense of humor through all of this.

The Dr. told me that I could extend my life by perhaps a couple of years if I would consent to surgery to remove my testicles — Wow! Oh — no thanks! Apparently, testosterone feeds the cancer and makes it much more virulent — by surgically removing my testicles I could essentially remove the testosterone factory in my body and possibly extend my temporal life. One friend lost his composure and gasped out loud when I told him over the phone. Frankly, I seriously considered the surgery, not because I wanted to live as a eunuch but because in my mental distress I actually thought that perhaps God was judging me for being too sensual during my lifetime. If He wanted me to do it then I’d do it. I was in a very sad mental state but thank God, He had better plans for me. ☺

Over the next few weeks, things began to change — all of a sudden, hundreds of people began praying for me, thousands of dollars were raised to send me to a private unconventional health institute and I started getting lots of phone calls from friends and extended family. My three wonderful adult children drove all night on a five hundred mile trip up from Texas, visited for a few precious hours with me in the hospital and then drove all night again back home — two of them had to work the next day. A couple of weeks later my friends Rick and Chris McFarland and their five young children drove more than four hundred miles to spend some time with me. Such demonstrations of love opened my eyes to see that God wasn’t done with me yet. Whatever mysterious purpose He had for permitting such a huge string of tragedies to strike me in rapid succession, that purpose did not include my damnation. He still loved me and had a plan for my future.

At last, I had peace of mind and peace with God — I could die and not be afraid of the looming judgment. I can think of many friends who expressed love and concern for me and several who became very devoted in their efforts to help and encourage me through this extreme trial. My brother Jessie and I grew very close. My adult children Amy, Luke, and Amanda, my friends Doug and Barbara Hughes, Teresa Sherard, Ed and Linda Kennedy, Lowell and Opal Hetterle, Robert and Caleen Burke, Todd and Janetsa Densmore, Josh and Jenny Deatheridge, and many others too many to name here went far out of their way to sacrificially love and help me. Cliff and Rebecca Loncosky, virtual strangers to me heard about my story and took up my cause raising the money through local churches to send me to a health institute. The Loncoskys are now some of my most beloved friends. God has a beautiful Christian family of brothers and sisters waiting for you, my friend. Under His inspiration, they will stand with you when everyone and everything you have ever depended on might fail you. “There is a friend [that] sticketh closer than a brother.” (Proverbs 18:24b)

“Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, [being] of one accord, of one mind. [Let] nothing [be done] through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name.” (Philippians 2:2-9)

I see God’s love and concern for me demonstrated not only by fellow Christians but even many secular people — friends, nurses, and others who have expressed and demonstrated care, which, whether they realize it or not, was inspired in their hearts by the Holy Spirit. Though not yet converted and not yet saved their hearts are not completely closed to the voice of God. I pray for these precious people daily.

Mark notes that our decision to follow truth inevitably involves “persecution.” The painful reality is that some family members and some church members that reject Bible truth will persecute us. Is true fellowship with Christ worth the price? May I suggest that you read all of Matthew 13 along with Mark 8:34-38, and meditate on Jesus’ response to this quandary. Paul says,

“The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with [him], that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time [are] not worthy [to be compared] with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” (Romans 8:16-18)

Is it Worth the Cost?

I received an intriguing email from a friend named Doug who read the preliminary manuscript for A Fly in the Ointment. Doug pointed out the struggles he encountered while exchanging superstition and spiritualism for Biblical truth. Here is part of his email:

I was born and raised a Mormon and thoroughly lived that religion for 18 years before I was able to break free. I [then had] a gap of 27 years of no religion at all. It wasn't until I met Barbara that I started going to church on a regular basis and only because I really loved her and wanted to be with her. It still took me 4 years of going [to church] with Barbara to be de-programmed of Mormon doctrine or spiritualism as you term it.

My point is this: when you said the churches were afraid to let go of their [unbiblical] dogmas and traditions for fear of losing their members, I wanted to point out how strong these forces can be when you are raised and ingrained with these concepts as a child. They can be next to impossible to let go of. Even though as a young 12-year-old boy I realized the Mormons were seriously flawed and a cult, I still hung on to the concepts of the spirit world because it was more “comfortable.”

