Good Morning My Friends! We did it! We made it to Day 40! Today, Jesus has Risen!!!
Jesus has Risen
On the third day after Jesus died, at sunrise the world changed forever!
There was a violent earthquake when Jesus died and there was a violent earthquake when He rose from the dead.
An angel of the Lord came down from heaven to Jesus’ tomb. He rolled away the sealed and heavy stone from the doorway, and he entered it.
I love the Bible’s description of angels. They’re not little butterflies fluttering around. They are majestic and strong and brilliantly bright. Their appearance terrifies people!
When Jesus was born an angel of the Lord appeared to the shepherds living out in their fields. It was night and all of a sudden the heavens opened up and sent a brilliantly bright angel to tell them the good news of Jesus’ birth. The glory of the Lord shone all around them, and they were terrified! (Luke 2).
When Jesus rose from the dead, once again the Heavenly Father sent a mighty angel to tell the good news about Jesus.
This angel’s appearance was like lightening! His clothes as white as snow! He must have been huge and strong to roll that heavy stone by himself. This is how terrified the guards were of this mighty angel. Listen to this:
“The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men” (Matthew 28:4, NIV).
Now the old phrase, “I was scared to death” has a little more meaning to me!
I love the Heavenly Father’s announcements to the world about His one and only Son! Both times Jesus came into this world, His infant birth and His resurrection, God sent mighty angels to make the announcement.
Both times the angel said “Do not be afraid.”
This time it wasn’t to shepherds but instead the announcement was given directly to Mary Magdalene and Mary mother of James (who was also Jesus’ mom). When they arrived at Jesus’ tomb, they saw the stone had been rolled away. Can you imagine their surprise when entering Jesus’ tomb to not see his dead body there, but rather this gigantic angel who looked like lightening? No wonder he told them to not be afraid.
I love the angel’s message: “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; He has risen just as He said” (Matthew 28:5-6, NIV).
Jesus, Son of God, Savior of the World
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16, NASB)
We are so loved by Jesus that He came down from heaven to save us.
He was crucified because of our sin. He did this to save us from eternal punishment.
This is not something I like talking about much, but it is a fact.
Hell is real.
My friends, I implore you. The intentional choice you make in this world, will impact you in the next world. Yes, there is another world. One where Jesus Himself will judge who goes eternally to hell and who goes eternally to heaven.
“Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” (Matthew 25:46)
Hell is described as a terrible place where there will be gnashing of teeth and weeping (Luke 13:28) and the wicked will be thrown into lake of fire (Book of Revelations).
This is the eternal destiny for those who choose to not accept Jesus as Savior and Lord of their life.
If Jesus didn’t spare the angels from hell when they sinned against him, and He didn’t spare the people from the flood, and He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, then He won’t spare the unrighteous at the end of time as we know it.
“If this is so…[He will] hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment” (2 Peter 2:9, NIV).
BUT, you never ever have to experience Hell.
Jesus offers us eternal life!!
And it is a simple thing to receive His gift of life.
This is the part I love sharing!
Heaven is real too!
To get there all you have to do is say out loud with your own mouth that “Jesus is Lord” and believe, have faith, in your heart that God the Father raised Jesus from the dead. Then you are saved.
“If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9).
Now, Jesus wants everyone to go to heaven, but we know by the Bible, not everyone will. Nevertheless, anyone and everyone who does call on Jesus and confess He is their Savior and Lord, will be saved from hell and get to go heaven.
“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved”(Romans 10:13).
My friends, eternal life in heaven is going to more than our minds can even fathom. There will be no more pain, no more tears, and no more sin. We can’t truly comprehend this because we currently have only lived where these things exist. But one day, the righteous ones, those who have received Jesus as their personal Savior and Lord will live together in a completely sinless world. There will be light all around, and we will finally get to see Jesus face to face. What a glorious day that will be!
There’s going to be quite the rockin’ party too. It will be a wedding feast with only the best of the best, which we do not even have in this world.
Jesus Final Return to Earth Is Yet To Come
My friends, just like Jesus came into this world as a baby, and again enter our world when He was resurrected from the dead, He’s coming back one more time. This time, He won’t be riding a donkey, nor will He come quietly like He did the first two times, nor will He reveal Himself slowly and to a few people at a time.
His final return to earth is going to be loud. Everyone in the whole world will know at the same time! The heavens will open. He’ll be riding on a fierce white horse. He’s coming back for a mighty war against evil!
“I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war” (Revelations 19:11, NIV).
He’s already conquered sin, but when Jesus returns with His armies of heaven, He will strike down the devil and all the wicked ones.
When Jesus returns, the whole world will fall at His feet. Those who love and trust Him will fall to worship, but those who don’t love and trust Him will fall on their knees trembling!
You think the shepherds at His birth and the guards at His resurrection were terrified? How much more so will those who do not love Him or have intentionally chosen Him as their Savior and Lord be terrified.
Time to Make Your Intentional Choice
My friends, we have been living intentionally for 39 days now. Today is Day 40. The final thing we need to do intentionally in our 40 Days of Intentional Living is to embrace life. Choose Jesus as your Lord and Savior today.
You can refrain from eternal death and punishment.
You can embrace eternal life.
Jesus has already prepared the way for you. He’s done His part. Now you get to choose if you want to intentionally choose to follow Him to heaven.
He’s standing at the door of your heart knocking. All you have to do is open the door and receive Him into your heart.
I’m overwhelmed and so grateful you’ve joined me on this 40 Days of Intentional Living.
I pray you will join me on the journey to heaven too.
For Today and Always
Refrain from Death. Embrace Life!
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