All is well because of Christ

ALL IS WELL BECAUSE OF CHRIST

DENNY SMITH

“Grandpa. Can you make a noise like a frog?” The old man opened one eye, squinting, looking into the excited face of the little boy. He wasn’t sure what he had heard, being awakened from his peaceful, midmorning nap. “What did you say?” he asked, opening the other eye, smiling at his grandson. “Can you make a noise like a frog?” He didn’t know exactly what to say or do, so he just said, “Why?” The little guy smiled a huge smile, and replied; “Because Grandma said that when you croak, she’s taking all of us to Hawaii!”

“It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). Several people have told me that they died, and miraculously came back to life. I remember my Mother telling me her heart stopped during surgery, and Doctor Van Gorder told her she was a miracle because she was still alive. The truth is, she didn’t die. Something happened, but it was not death. A song I love says: “Death is an appointment that we all must keep, but as a child of God we just close our eyes, and we gently fall asleep, to be carried away on angel’s wings right up to heaven’s shore, where we move right in to a mansion, there to live forevermore.” The Apostle Paul asked: “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” (1^st Corinthians 15:55). People who know the Lord don’t fear death. In fact, we look forward to it. Again, Paul said; “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. For I am in a strait between two, having a desire to depart and to be with Christ, which is far better. Nevertheless, to abide in the flesh is more needful for you” (Philippians 1:21 & 23). He wanted to die, but he knew people needed him around, so he could help them to know about Jesus. We are winners either way; “Whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord; whether we live, therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s” (Romans 14:8).

The moment you die, your soul goes to be with the Lord. Jesus told the thief dying beside Him on the cross; “Today shalt thou be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43). It is certain that all who are saved go at once into the presence of Christ: “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8). Death, or life? Because of Christ either one is O.K.