I ran away from the Mormon Church and still had a difficult time thinking outside their box. Knowing this, imagine folks who “believe” in their doctrine trying to change [their thinking] even if . . . the church authorities [changed their official teachings in order to come in line with the Bible]. There may be a stubborn element of [psychological] impasse [which hinders] the acceptance of simple Bible truths.

What a powerful hold an ingrained misinterpretation of reality can have on us even when we see red flags pop up which should alert us that something is wrong. Even when we reject our past religious experience, the underlying prejudices or presuppositions of that religious experience might stubbornly persist. Those residual preconceptions might continue to distort the way we interpret reality on a subconscious level.

Just going to church and listening to preachers isn’t enough. The sooner we dig in and prayerfully study Scripture for ourselves, the sooner the old superstitious beliefs will fall away.

Doug’s last point (the idea that some people would find it difficult to change their beliefs on the nature and destiny of the human soul even if their own denomination changed its official stand) is an important predicament to consider. Of course, no one should change a belief just because his/her church says to. We each should personally study out the issue in the Bible with a commitment to follow truth wherever it leads.

Frankly, many would refuse to study and think for themselves. Even if their denominational leaders made an impassioned and incontrovertible Biblical argument for change, they would hang on to their old beliefs no matter what. They are “programmed” to view the world from that old way of thinking and might find it not only difficult but also frightening to change. Many would almost certainly, (without any reasonable Biblical support), accuse the leadership of apostasy, and there would be quite an uprising from within the laity.

Some, like Doug, eventually do break free of mind-numbing superstitions but not without God’s help, and not without personal motivation. For Doug, the motivation began with love for his wife Barbara, but culminated in a personal commitment to Christ and His truths as taught in the Bible. Everyone has a different background, a different story, a different struggle. What is your story?

Perhaps you are a secularist without any Christian background. Perhaps your circle of friends and family are agnostic or even atheistic in their orientation to life. You may fear, and justifiably so, that some with whom your emotions and sense of community are so intimately tied will scoff at you. Nevertheless, you are experiencing a strong conviction that the thrilling teachings you see in the Bible are true, very true! You feel a spontaneous desire to share what you are learning with family and friends. Some loved ones and friends may rejoice with you in your newfound joy, while others may reject both you and this wonderful truth. What will you do?

Perhaps you are a spiritualist who has toyed with séances, and dabbled in other manifestations of the enchanting “spirit world.” Perhaps you have seen apparitions that seemed so genuine, and which have spoken with such apparent wisdom. Maybe you are a devoted follower of the Mary cult. Maybe you have seen with your own eyes stunningly beautiful apparitions of “Mary,” bathed in radiance. Perhaps you experienced some of the warmest and most secure feelings that you have ever known during ecstatic contact with “dead saints in spirit form.” Are you to trust the Bible over your senses? Will you choose to obey God’s Word or your emotions?

Perhaps you are a Christian who has sincerely believed that human beings are dualistic in nature, possessing a material mortal body and an immaterial immortal soul. Perhaps some highly esteemed theologians taught you this pagan-derived fallacy. Perhaps those very theologians reject the reality that is so clearly laid out in Scripture. What are you to do? To reject the “orthodoxy” of the great men and follow Bible truth would cost you much. You would face ridicule, humiliation, rejection, and perhaps even be cast out of your church.

No matter who you are, no matter what your past, no matter what your present circumstance, the call of fidelity is coming to you just now. How will you respond? The great apostle Paul has set an example worthy of your emulation. One of the greatest theologians of his day, a man named Gamaliel, trained him from his youth. The Bible describes Gamaliel as “a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people.” (Acts 5:34b) By Paul’s own testimony, he was brought up “at the feet of Gamaliel, [and] taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God.” (Acts 22:3b) To be taught by a great theologian, highly respected by the people, was a great honor for Paul. Even so, when Paul came to realize that Jesus was the long awaited Messiah, the Christ foretold in Scripture, he broke ranks with the great theologians of his day and stood with the testimony of Scripture. Paul suffered harsh persecution and humiliation as a consequence. Nevertheless, he has a testimony for you and me:

“But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things [but] loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them [but] dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead ... We look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.” (Philippians 3:7-11, 20b-21)

The Reward

Both Old and New Testaments describe the physical reality and joys of life in the new earth. In the next few pages, lets take a brief but breathtaking virtual journey to the recreated earth, the paradise that God will award to all those who have suffered the pain of separation in this life for their faithfulness to Christ and His truth.

