Category: Life After Death

The Exo-Eso Effect

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The concept of an inverse relationship is rather easy to understand: as one quantity increases, the other decreases. For example, as the price of a product increases, the quantity sold decreases. This simple mathematical relationship is brought to light in a wonderful piece of Scripture.

Do you realize that we are to avoid discouragement by recognizing a spiritual, inverse relationship? The apostle Paul tells us not to lose heart because “our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.” (II Corinthians 4:16, NASB) That’s right, for every moment that our physical bodies are decaying, our inner spirit is being renewed and becoming more like Jesus!

I like to call this concept the “Exo-Eso Effect.” The Greek root behind “outer man” is exo and the Greek root behind “inner man” is eso. What a hopeful, invigorating thought to know that as the outer shell of me wears away because of age and disease and hardship, the inner me is gaining new strength.

When Paul speaks of the outer man decaying, he is referring to the ruination of the body’s vigor and strength; he is targeting the second law of thermodynamics as it applies to the wearing down of our physical bodies with age and affliction. None of us can avoid this process in this life, but we have proof positive that our condition will change in the next life. Residing within this body is a spirit that is growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. Our spirit’s growth and renewal day by day reminds us that our bodies that are in process of dying will one day suddenly change too.

The Exo-Eso Effect is so plain to us, the people of God. Our bodies become tired, they ache, and they wear down. But, even as they do, we grow closer and closer to God. In fact, sometimes it is because we suffer tribulation in this physical body that we grow closer to God and are made more like Jesus! The inverse relationship is strong.

Paul went on to say that “momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison.” (II Corinthians 4:17, NASB) There it is again – the mysterious, inverse workings. My affliction is momentary and light. The glory produced is eternal and weighty! Hold onto that truth for dear life. We suffer now, and it can seem so heavy. However, compared to the eternal glory we shall enjoy, our affliction is nearly weightless. God promises that the good He is achieving through our commitment to Him is the heaviest of matters and lasts forever – literally. We simply cannot imagine how the trial of now could be so small compared to the glory of later, but that is because we have not experienced the vastness of eternity and perfection. We have to trust the One who holds eternity and perfection in the palm of His hand.

As we trust Him, we observe the Exo-Eso Effect in daily operation. My outer self is going downhill, but my inner self is growing in strength. This is not a problem for me, but an encouragement. My relationship with God through Jesus Christ is my hope. It is okay for this body to wear down and die, as long as my heart loves Jesus more and more. “Why,” you ask? Because we know that “He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus.” (II Corinthians 4:14, NASB) In other words, even when the outer self finally does succumb to physical death, the inner relationship to the living God will overcome. The eso will overtake the exo on that glorious day when “death is swallowed up in victory.” (I Corinthians 15:54, NASB)

For now, the Exo-Eso Effect is the outer self fading and the inner self growing. One day, the Exo-Eso Effect will culminate in a “new exo” that never wears away, never gets sick, and never grows tired. I’ll take that hope while I make sure my “eso” is growing in Jesus.

“Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison.” – II Corinthians 4:16-17
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Take the Long View

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The Rock! His work is perfect, For all His ways are just; a God of faithfulness and without injustice, Righteous and upright is He. – Deuteronomy 32:4 (NASB)

What bold words Moses speaks forth in his declaration of the supreme goodness of God. The leader of renown assesses God after many years of living and serving, and Moses concludes that God’s work is perfect. As we ponder the leader’s reflection, let me remind you of a few elements of Moses’ life: He was hidden in a basket on the Nile River because of Pharoah’s edict that he and other Hebrew boys be murdered, he was raised in a foreign home, he bore the realization that he was separated from his people, he risked his life and comfort to identify with the people of God, he grappled with his murder of an Egyptian, he lived in obscurity for forty years in Midian, he was asked to help deliver the Israelites despite personal weaknesses, he endured the increased misery of the Israelites when he first approached Pharoah with God’s commands, he believed God through the plagues and death of the firstborn, he faced the dilemma of standing between the Red Sea and the approaching Egyptians, he led a complaining people through the wilderness forty years, and – most of all – he sustained personal devastation when denied entry to the Promised Land because of his own disobedience when he struck a rock instead of speaking to it as God commanded.

The bottom line is that Moses withstood grave disappointment at many instances of his life, and he suffered under baffling circumstances at many points. Were the “snapshot” view of things the final answer, Moses may not have declared his unwavering confidence in God’s inability to ever do wrong.

