PCUSA devotions: The Second Death - Revelation 20:6

Revelation 20:6          Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.

There’s a second death which preachers don’t often talk about these days because people don’t want to hear or accept it. It takes place after the Final Resurrection when everyone will be brought before God in the Time of Judgment. Those who truly believed in Christ and lived their lives according to His ways will live forever. Those who didn’t won’t and they will experience death a second time.

I hear many people talk about life beyond death, but I never hear anyone talking about death beyond death. Because we’ve forgotten about this coming event, we live our lives as if it doesn’t matter to God. We delude ourselves into thinking that our lifestyle choices have no bearing on what the outcome will be when we die on Earth. But that is a demonic lie which is sending people towards that second death from which they will never escape.

This summer, our denomination made a mistake which I believe will end up ruining the church, but much more seriously than that, will end up sending people to the doom of a second death. Even if I were to preach that a hundred times each Sunday from the pulpit for two years, there would be those who would still say, “That’s only your opinion” or “That’s being narrow minded” or “That’s not what I believe” or “This is the 21^st century, so get with it Preacher.”

We believe that we are so right, and yet we are totally wrong. The Second Death exists and it is the true Church’s mission to help people of all persuasions, life style choices, and beliefs to avoid it. Wishful thinking about the after-life will lead to the Second Death. Only real repentance will lead us to everlasting life. Teaching tolerance may be good for earthly societies, but it does nothing to avert the Second Death. When we tolerate sin, we send people the wrong message and put them on the wrong path to perdition.

Prayer:                       Lord Jesus, we are all guilty of making excuses for our sins and setting aside the Eternal Truths about life and death, life after death, and even death after death. Forgive us for thinking that we are better and more enlightened than the generations of Christians before us. Save us from ourselves! Save us from the Second Death! In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment or ask a question about today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is John’s latest drawing in his Psalms series. It’s based upon a verse from Psalm 109. If you would like to view a larger version of the drawing, please click on the following link: http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6169/6170833393_3829d1b0e9_b.jpg

PCUSA Blogs: Challenged and Changed

1 Thessalonians 4:7 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 

This is one of those verses that challenge all of us today, including me. We live in the most impurest of times and we are all tainted by some degree of sexual immorality. Rather than change our lives as Christians, we find it more and more convenient to change the rules and appease our consciences. Instead of submitting to Biblical authority, we subvert the Word of God, making it fit our worldly ways and self-centered civilization.

If we speak out against the brazenness and sickness of our society, Christians and preachers are called bigots and dinosaurs, hypocrites and schismatics. Then the teaching of the past is cast aside as a new one world vision is embraced and religious morality is abandoned. People can do what they want and when they want to, without meddling preachers spoiling the fun. God is now created in society’s image and people make Him the Almighty Approver of our world view.

But God did not call us to be impure; He called us to live holy lives. Unfortunately, we have all failed miserably and as our society continues to degenerate, holiness is replaced with haughtiness. The World challenges and chides the Church to change its ways, instead of the other way around.

For the sake of our salvation, we need to change our ways, but not because the World says so; we need to change our ways because we are called to live holy lives. Let us pray that it is not too late to do so. The future salvation of our children and their children depends upon what we decide and do now.

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, we have all fallen short of God’s glory, but instead of turning back to You and changing our lives, we give into the World’s demands and desecrate the holiness we once had. Forgive us for being arrogant and foolish, sexually immoral and wickedly brazen. Call us back to purity and holiness, faithfulness and prayer. In Your Holy Name, we humbly ask. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest Scottish drawings. It depicts the Military Tattoo that takes place at Edinburgh castle, Scotland each year. If you would like to view a larger image of this print, please visit the following link:

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5013/5391466563_b3f504a9b8_b.jpg