In the Paradise of God, only one reminder of sin will remain. Jesus will forever bear the scars of His crucifixion — scars where the crown of thorns pierced His head, where the Roman soldier violently thrust a spear into His side, and the nail scars in His hands and feet. These are the only traces of the cruel scourge of sin that has blighted our world. Those battle scars on His body are His glory — the evidence of His humiliation is His highest honor. Through eternal ages, those scars will excite our most wonderful admiration and deepest gratitude and praise.

Having lived all our lives in this dark sin-blighted world it is impossible for us to fully comprehend what the bright new world will be like, even so the Bible gives us enough information that we can get a virtual glimpse so thrilling as to almost take our breath away. Consider the beauty and splendor of the city New Jerusalem, the security and expansiveness of our country estates, and the ecstatic joys of social life in the great family of God where everyone is valued, loved and trusted.

Our homes there will be very material. Jesus promised that He was going away to prepare mansions for us — that sounds quite material. Our glorified bodies will likely be made of the finest materials in all of God’s creation. Nothing is too good for our Elder Brother, the Creator and Savior — we will share humanity with Him and bodies made of the same glorious substance as His.

I once read a fantastic, Bible based description of what eternal life will be like; I found that description so masterfully written that I don’t believe there is any way I can exceed it and even to attempt to match it would be to plagiarize it. Ellen White penned the description more than 100 years ago, in her momentous book The Great Controversy Between Christ and Satan. I want to share it with you now with a few very minor modifications.

In the Bible the inheritance of the saved is called "a country."(Hebrews 11:14-16) There the heavenly Shepherd leads His flock to fountains of living waters. The tree of life yields its fruit every month, and the leaves of the tree are for the service of the nations. There are ever-flowing streams, clear as crystal, and beside them waving trees cast their shadows upon the paths prepared for the ransomed of the Lord. There the wide-spreading plains swell into hills of beauty, and the mountains of God rear their lofty summits. On those peaceful plains, beside those living streams, God's people, so long pilgrims and wanderers, shall find a home.

"My people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.""Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise." "They shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: . . . Mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands."(Isaiah 32:18; 60:18; 65:21, 22)

Pain cannot exist in the atmosphere of heaven. There will be no more tears, no funeral trains, no mourning. "The inhabitant shall not say, I am sick: the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity." (Revelation 21:4; Isaiah 33:24)

"The tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God."(Isaiah 62:3; Revelation 21:11, 24; Isaiah 65:19; Revelation 21:3)

In the City of God "there shall be no night."None will need or desire repose. There will be no weariness in doing the will of God and offering praise to His name. We shall ever feel the freshness of the morning and shall ever be far from its close."And they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light."(Revelation 22:5) The light of the sun will be superseded by a radiance which is not painfully dazzling, yet which immeasurably surpasses the brightness of our noontide. The glory of God and the Lamb floods the Holy City with unfading light. The redeemed walk in the sunless glory of perpetual day.

"I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it." (Revelation 21:22) The people of God are privileged to hold open communion with the Father and the Son. "Now we see through a glass, darkly."(1 Corinthians 13:12) We behold the image of God reflected, as in a mirror, in the works of nature and in His dealings with men; but then we shall see Him face to face, without a dimming veil between. We shall stand in His presence and behold the glory of His countenance.

There the redeemed shall know, even as also they are known. The loves and sympathies which God Himself has planted in the soul shall there find truest and sweetest exercise. The pure communion with holy beings, the harmonious social life with the blessed angels and with the faithful ones of all ages who have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb, the sacred ties that bind together "the whole family in heaven and earth"(Ephesians 3:15) — these help to constitute the happiness of the redeemed.

