Word@Work 143 - Mark 12:26-27
Published: Thu, 06/12/08
Word@Work from BeaconLight
Read Mark 12:26-27 Now about the dead rising - have you not read in the book of Moses, in the account of the bush, how God said to him, 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. You are badly mistaken!" (NIV)
Worshipping God must be on His terms. Without revelation, nobody can understand God's character, or what pleases Him. The best they can do is to see the awesome creation and conclude the Creator will demand an account of our time spent here (cf Romans 1:20). Jesus wanted to discuss the resurrection: a tutorial for the disciples who would soon witness it; and a theology lecture to the Sadducees who thought it could not happen.
Because God is not confined by time, there is no past or future to Him - He sees both with equal immediacy, as if everything was happening now. The souls of the dead are also well known to Him, and He remains their God. The title which God uses for Himself, "I AM" (in Exodus 3:14), does not just mean that He is present in every age, but that every age is the present for Him. Not only is that true about the time span of human history, but also about the whole of eternity. That is why God is still the God of those who died in faith. So God's statement to Moses, about His continuing relationship with the patriarchs, was proof of the after-life.
Although heaven and hell are rarer topics for Gospel conversation these days, they are crucial to explain the eternal nature of God, and the consciousness of life for those who have died. As with any journey, our direction will determine our destiny: but the wise know that it is best for our destination to shape our direction. It is the greatest mistake to live with no thought of eternity; and a most selfish negligence, if Christians stay mute about eternity.
Prayer: Dear Lord. Thank You for Your intimate knowledge of all people past, present and future. Help me to witness to what You have taught me about eternity, so that others may be warned and come to faith in Jesus. For His sake. Amen.
You can read more of this Bible passage online - in English and other languages - share the Bible with your friends!
Worshipping God must be on His terms. Without revelation, nobody can understand God's character, or what pleases Him. The best they can do is to see the awesome creation and conclude the Creator will demand an account of our time spent here (cf Romans 1:20). Jesus wanted to discuss the resurrection: a tutorial for the disciples who would soon witness it; and a theology lecture to the Sadducees who thought it could not happen.
Because God is not confined by time, there is no past or future to Him - He sees both with equal immediacy, as if everything was happening now. The souls of the dead are also well known to Him, and He remains their God. The title which God uses for Himself, "I AM" (in Exodus 3:14), does not just mean that He is present in every age, but that every age is the present for Him. Not only is that true about the time span of human history, but also about the whole of eternity. That is why God is still the God of those who died in faith. So God's statement to Moses, about His continuing relationship with the patriarchs, was proof of the after-life.
Although heaven and hell are rarer topics for Gospel conversation these days, they are crucial to explain the eternal nature of God, and the consciousness of life for those who have died. As with any journey, our direction will determine our destiny: but the wise know that it is best for our destination to shape our direction. It is the greatest mistake to live with no thought of eternity; and a most selfish negligence, if Christians stay mute about eternity.
Prayer: Dear Lord. Thank You for Your intimate knowledge of all people past, present and future. Help me to witness to what You have taught me about eternity, so that others may be warned and come to faith in Jesus. For His sake. Amen.
You can read more of this Bible passage online - in English and other languages - share the Bible with your friends!
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