Despite the seemingly intolerable hardship at many turns along the road of life, Moses proclaimed, “His work is perfect.” Perfect here in the Hebrew means “complete, whole, healthful, having integrity.” Moses learned a vital key with God: take the long view. We may not apprehend the purpose of any particular difficulty or heartbreak, but we realize that God completes the picture of every righteous person’s life. He commands that all of life – even the grueling parts – function to fulfill a work in us that results in what is best, what is sound, what is fit.

Speaking of a long view, I stand amazed that Moses declares the complete justice of God even though he knew that he had been denied entrance to the Promised Land. Deuteronomy 3:23-27 makes clear that Moses sought God’s restoration and begged for entrance to Canaan. God denied him. And yet – with valor that inspires – Moses pronounces the faithfulness of God and the perfection of His work.

How does Moses’ broken heart exude such a hope? He has worked for God all his days and now is stopped at the threshold of a life dream. Or was he? All of Moses’ contemporaries who crossed over into the Promised Land died. Despite their entrance to Canaan; they faced enemies, difficulties, illnesses, and every other plight of humanity. The earthly Promised Land is not the Promised Land; it is not the ultimate dream.

Hebrews 11:13-16 says that great men and women of God have died in faith, without receiving the promises. They welcomed the promises from a distance. They believed and confessed that their true home is a heavenly home. Moses is in this category of unbelievable believers who stood on a hill overlooking the earthly Promised Land and knew for a fact that he would enter the Promised Land – the heavenly one!

Some will accuse people like me of using Heaven as a crutch. They might say that Heaven is not an answer to the turmoil we face in this world. I believe God has an infinite future to correct all wrongs and fill all dreams to an infinite depth. In Hebrews 11:16, we are informed that God is not ashamed to be called our God when and if we desire a heavenly city. For God, the heavenly Promised Land is not “pie in the sky” stuff. To the Maker of all reality, Heaven is the most real and the most desired. He prides Himself in those of us who, like Moses, truly believe that our deepest answers await us.

Let us announce, as Moses did, that God’s work is perfect. Despite anything we face, He does no wrong. Moreover, He has prepared a city for us!

Only Two Options

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“I’d rather die than be watched all the time.” REALLY? Because those are the only two options. No kidding.

There exist only two ways a person can live: in alignment with God’s will or out of alignment with God’s will. And let me tell you, God’s will is going to prevail. God’s way is the only way that lasts, and I will explain why shortly.

“For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.” (Psalm 1:6, NIV)

There it is. Black and white. Straightforward. One way – that of righteousness – is watched over. The other way – that of the unrighteous – is destroyed.

If you think about it, the reason is simple enough. I mean, even now, we see God’s natural law (His way of working in this natural world) operating constantly, tirelessly, relentlessly:

  • The law of gravity, for example, always wins out over my rebellion against it. (I wish someone would have told me that when I was five years old and tried to fly!)
  • The laws of logic and mathematics are the statutes according to which we must construct massive buildings and expansive bridges if we wish them to be safe. (Jeremiah 33:25)
  • The laws of planetary motion continue on – night and day – producing the natural rhythm of seasons and days. (Genesis 8:22)

The dependable nature of God’s natural law hints to us of the impeccable reliability of His spiritual law! Jesus once said to a seeker, “I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak to you of heavenly things?” (John 3:12)

God’s moral law is right because it is the way He intended things to be. His “watching over our way” is our hope, not our threat! When I live according to the Bible by the power of God’s Spirit, it will go well for me now, and perfectly for me in the next world.

All rebellion against God’s way ends in ultimate misery. Turning against God begins to make things messy. Then – finally – one day Jesus will come back to clean up the mess of sin and make a home of righteousness that works right and feels right because it is right!

It is not only the wicked who perish; it is the whole way of the wicked. If that way of living lasted forever, things would never be right.

It is not only the righteous God watches over; it is the way of the righteous. Since that way will ultimately prevail, I want to be carefully watched and helped in that way now.

If you need to find that Way, His name is Jesus. Please let Him save you and watch you. It is an understatement to say that the alternative is bleak.

“Preoccupied”: A Poem to Help Us Understand the Question, “Am I Ready?”

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PREOCCUPIED

Planned a party.
Now I’m waiting
for you to arrive.

Others present;
talking, laughing.
But you
I have not yet seen.

Though I’m with them,
my mind keeps drifting
to thoughts of you.

I hear your voice,
I see your face,
as I imagine
your arrival.

They keep begging me
to join in
with abandonment.

I cannot.