There, immortal minds will contemplate with never-failing delight the wonders of creative power, the mysteries of redeeming love. There will be no cruel, deceiving foe to tempt to forgetfulness of God. Every faculty will be developed, every capacity increased. The acquirement of knowledge will not weary the mind or exhaust the energies. There the grandest enterprises may be carried forward, the loftiest aspirations reached, the highest ambitions realized; and still there will arise new heights to surmount, new wonders to admire, new truths to comprehend, fresh objects to call forth the powers of mind and soul and body.

All the treasures of the universe will be open to the study of God's redeemed. Unfettered by mortality, they wing their tireless flight to worlds afar — worlds that thrilled with sorrow at the spectacle of human woe and rang with songs of gladness at the tidings of a ransomed soul. With unutterable delight the children of earth enter into the joy and the wisdom of unfallen beings. They share the treasures of knowledge and understanding gained through ages upon ages in contemplation of God's handiwork. With undimmed vision they gaze upon the glory of creation — suns and stars and systems, all in their appointed order circling the throne of Deity. Upon all things, from the least to the greatest, the Creator's name is written, and in all are the riches of His power displayed.

And the years of eternity, as they roll, will bring richer and still more glorious revelations of God and of Christ. As knowledge is progressive, so will love, reverence, and happiness increase. The more men learn of God, the greater will be their admiration of His character. As Jesus opens before them the riches of redemption and the amazing achievements in the great controversy with Satan, the hearts of the ransomed thrill with more fervent devotion, and with more rapturous joy they sweep the harps of gold; and ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands of voices unite to swell the mighty chorus of praise.

"And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever."(Revelation 5:13)

The great controversy is ended. Sin and sinners are no more. The entire universe is clean. One pulse of harmony and gladness beats through the vast creation. From Him who created all, flow life and light and gladness, throughout the realms of illimitable space. From the minutest atom to the greatest world, all things, animate and inanimate, in their unshadowed beauty and perfect joy, declare that God is love.³

Oh — wow! What an enchanting world! When tomorrow gets here it won’t be tomorrow anymore — it will be today and we’ll be glad we chose now to get close to God and follow Him home no matter what the cost or sacrifice. My anticipation is strong! Now let’s validate our pleasant dreams and delightful imaginings with some remarkable passages from the Bible. We will begin with a few exciting passages from the New Testament and the Psalms.

“For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker [is] God. . . . These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of [them], and embraced [them], and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that [country] from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better [country], that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.” (Hebrews 11:10-16)

“And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, Having the glory of God: and her light [was] like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; And had a wall great and high, [and] had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are [the names] of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

“And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof. And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal. And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred [and] forty [and] four cubits, [according to] the measure of a man, that is, of the angel.

“And the building of the wall of it was [of] jasper: and the city [was] pure gold, like unto clear glass. And the foundations of the wall of the city [were] garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation [was] jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolyte; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst.

“And the twelve gates [were] twelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city [was] pure gold, as it were transparent glass.

“And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb [is] the light thereof.

“And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it. And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither [whatsoever] worketh abomination, or [maketh] a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.” (Revelation 21:10-27)

“And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. . . . And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God [is] with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, [and be] their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. . . .

“And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, [was there] the tree of life, which bare twelve [manner of] fruits, [and] yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree [were] for the healing of the nations. . . .

“Blessed [are] they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. . . . He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” (Revelation 21:1, 3-5; 22:1-2, 14, 20)

“Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” (1^stCorinthians 2:9)

“Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence [is] fulness of joy; at thy right hand [there are] pleasures for evermore.” (Psalm 16:11)

“They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures. For with thee [is] the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.” (Psalm 36:8-9)

“To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.” (Revelation 2:7b)

“He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.” (Revelation 2:11b)

“To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth [it].” (Revelation 2:17b)

“He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.” (Revelation 3:5)

“To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.” (Revelation 3:21) WOW!!!

