OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL
DATE : SUNDAY 28th JUNE 2015

TOPIC : DEATH IS NOT THE END
Memorise:
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 1st Thessalonians 4:14

Read:
1st Corinthians 15:12-19
12 Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?
13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:
14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
15 Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.
16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:
17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.
19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

Message
Everything in this life will come to an end one day. However, the life of a man does not end in death, it continues in eternity, either with God in Heaven or with the devil in the place of torment.

Those who believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ and live by the expectation of experiencing the same someday, have the hope of eternal life. The Bible in 1st John 3:2-3 says:
“Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.”

Jesus Christ promised that He will come back to take us home after preparing a place for us. Here are His words in John 14:2-3:
“In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”

Those who have this hope in them will conduct themselves in a way that is expected of saints.
“LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell in thy holy hill? He that walketh uprightly, and workerh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.”
Psalm 15:1-2
This scripture reveals the condition to be met by those who will triumph over death, while Revelation 21:1-7 gives a brief description of the eternal life of bliss awaiting those who give their life to Jesus Christ. But for those who remain resistant to the invitation of Jesus, what awaits them is the second death. This is described in Revelation 21:8:
“But the fearful, the unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”

I pray that an eternity in the Lake of fire will not be your portion in Jesus’ Name.

Prayer Point :
Father, let me find eternal rest in Your kingdom in Jesus’ Name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR : 1 CHRONICLES 1-2 and LUKE 13:10-30
AUTHOR : Pst E. A ADEBOYE