The answer we all look for...

 

Richard Cory

Whenever Richard Cory went downtown,

We people on the pavement looked at him:

He was a gentleman from sole to crown,

Clean favored, and imperially slim.

And he was always quietly arrayed,

And he was always human when he talked;

But still he fluttered pulses when he said,

“Good morning,” and he glittered when he walked.

And he was rich- yes, richer than a king-

And admirably schooled in every grace;

In fine, we that he was everything

To make us wish we were in his place.

So on we worked, and waited for the light,

And went without the meat, and cursed the bread,

And Richard Cory, one calm summer night.

Went home and put a bullet through his head.

-      Edward Arlington Robinson

Did the ending shock you? If so, you are not alone. Ever since Edwin Arlington wrote “Richard Cory” in 1897, it has bothered a lot of people. Yet it illustrates what Mr. Robinson was trying to say: Wealth cannot bring contentment to a person. But we continue to try to amass wealth in this materialistic world.

Jesus Christ is the answer to man’s basic needs. He clearly stated that we need not worry about our basic needs but to place Him first. Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.

 

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What Hell really is

 “Finally, the poor man died and was carried by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried, and his soul went to the place of the dead. There, in torment, he saw Abraham in the far distance with Lazarus at his side.” Luke 16:22-23 (NLT)

“Then death and the grave were thrown into the lake of fire. This lake of fire is the second death. And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire.” Revelation 20:14-15 (NLT)

Hell isn’t the product of creative religious imaginations like some want it to be. It is a place God actually says exists. In the Bible, particularly in the Gospels, it’s described in detail. The description doesn’t fit the common ideas of life after death. Some think hell is a place where the Devil lives with all his friends. Others think it is an eternal party where evil people go and have a good time forever. Still others say there’s no life after death – that if there is a hell, it is just the hard times we have on this earth. One of the statements the rich man made was that he was in torments or he was in anguish. Jesus describe this place in another way,” outer darkness, there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” He also called it “everlasting punishment.”

Who goes there?

Everyone who refuses to accept the gift of eternal life in Jesus Christ. Those who reject the Lord Jesus Christ.

“There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son. And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil.  All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed.  But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.”  John 3:18-21 (NLT)

There is a Way to eternal life-

^“Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins, turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ to show that you have received forgiveness for your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. “Acts 2:38 (NLT)

 

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What heaven really will be like

Sometimes I am asked if I know what we are going to be doing when we get to heaven. I know we are not going to floating on clouds, strumming harps. We will not be reclining on couches eating rich foods. In Revelation 7 we get a clue of what we will be doing.

^“Then one of the elders asked me, “Who are these people robed in white, and where did they come from?” I said to him, “Sir, you know.” Then he told me: These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. For this reason they are before the throne of God, and they serve Him day and night in His sanctuary. The One seated on the throne will shelter them:” Revelation 7:13-15 (HCSB)

The key phrase here is, ”they serve Him day and night in His sanctuary.” We will be serving the Lord. We will with pleasure and great desire serve the Lord. We will want to, it will not be forced or coerced.  In fact, when the Lord returns with a heavenly army there will be some who will be in the army returning with Him. There will be those serving in the sanctuary.

I remember many years ago on the Tonight Show that Johnny Carson had Billy Graham as a guest. Johnny had him on numerous times. He always asked Billy soul-searching questions. On this particular night he asked Billy, what he thought we would do when we were in heaven. He didn’t ask him if there was a heaven, he asked him what we would be doing. Billy said, he thought we would be conquering new worlds. Now, I do not know what he meant by that but he certainly thought we would be involved all the time in doing something.

We do know reading Revelation that we will worship and serve.

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