“And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, [and] over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous [are] thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true [are] thy ways, thou King of saints. Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for [thou] only [art] holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.” (Revelation 15:2-4)

“For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time [are] not worthy [to be compared] with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” (Romans 8:18)

The Old Testament Gospel prophet Isaiah recorded God’s promise to Israel that if they would keep His Covenant He would create a new earth for their eternal home. Let’s look at the promise as it was given to ancient Israel and compare it to the picture of the new world we just read in New Testament prophecies.

“For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. But be ye glad and rejoice for ever [in that] which I create: . . . I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying. There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner [being] an hundred years old shall be accursed.

“And they shall build houses, and inhabit [them]; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree [are] the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they [are] the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them. And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.

“The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust [shall be] the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD.” (Isaiah 65:17-18a, 19, 21-25)

One verse in this passage seems, at first glance, to say that there will be death and even sinners in the new earth? We immediately wonder how this verse fits with a passage speaking of a new creation in which there is no more weeping, crying, hurting, suffering, and death; and where there are no more sinners. The answer is simple if we understand the plan that God had for ancient Israel under the Covenant He established with them. God offered Israel a complete lifestyle transformation Covenant which, if followed would have brought them optimum health and prosperity even in the sin-weakened bodies of this temporal life. (See Deuteronomy 28)

Israel was to practice God’s lifestyle plan perpetually from generation to generation while evangelizing the world. During that evangelizing time, Israel would be maturing and witnessing while death and sinners still existed. As the world would see the blessings of optimum health and prosperity Israel received through obedience, many outsiders would have come to join God’s people and would have been grafted in to Israel. (See Isaiah 49:6; 60:1-22; Acts 13:42-48; 26:33) When all the world had been reached with God’s lifestyle-transforming Gospel, the Messiah would have come, there would have been a resurrection of the just, fiery destruction of the obstinately wicked (including Satan), and a new creation where all death, including infant mortality, would be abolished.

“He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken [it]. And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this [is] our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this [is] the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.”(Isaiah 25:8)

God based His promise to ancient Israel on conditions of Covenant obedience, which Israel failed to keep. But God remained undaunted. He modified and transferred the promise to His New Testament church. The New Covenant also contains conditions of lifestyle change if we are to receive the promised reward. (See 2^nd Corinthians 7:1; James 4:1-10)

(Both the “old” and “new” covenants are encompassed within the “everlasting covenant.” Hebrews 13:20b; See also numerous Old Testament passages speaking of the everlasting nature of God’s original covenant with its promises and conditions. The “new” covenant does away with ceremonialism but not with our obligation to obey God’s holy immutable Law.)

God offered Israel an ideal healthful diet, hygienic instruction, and guidance for ideal family relationships, morals, and wholesome recreation. Frankly, if we today were to practice faithfully the lifestyle principles God gave to ancient Israel, we would continue to improve in health each new generation until we could expect that there would be no infant mortality and could expect longevity of 100 years and more. In fact, that has been God’s desire for His people in these last days, to demonstrate that we want His way of life in every detail and not the trivial recreations, unhealthful eating habits, and atomized family relationships so prevalent in society. Sadly, only a very few have followed God’s plan for lifestyle transformation. Will you? Will I?

Reality is that most Christians practice an “R” or “PG” rated lifestyle while patting themselves on the back for not being “X” rated. God is calling Christians to live a holy lifestyle without compromise. Do you know someone who wants to overcome old, enslaving habit patterns, but is struggling with discouragement? Let it be said of you, “Thou hast instructed many, thou hast strengthened the weak hands. Thy words have upholden him that was falling, and thou hast strengthened the feeble knees.” (Job 4:3-4; See also 1^st John 3:1-9; Hebrews 12:14; Isaiah 35:3-4; Colossians 3:16; Galatians 6:1-10)

Remember, there is a celestial war taking place and you are a combatant in this war. There are supernatural combatants in this war too. There is a glorious angel from the courts of God who was assigned to guard you from the moment of your conception in your mother’s womb. That angel has faithfully guarded you all of your life. Even now as you read these lines, your guardian angel is nearby protecting you and influencing you toward obedience and salvation. But I must warn you; there is almost certainly an evil angel assigned to you as well. That hideous demon wants to use you to ruin others and then he wants to destroy you. He hates God and because you are the apple of God’s eye, he hates you. What an awesome thought! — picture the scene in your imagination’s eye as these two super-powerful beings face off in titanic unseen battles for your soul. But fear not! — God will never allow the enemy demon to defeat your guardian angel. And he will never allow the evil angel to destroy you so long as you put your trust in Him.

