House of Faith Ministries

In verse twenty five we find one of the most powerful statements in regards to why there is an end of times coming soon.

 

The problem with humanity is that for some reason we just keep dying off. Man’s dream of living in a manmade utopia is always shattered by that inconvenient little thing we call death.

 

No matter how hard religion works to perfect its patrons, by the time they seem to be getting the hang of true religion, they die. No matter how many laws politicians enact, they cannot abolish death. It does not matter how many new drugs science discovers, they cannot cure death. If religion, science, government, and whatever else we try cannot remove man’s mortal enemy, death, then what can? That is the question that Hebrews chapter seven answers. Jesus is the antidote for death because He is the only perfect human, He always lives and His life continues forever.

 

Why is Jesus coming back? To eradicate death! But before He comes we need to understand that eternity has to be a perfect place with perfect people if it is going to be a happy place. Imagine an eternity with lawless people living with no fear of death, a place where they can commit the most horrific acts against other humans over and over and not be held accountable for their deeds, is not that what hell would be like?

 

He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him: What does it mean by uttermost? Completely and/or forever!

 

If eternity is going to be perfect, it has to be made not only of people that are perfect but of people that will always be perfect, after all, if we live in an eternity out of which we can be kicked out of, it would not be a happy eternity for those who get kicked out, or for those who live in fear of being kicked out.

 

Are we, flawed humans, going to become perfect? That depends on whether we pass life’s test or not. But before I tell you about the test of life, let me tell you this, all humans are going to live forever in their physically resurrected human bodies, whether they like it or not. Their final destination will depend on this and this alone: Jesus and what they believe He is to them!

 

Jesus has been appointed by God to be the intermediary between man and God forever. That is why Jesus has the first perfect and eternal human body, so that He can speak to God on behalf of fallen man. Jesus always lives to make intercession between as and God forever, without Jesus there is no happy eternity for any man.

 

Hebrews 7:22 “By so much more Jesus has become a surety (guarantee) of a better covenant.”

 

But before eternity can be ushered in death has to be destroyed forever, and before death is destroyed forever, mankind has to take life’s final test. Those who pass the test graduate into a new and eternal reality of happiness and bliss, and those who fail the test are discarded into an eternal reality of doom and gloom forever.

 

Revelation 3:10 “Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.”

 

In between, before the final global test is administered, we are personally required to pass the test individually before our time to taste of the elixir of death comes. Now, notice how He says, because you kept My command to persevere, persevere on what? His Word, He told those who are alive before the final test begins, because you have kept My Word and have not denied My name I will keep you from the hour of testing, meaning they had already passed the test.

 

Revelation 3:8 “I know your works. See, I have set before an open door (of escape), and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My Word, and have not denied My name.”

 

What power is it that is in the Word of God and in the name of Jesus that is able to save us and to keep us safe forever?

 

Hebrew 7:16 “Who has come (Jesus the Word made flesh), not according to the law of a fleshly commandment, but according to the power of an endless (human) life.”

 

Why do we have to pass a test before we die? Death is the door that leads all humans into eternity, but before we graduate into eternity, we have to choose which eternity we want to enter into; because into whatever eternity we enter, into that eternity we will stay forever; heaven is good, hell is bad and there is no in between.

 

Now in order for us to enter the heavenly eternity, we have to realize that our fallen nature has to be changed, for nothing that’s flawed can enter the heavenly eternity; but I am flawed, you may say, and you would be right, because that’s exactly what the Word of God says about us:

 

1 John 1:8 “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”

 

But then, what gives?

 

1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

 

Here is the test; since I’ve confessed all my sins before God in the name of Jesus, almost thirty seven years ago, I have had to trust His Word that says that He forgave me all my sins, past, present, and future, and I have had to trust His Word that says that He has cleansed me from all my unrighteousness, in the face of all my many failings during all those years, and I have had to endure patiently, by faith believing that what He says trumps the way that I feel about my mortal condition.

 

But if in any of those years had Jesus asked me, do you want to remain the same or do you want me to change you? My answer would have been immediate and certain as it would be today; change me Lord, I don’t want to sin anymore, please take all my sins away. So that if I would have died, I would have died in faith that His grace was sufficient for me, and my longings for true righteousness He would have immediately fulfilled upon my entering eternity in accordance with His promises.

 

Matthew 5:6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.”

 

The test is all about trust, who do we trust? Our human condition or God’s promises, let me give you a hint if you struggle with this, it is because it has to do with what is really real in your heart.

 

Matthew 5:8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”

 

A pure heart begins with the reality of how worthless and how wicked we really are deep within. Our potential for wickedness is without measure, for as the Word of God declares, the heart is desperately wicked, who can know it? But God knows it, and He wants to replace our wicked heart with the heart of love that Jesus demonstrated for us, that while we were yet sinners Christ died of us.

 

It is that remarkable revelation that Jesus loves me to the uttermost that sustains me. He will never quit on me, and I will never give up my trusting in Him and in all of the precious promises found in His Word.

 

He is my High Priest, His continuous intercession before God Most High on my behalf is never ending, and when this body of mine is finally made perfect, through the rapture if I am alive at His return, or in the resurrection if I am in the sleep of death before He comes, I will never ever cease to worship Him and declare His faithfulness to me before all the creation.

 

And in the here and now, whether by word or thought, I do not cease to thank Him and praise Him, for He is my life and the sustainer of it. Outside of Him I have nothing, without Him I am nothing, and in the absence of His promises in my life I have the expectation of nothing good.

 

1 Timothy 1:17 “Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.”.