You are all
I really think of.

Please come.
Please come very soon.

This is no real party
until
I am right beside you.

This poem is weighty. It can help our hearts discern their true status. God’s Word says, “So Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him.” (Hebrews 9:28, NIV, emphasis mine)

Many people ask sincerely, “Just what does it mean to be saved?” Stunningly, it means much more than most imagine. Notice Hebrews 9:28 tells us that while Jesus died for many people (in fact, for the entire world), He is only returning for those who are waiting for Him! Just as Matthew 7:13 whittles down the road to life to only a few travelers, while the road to destruction remains wide; so Hebrews 9:28 confirms and delineates the criteria.

What does it mean to be saved? Deny it however much we want in order to try in vain to produce a sense of security, the answer is clear . . . it means we are absolutely preoccupied with Jesus!

As the host of the party in the poem cannot put first in his heart or mind other people or activities, so the truly saved person cannot put first in her heart or mind other people or activities. Expectant waiting for the One we love the most packs full every moment!

Are we “looking out the window” for Jesus to come?

Are we paying more attention to our television, our cell phone, our ipod, our social time, our facebook account, our children’s activities, our hobbies, or any combination of various distractions “at the party”? Or are we so in love with Jesus that His Word and precious time in prayer with Him are nearest and dearest for us?

He died for the sins of the world, but He is only coming back for those who are waiting for Him.

Are you waiting . . . ?

What Is This World Coming To?

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“What is this world coming to?” someone might ask in disgust. When we see evidence of the culture’s rebellion against God, when we become frustrated with the circumstances of our own lives, and when we are shocked by bad news; we may ask that infamous question ourselves, “What is this world coming to?”

The world is coming to something. Here it is: God will be all in all! He will have the final word, fulfill the final plan, and give to us who love and serve Him all for which our hearts could possibly long.

One of my favorite chapters in the Word of God is I Corinthians 15. Written by the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul, the chapter emphasizes the resurrection of the dead. Not only does Paul discuss the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, but he assures us that we, too, will rise from the dead because of Jesus!

In I Corinthians 15, God explains that Jesus will conquer every enemy at the close of earthly history. In other words, He will blow away all the nasty plans of the devil and all the ways Satan has tried to destroy us and our faith in God. He will forever rid the universe of heartache, disease, and natural devastation. The last enemy Jesus will obliterate for us is death. After Jesus conquers death, He will undoubtedly hand everything over to God the Father so that God may be all in all (verse 28).

Here is a thoughtful and crucial question: if the final goal is that God be all in all, what should be the goal of every moment? If God Almighty is pushing all circumstances toward His ultimate will, why are we not doing our best to do the same?

The end of the world as we know it is not confusion and chaos; it is the culmination of all things for the glory of God Himself. This will happen no matter how much rebellious humans resist.

But, we – as God’s people – should not only avoid resistance against God’s plan, we should actively work toward God’s goal.

If we could just whittle down every tiny moment to its real purpose – to glorify God – what would happen? How great would we feel as we fall in line with the ultimate, grand plan of God?

If I could think as I walk down the hall, “What kind of smile would glorify God?” or as I work at my job, “What kind of effort would glorify God?” or as I choose my entertainment, “What kind of movie would glorify God?” or as I interact with my colleagues, “What kind of behavior would glorify God?” or as I talk on my cell phone, “What kind of conversation would glorify God?” then what kind of life would I be living? One that aligns with the ultimate reality of what the world is coming to!

Enoch’s Extraordinary Life

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Enoch lived an extraordinary life and escaped physical death as a result. Though this grand blessing is obviously not the norm in God’s scheme of things, we certainly gain insight into the incredible things that can happen when we actually live a life pleasing to God.

The general description of eight of nine men in the genealogy of Genesis chapter five is that each one lived a certain number of years, fathered a certain son, lived a certain more number of years, had other children, and died. Enoch’s description stands out as markedly different: instead of dying, he simply “was not,” for God took him away. The exact details are not divulged, but this man did not have to die a physical death. Both Enoch’s body and spirit were taken directly by God!

Genesis tells us that Enoch walked with God, and Hebrews 11:5 reveals in greater detail that Enoch pleased God. Enoch’s walking with God was no doubt an intimate, passionate relationship. Certainly the man put God at the forefront and is now forever known for living above the ordinary and experiencing a miracle indeed.

