The Unknown & The Known - Now Think On This by Steve Martin

The Unknown & The Known

Now Think On This

Steve Martin

"Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.  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 to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.  And where I go you know, and the way you know." (John 14:1-4, NKJV)

Billy Graham went home to be with the Lord Jesus Christ on February 22, 2018, from his earthly home in Montreat, North Carolina. Those who are believers know that is where he went. He himself knew this destination beforehand, whereupon at his death, at this appointed time when he crossed over from this life to the next, he would be with the Lord. He based it on his belief in the Lord Jesus’ promise of resurrected life.

Those who do not believe in Jesus, in heaven, in that glorious life hereafter, have no such hope. The unknown brings fear as death is faced. But they can know.

Since his acceptance of the Lord’s offer of salvation and forgiveness when he was 19, Billy Frank Graham knew where eternity would find him. In the 80 years that followed, he never let go of that eternal promise, to be there also where the Lord had prepared a place for him. In faith, he too was faithful to share that promise to over 200 million worldwide. The ones who also believed in the Gospel message will join him there someday if they haven’t gone on already.

Billy didn’t make it to heaven based on his good works. He too had to acknowledge that sin keeps us from the God the Father, and only through the sacrificial shed blood of Jesus on the cross is there forgiveness of the multitude of sins each of us have committed. Though we may not fully comprehend this chosen way of the Lord, in order to cross over into His heavenly realm, we must believe that what the Bible says holds true, even to this day.

“Now, brothers, we want you to know the truth about those who have died; otherwise, you might become sad the way other people do who have nothing to hope for. For since we believe that Yeshua died and rose again, we also believe that in the same way God, through Yeshua, will take with him those who have died.” (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14, Complete Jewish Bible)

Whenever I can, I like to visit gravesites and read what is written on the tombstones. The short inscriptions typically reveal whether the person whose body lies in the grave had eternal hope or not. What they professed on earth is often, or not, memorialized in granite, and engraved in a few words. My spirit rejoices with those who proclaimed the Lord as Savior and Lord. I can only hope that the others met their Creator in mercy and forgiveness here, before they met Him on the other side. For it is true that each of us will face our Maker for judgment.

Ruth Bell Graham, Billy Graham Library  Charlotte, NC

Settler's Cemetery, uptown Charlotte, North Carolina

 Derek Prince gravesite in Jerusalem, Israel May 2017


(All photos by Steve Martin)

At times like these, when a person known to us dies, it is good to stop and confess our eternal hope, reaffirming our belief in the known. No fear of death, no doubts of that beyond the grave need to reside with those of us who believe. Along with those who have gone on before, we too can look forward to the time when our glorious reward awaits us in our heavenly home.

See you there Billy!

Shalom and ahava (peace and love in Hebrew).

Now think on this,

  

Steve Martin

Founder/President

Love For His People, Inc.

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Now Think On This #343 - in the year of our Lord 02.22.18 – “The Unknown & The Known”, Thursday, 1:15 pm

Let Not Your Heart be Troubled by Elaine Tavolacci Identity Network

Let Not Your Heart be Troubled by Elaine Tavolacci

Identity Network

 

The Lord is showing me that there are many people with troubled hearts. Some are full of confusion, some fear and some are even angry at God. There are some of you who have been offended which is causing bitterness and unforgiveness. 

The source of your dilemma is not from God but from the enemy. He is trying to steal, kill and destroy the plans and purposes that God has for your life. His aim is not at you personally, but he is trying to prevent you from advancing the kingdom of God. Your enemies are not people. Your enemies are the powers, principalities, rulers of darkness and wicked spirits in heavenly places. The spirit realm is real.

 

You are in Covenant with the God who created the earth. Nothing is impossible with Him. Jesus wants to repair those wounded places in your life so that you could get on with fulfilling His calling. He will never break His Covenant with you, neither will He revise His promises to you. Allow Him to bring resurrection to those dead areas. He is the God of restoration and He wants to restore you and use you for His glory. Don't look back in regret. You are a new creation and old things are passed away.

 

The God of Restoration

 

Last night I was reading a dream that I had in my journal from several years ago. In this dream I was driving. I stopped to ask a man in another car for directions. I was so thankful that he was able to give me directions but then he started prophesying to me. He prophesied: God wants you to stop talking about your past. I was so excited that I was receiving a word from a stranger who I simply asked for directions. 

But there was something else in the dream. There was a huge truck blocking my car and I couldn't go forward until the truck moved. After the man finished prophesying to me the truck backed up out of my way and I was able to go on my way. I believe that this word is not only for me, but it is a word to the body of Christ. We can't go forward in the things that God has for us if we are still looking back to our past.

 

The Lord says I am the God of restoration and I desire to bring restoration to every area of your life. Allow Me to release you from things that have troubled your heart. I will fill those desolate and barren places with My glory, repair those wounded places and reconstruct every area that was torn down. Allow Me to restore relationships that have failed. Allow Me to restore the years that have been lost. 

Release your life to Me and I will build something strong and majestic out of the debris and fragments of the past. Don't hold on to these things any longer but allow Me to heal the wounds and mend your broken hearts as you submit and trust in Me. I want to give you beauty for ashes, and the oil of joy for mourning. I will rebuild the old ruins and rebuild your life, and you will experience the magnificence of My glory says the Lord.

 

John 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

  

Isaiah 61:1-7 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, Because the Lord has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.

 

And they shall rebuild the old ruins, they shall raise up the former desolations, And they shall repair the ruined cities, The desolations of many generations.

 

Strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, And the sons of the foreigner Shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers. But you shall be named the priests of the Lord, They shall call you the servants of our God. You shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, And in their glory you shall boast. Instead of your shame you shall have double honor, And instead of confusion they shall rejoice in their portion.

 

Therefore in their land they shall possess double; Everlasting joy shall be theirs.

 

Elaine Tavolacci

www.awordinseason.info

www.TheVoiceOfBreakthrough.com

www.TheVoiceOfProphecy.com

 

Go here to read more articles by Elaine Tavolacci.

 

 

 

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