Are you familiar with the story of David and Goliath? It is recorded in 1^st Samuel chapter 17. If you have a Bible at hand please read that passage now. Okay, as a refresher I will describe the basic scene. The army of the Philistines and army of Israel are faced off against one another. Saul, king of Israel is hesitating in fear as the 9 ½ foot tall giant Goliath taunts the God of Israel hurling insult after insult at Israel’s army. Goliath demands that Israel send out a champion to fight one-on-one against him. Saul looks at the huge stature of Goliath and trembles at the thought of going into battle against him. But a young shepherd boy, David, is incensed that anyone should get away with insulting the God he has learned to love and adore. So David takes the field and faces off against the giant. He shouts that he is coming in the name of the God of Israel and then he runs toward the giant hurling one stone from his shepherd’s sling. The stone lodges in Goliath’s forehead felling the giant. David then pulls the giants own sword out of its sheath and cuts his head off. The enemy army flees in terror.

What made the difference? Why was a shepherd boy, a mere stripling, able to defeat the giant when the tallest man in Israel, king Saul himself wouldn’t even dare to try? The answer is simple. Saul looked directly at the 9 ½ foot tall giant and it terrified him. But David saw Goliath through God’s eyes — don’t miss the point! God is immensely powerful, literally omnipotent! So when God looked at Goliath He saw a little pipsqueak! He saw a flea that He could flick away at will! God rules the whole vast universe, His power is limitless, He’s huge! God could look at Goliath and say, “You are messing with the apple of my eye so I’m going to take you out! As a matter of fact, I’m going to empower a little kid to knock you down with a little sling shot and then he is going to cut off your head with your own great big sword! Flick away little flea! You’re done Mr. giant — goodbye!”

My friend, you and I have nothing to fear from the giants that torment us, the giant problems that we lay awake at night agonizing over, the problems that seem so impossible for us to solve. We need to see those problems through God’s eyes and keep remembering that we are the apple of His eye. He can take care of those problems for us. He may take some time doing it so we need to be patient. Let’s just cheer up and stay at our post of duty praying to our great God and waiting for Him to knock the giants out in His own time and in His own way — He will do it, guaranteed! And if there is something more than praying for us to do in cooperation with Him He will let us know if we are in tune to His providential leading.

The story of Joshua and Caleb recorded in Numbers 13 and 14 illustrates the attitude that we should have. If you have a Bible at hand please read that passage now. Let’s refresh our minds on the events. Israel is on the border of the land of Canaan. They send in twelve spies to check out the land and its defenses before going in to fight and take it from the Godless inhabitants. When the spies return from their mission they describe the abundance and beauty of the land, “a land flowing with milk and honey.” Ten of the spies fearfully describe the giants living there and assert that they are not able to go up against those giants.

“We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we." And they gave the children of Israel a bad report of the land which they had spied out, saying, “The land through which we have gone as spies is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people whom we saw in it are men of great stature. There we saw the giants (the descendants of Anak came from the giants); and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.” (Numbers 13:31-33 NKJV)

But the other two spies, Caleb and Joshua, saw the giants through the eyes of God. Caleb spoke up and said, “Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it.” (Num 13:30b NKJV) Let’s view the scene as Joshua and Caleb describe what they saw when viewing the situation through God’s eyes.

