William
Andrew Dillard
Parson to Person
I’ve
noticed that a lot of folk want to go to heaven when they die, but
they don’t want to go to church while they live. Could it be that
they really don’t want to go to heaven, but just want to escape
hell? Hummm.
What really happens to a saved, never-dying spirit
the moment death comes? The scriptures are very clear: to be absent
from the body is to be present with the Lord. How long does it take
to go to heaven? Just the twinkling of an eye. There is no process;
there is no purgatory.
But just here is where things seem to get
a little confused in the minds of a lot of nominal Christians. It is
thought that St. Peter will greet one at the golden gate; that the
departed will be in a bodily form; that all manner of activity occurs
in heaven and a tear drop will never be shed. Is this really the way
it is? Think with me!
While confessing freely that I have never
been to heaven, there are still some things that may be known,
according to Bible revelations. It must be emphasized that since
flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, (I Cor. 15:50)
only departed spirits may go to heaven upon physical death. The
breaking of the fifth seal in Revelation gives one extremely rare
insight into the state of saved departed spirits. They are seen as
being under the altar of God, not running around all over the place.
It is furthermore stated that the meaning of death is a rest from all
labor. Moreover, it is revealed that the departed spirits of
righteous persons cry for the Lord to avenge their blood on those who
dwell on the earth. This is a subliminal cry of sorts for these
departed spirits to be clothed with resurrected bodies. Oh, it is a
blessed state to be sure, but not in keeping with common visions of
that state and place.
When the Lord Jesus returns to earth, when
the resurrection and rapture has occurred, all of God’s people will
have new, incorruptible bodies. They will live again on this earth
for one thousand years with Jesus ruling from the throne of His
father David.
When the 1,000 year rule of Jesus is completed,
the kingdom will be yielded up to the Father that God may be all in
all. I Corinthians 15:28. At that time, the universe will melt with a
fervent heat and pass away with a loud noise. 2 Peter 3:10-12. Then
God will recreate new heavens and a new earth. 2 Peter 3:13. There
will be a great and unimaginably marvelous city on the new earth: New
Jerusalem. God’s saints will inhabit this new city whose street is
of gold, and whose gates are of a single pearl, and whose foundations
are precious stones. Revelation 21. How long will it last? Forever
and ever. Now this is more like the vision of heaven that most
Christians have. What a blessed eternity that will be! I would not
miss it for anything, even my life, but, sadly, there are multitudes
who will because they have rejected the Lord Jesus Christ. There are
two things All men should know 1) that all God requires of man was
fulfilled in Christ Jesus, and He may be had by faith! 2) that no man
may come to God except through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ!
SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES
William Andrew Dillard
Parson to person
It was once commonly believed, at least in the South, that no education was complete that did not include a sound and comprehensive understanding of the Holy Bible. It is not clear just when or where that fell by the wayside, but it is still cornerstone truth.
Centered in the first floor hallway of the old facilities of Missionary Baptist Seminary on Asher Avenue in Little Rock, Arkansas was the embedded seal of the school bearing the slogan: “Eraunata Tas Graphas” or “Search the Scriptures.” The well known admonition of 2 Timothy 2:15 is “Study” in order to be approved a workman who need not be ashamed, but who rightly divides the Word of Truth. That was heavily emphasized as the sole purpose and mission of the institution. Accordingly, for decades, it has been the pleasure of this writer to further emphasize Proverbs 25:2, “ It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.” Correct Bible knowledge does not come easily or quickly, but its acquisition is the greatest treasure any mortal will ever have, and it is not mortal! My friend and esteemed brother in Christ, Jim Harris of Florida wrote the following words that I am pleased to pass along to you.
“God planted a vineyard of truth that requires the believer to harvest its fruit. God buried gold in the mine of the Bible that requires the believer to dig it out. God embedded light, direction, and guidance in Scripture that requires the believer to search for it.
The Bible is not fast food for the drive-thru Christian. It is not slogans and terminology coupled with pictures of the sunrise or the beach posted on social media. The Bible requires work to understand. It requires time to get to know. There is reward beyond comprehension in the understanding of this book. It is not a delicate, fragile volume. It is the foundation upon which the world stands. It is the work horse of human history. It has been attacked, berated, belittled, and hated, yet it stands as true and trustworthy as it was in the days the ink was still wet. It speaks the truth because it is the truth. It can be completely, fully, eternally trusted.”
Amen, Brother Jim Harris! I could not have said it better!
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