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Heaven Is My Home!!! 6/19/24
Ecclesiastes 7:1-4 (KJV)
1 A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth.
2 It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart.
3 Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.
4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
I just had the honor of officiating another funeral-a wonderful lady from the nation of Cameroon at a beautiful place called HONEY CREEK WOODLANDS, located in Conyers, GA.
It was an open air cathedral with a natural burial ground-a fitting tribute to this woman of God- a “STRANGER AND PILGRIM ON THE EARTH!!!!”
(PS-That is the reason why this message is SO late!!?? I hope that I am just getting old, but funerals NOW just wear me out!!!! SMILE!!!)
Hebrews 11:13 (KJV)
13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
As I mused on today's memorial, I received a welcome email with an article from Max Lucado.
This TIMELY material spoke to me PERSONALLY as one who is “deathly” AFRAID of death and was apropos for the funeral service I performed today:
"HEAVEN AS YOUR HOME:
Dread of death ends when you know heaven is your true home!
In all my air travels I’ve never seen one passenger weep when the plane landed.
Never.
No one clings to the armrests and begs, “Don’t make me leave. Let me stay and eat more peanuts!” We’re willing to exit the plane because the plane has no permanent mailing address.
Nor does this world. Philippians 3:20 (NLT) says, “We are citizens of heaven where the Lord Jesus Christ lives.” Why don’t you do this? Why don’t you give God your death?
Imagine your last moment. Envision your final breath.
Offer it to God. Deliberately, regularly. “Lord, I receive your work on the cross and in your resurrection. I entrust you with my departure from earth.”
With Christ as your friend and heaven as your home, the day of death becomes sweeter than the day of birth."
Is this not what our Bible teaches us????
THIS WORLD IS NOT OUR ETERNAL/FUTURE HOME!!
THIS WORLD IS FINITE!!!
I OFTEN cling to the Words of Jesus:
Mark 10:31 (KJV)
31 But many that are first shall be last; and the last first.
All throughout OUR Bible God REMINDS/EXHORTS us to understand that the “things of THIS world” are VAIN/USELESS. Just a mere, perfunctory perusal of God's Word should boldly declare the VANITY of earthly ”fame and fortune!!!”
I close with this:
Luke 16:19-31 (KJV)
19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:
20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,
21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:
28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.
31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
The wonderful lady-a woman I never met in THIS life-is buried right next to a world famous individual that I will not call by name. They both lived AND died!!!
Ecclesiastes 2:16 (KJV)
16 For there is no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool for ever; seeing that which now is in the days to come shall all be forgotten. And how dieth the wise man? as the fool.
“AND HOW DIETH THE WISE MAN?????????????????????
AS THE FOOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
ONLY ONE LIFE WILL SOON BE PAST
ONLY THE THINGS DONE FOR CHRIST WILL LAST!!!
God Bless You Today!!!
Pastor Doug
Please feel free to contact me anytime at DOUGGHC@AOL.COM, or by phone:
404-295-5644 or
CHURCH ADDRESS:
70 Stone Rd.
McDonough, GA. 30253
Your tithes and offerings are greatly appreciated and much needed and can be sent to the above CHURCH ADDRESS or by accessing our website:
WWW.GOSPELOUTREACHCHURCH.COM
and/or via pay pal or cash app.
Thank You and God Bless You!!!
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