“But Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes; and they spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying: "The land we passed through to spy out is an exceedingly good land. If the Lord delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, 'a land which flows with milk and honey.' Only do not rebel against the Lord, nor fear the people of the land, for they are our bread; their protection has departed from them, and the Lord is with us. Do not fear them.” (Num 14:6-9 NKJV)

So when Caleb and Joshua saw the giants they didn’t see defeat, they saw dinner! They had confidence in God and not in themselves. They viewed the situation through God’s eyes. Because the nation chose to follow the advice of the ten doubting spies, they all had to wander for 40 more years in the desert. Caleb and Joshua wandered with them because, from God’s perspective, we are all in this together — we don’t inherit the land of Canaan one at a time but all at one time together. During the next 40 years, all of the adults of Israel died and their children were left to inherit the land. There were two exceptions to that rule though. Can you guess? Caleb and Joshua were the only men from the original adult population to survive and go in to possess the land. In fact, Caleb, though an old man, retained his vitality and led his own clan into battle taking possession of the land God had apportioned to his family. Wow!

We are on the edge of the heavenly Canaan. We are all in this together. Our forefathers lacked the faith to go in but we can see the land through God’s eyes and with Him we are well able to take it! We will be taken up together to receive our glorious heavenly Canaan, a land truly flowing with the proverbial “milk and honey.” I suggest that we all join the Caleb and Joshua Club!

Visualizing the glorious paradise of God has a very soothing effect on my soul and provides powerful motivation to be a loyal and obedient citizen of His Kingdom. But there are other motives even higher than the physical, material, and social rewards. With a completely loyal citizenry in His kingdom, suffering will end for all of God’s creation — never again will there be any more pain or death. And there is even a higher motive. Do we ever think that sin has brought suffering to the heart of God?

Our dull senses take no notice of the pain that, from its very inception, sin has caused in God’s heart. Our world is a vast scene of misery. If we saw it all at once, as it really is, the burden on our minds would be too terrible. Yet God constantly feels it all as it brings tremendous grief and suffering to His great heart of love. He sacrificed His best Beloved, in order to destroy sin and its horrible results. If we will cooperate with Him, He will speedily bring this scene of misery to an end. How is that to be done? Let’s read Jesus’ promise again. “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” (Matthew 24:14)

That’s it! This world filled with the moans and tears of hell will quickly come to an end and the eternal age of peace, love and happiness will usher in just as soon as God’s little Remnant begin to model the true witness of love to the world, not merely with our preaching but with our lives. This is much more than a mere verbal witness that God is waiting for, it is a living demonstration, a personal testimony.

The only way for Jesus to stop suffering is for Him to stop loving you and He cannot do that. God is love! If we will look into the eyes of our suffering Savior and look long enough the hurt we see there will spoil sin for us. We will be done with it! And we will stay done with it so long as we continue to love and suffer with Christ.

Stop committing planned sins and you will relieve a tremendous load of suffering from His heart. You may still have “faults” but you will not be planning to sin and excusing sinning. You won’t be boasting about yourself but you can tell others about how Christ has delivered you from the bondage of sins that have controlled you all your life. Those who refuse to stop presumptuous sinning “crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh” (Hebrews 6:6b) Let us resolve to get the power we need from God and stop wounding His beloved Son afresh.

God has the power to transform even the roughest of us into meek, gentle, patient Christians. And He has the power to give even the most gluttonous and indulgent of us complete victory over our old enslaving habits. He will give us power to stop thinking adulterous thoughts. To be tempted is not sin but to linger on the temptation is sin. He will strengthen us with courage to stand firm. Let’s stretch ourselves out in much earnest prayer, asking for an infusion of truth and love.

He will give us holy tempers if we will honestly face the record of failure in our life on the point of thinking defensive thoughts and retaliating with unkind words. Don’t ask Him to keep you from ever feeling anger, that’s unnatural. Instead, ask Him to sanctify your feelings and give you mastery over your passions so that you can be passionate for healing and not for hurting. “Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath.” (Ephesians 4:26)

Don’t allow angry feelings to get so strong that they stir up powerful toxins in your body. That will eventually bring on disease. Instead, allow God to carry the heavy emotional load for you — He’s strong enough to handle the job.

The personal battle to overcome old sinful habit patterns is quite painful for some of us, especially at first. But the further we get from our old enslaving habits and the closer we get to God’s ideal, the happier and more at peace we become. And when Jesus comes, the final touch of glorification will remove all the struggle and the pain — at last we will be sinless and forever secure and prosperous.

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