The genealogy of Genesis chapter five makes clear that one man of many saw life as more than an accumulation of years and the building of a family. The span of each man’s years represents a myriad of endeavors, including his work, his care for his family, his eating, his relaxation, his ponderings, etc. But, of all those things in which Enoch was also no doubt involved, none compared to Enoch’s walk with God. His heart must have always been driven by a love for His Creator and Savior; his mind must have pushed all other activities to align with God’s view.

For Enoch, this love for God was real. I Chronicles 28:9 informs us that God actively searches our hearts and understnads every intention. Neither Enoch nor any one of us can get away with falsifying our passion. God knows our core. Enoch’s right living was motivated by a desire to please God.

Following the effective description of Enoch in Hebrews 11:5, verse six goes on to tell us there are two requirements for drawing near to God; believing in His existence and believing that He rewards those who seek Him. Enoch staked his life on the existence of the one, true God who requires that we live for Him with all our heart, soul, and mind. Enoch was not disappointed.

One thing for which we ought to pray is such an unbroken walk with Jesus that our death is simply a seamless transition to the glorious continuance of eternal life. Though we will die physically (if Jesus does not return before then), our spirit will not miss a beat because of how close we are to our Lord.

God upholds Enoch as a shining example of God’s power to do miraculous things for those who earnestly seek Him. If God translated a man to Heaven without death near the beginning of history, what is He trying to communicate to us in terms of our pursuits and expectations?

Jesus will completely destroy death, as outlined in I Corinthians 15:26. Death is the last enemy. Death is the result of man’s sin against God. Death makes men fear. But Enoch looked forward to Jesus. He loved and believed in Him so much that Jesus gave Enoch a taste of the end at the beginning. May we allow God to so redeem us and pervade our lives that we, too, can taste His glory even as we walk this earth.

God may not translate us to Heaven without death, but Jesus promises us in John 5:24 that we have already passed from death to life when we hear Jesus and genuinely believe in Him. He gives us life and victory over sin and over ordinary, mundane circumstances. He then reveals that one day, everyone whose body is in a tomb will hear His voice. Those who walked with Him in this life will have their body resurrected for eternal life, and those who walked without Him in this life will have their bodies resurrected for eternal judgment.

Pleasing God clearly means life eternal. For Enoch – and for us – it means amazing things are possible. The question is: how closely are we walking with God?

The Heaven Event!

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What a huge success! People were moved by God’s Truth about our real home, the place Jesus is preparing for us. We saw people choose salvation and a relationship with Jesus Christ. Often we were moved to tears by the sheer reality of such a magnificent, tangible place called Heaven. Far from boring, Heaven is a place that will far exceed the wonders of this earth, for God will finally have His way unhindered there!

If you are interested in hosting this event at your church or venue, please email us at hope.passion.ministries@verizon.net.

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Rethinking Harps, Halos, and Inadequate Views of Heaven

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Angels are angels. People are people. Some like to play harps, but not everyone does.

“In the beginning [of time] God created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1) In the end of time, God will recreate the heavens and the earth. (II Peter 3:13) At this pivotal recreation of reality as we know it, all will be restored to a righteous state of being. Righteousness is an elaborate word that means something or someone is as it/he/she ought to be. Oh, the wonderful thought of things being as they ought to be! We dream of bodies functioning as they ought to function, of minds thinking as they ought to think, and of relationships working as they ought to work. This spectacular condition of righteousness is the essence of Heaven.

God obviously knew what He was doing when He created all that is. Note from a thorough reading of Genesis chapters 1-3 that is human rebellion against God and His perfect plan which set into motion the disintegration of the universe, relationships, and people. When the same Jesus who entered the world to pay the price for human sunfulness returns again to the world, He will vanquish the curse of sin and reintegrate degree as we enjoy the heavens and the earth unhampered by human sinfulness and its dreadful consequences.

Redeemed people-redeemed by the blood of the God-Man, Jesus Christ-will always be people. We will not suddenly grow wings and don halos at the end of time. Our bodies will no longer be limited by space and time, and so traveling through the universe will no doubt come with ease! However, we will remain the humans we were always created to be. You know the saying, “God does not make junk.” We may be marred by our sin, but we are infinitely valuable as God’s creation. if we make the choice to allow Jesus to redeem us, we will function in the new heavens and the new earth with all the energy we always wanted, doing all the things we love to do. If Jesus made you to love walking and laughing, so you will! If-like me-He made you to love studying, speaking, and leading, so you will!

Heaven is an exciting place; it is more exciting than the best this sin-cursed earth has to offer. This old earth will be remade by Jesus, the same Jesus who remade our hearts when we asked Him to.