The Devotional

Papa “J” says

Satan is: “brilliantly stupid” and “hideously beautiful” in contrast: Jesus is: Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

As time passes I have watched the elderly people of church. They go from a position of service to a seat somewhere near the isle of a row of seating. Seems that ministry is moving to fast and time is to short. Bones hurt and react to moving in awkward positions while trying to get around people and stairways are like climbing Mount Washington. So, being one of these people myself now, I am thinking; “Is this the way it is, should I move over and let someone else take the controls of whatever it is that I seek to do as good biblical service to the LORD? Then the LORD reminds me of people like Simeon and Anna. Simeon spent all of his time in prayer and the study of the Old Testament. Anna in her eighties, worshiped, fasted and prayed day and night. They were so involved with God that they were expecting to see the Messiah come before their physical death. And God used their faithful ministries to pronounce the blessing of His arrival to the world. Their message still speaks to us today. Are you seeking and speaking today? Psalm 71:18

1 Corinthians

1 Corinthians 15:42-49 All physical types of life experience death, as we have seen all death will experience a resurrection from this dead condition. As we review our human natural body we can see that when it dies. It dies with the blemishes of corruption, dishonor and weakness from living in this fallen, cursed world. This is the natural condition of all human flesh at the point of physical death. It is a description of the first Adam. (We need to stop and thank God that our existence does not end at physical death. The scripture reveals in these and other passages that when the natural man dies, he can expect to be raised again).

The second Adam who is the LORD Jesus Christ, the LORD from heaven, the One who is not made from dust and breathed on, but who was heavenly made when the Spirit of God breathed into the womb of the virgin Mary and God became the image and likeness of the heavenly Man. The second Adam will raise the first Adam He will raised in His glory, in His power and in His spirit. So all; the wicked and the righteous will be raised.

However! This God/Man also has the power and authority to separate the raised wicked from the raised righteous. Sin is put to death at the Cross. The choice to believe the gospel or to not believe the gospel is made by people who are alive in the natural condition of the first Adam. Either way, their sins are forgiven. John 1:29 is very clear about that. The White Throne judgment is another story. Men and women are judged for the deeds, not sin. Here is the scene of this judgment recorded by Matthew and spoken by the LORD. Read it: Matthew 25:31-46. Jesus is very clear about this.