Life With ALS.com
+ Diagnosed Aug 2005
+ Bipap March 2007
+ PEG July 2007
+ Trache and Vent July 2008
Still Living, Loving & Laughing
Worried about dying? Is there an after life? What happens?
You owe it to yourself to explore the answers to these questions.
The following is a Biblical answer. Death does not have to be feared.
Way to Heaven
God has provided a plan for salvation. Jesus Christ has provided the means of salvation.
If we accept Gods gift we will be assured of a life in Heaven.
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. "For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through Him. "He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” John 3:16-18
The Bible reminds us, "There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death." Proverbs 14:12. It is important therefore, that we do not follow the way that seems right to us, and in the end it brings death, but rather we follow the way that leads to life.
Many people think that if they are baptized as a child that they are Christians; others think that if they take The Lord's Supper that they are a Christian; others think that if they live a good life and do no-one any harm that that is good enough to get them to heaven.
But, nowhere in the Bible do we find that these things satisfy God enough to take away our sins and make us right with God. Jesus Christ Himself said, "You must be born again." It is interesting to note that it was to a very religious person that Jesus spoke about the need of the new birth, and it is often such people who refuse to accept that such a change is necessary.
The new birth is a supernatural work of God in the heart of man, a miracle that cannot be explained. A Christian is a person who has experienced a spiritual re-birth. When Jesus Christ began His ministry He said, "Repent and believe the Gospel" Mark 1:15.
What is repentance?
At its simplest, repentance is to turn from sin to God, as a result of a change of mind. It involves a new look at sin and a new look at oneself. Repentance involves a new look at sin because it means seeing how displeasing sin is in God's sight. But the new look does not stop there, it moves on to a new look at ourselves - seeing ourselves as sinners in God's sight, so that we cry out, "Against you, you only have I sinned." Psalm 51:4.
There is the urgent need for everyone to repent. God commands repentance. It is a turning from sin to God. No one has any hope of forgiveness for sin and peace with God until they have repented and turned from sin. Without genuine repentance there is no way back to God. As Jesus said to the crowd, "Unless you repent, you too will all perish." Luke 13:5
Belief or faith is also required. Faith is absolutely essential for salvation. In Hebrews 11:6 we read, "Without faith it is impossible to please God." Faith is a great Biblical word. Many people have difficulty understanding what faith means.
However, we exercise faith every day. When we sit on a chair we have faith that it will carry us. When we enter an aeroplane we have faith that the plane will take us to where we have booked and it says on our ticket. When we enter a bus we have faith that the bus driver knows the route and will take us to our destination. We put the same faith in Jesus Christ that He can save us.
In Ephesians 2:8 we are told, "By Grace are you saved through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ." By exercising faith a sinner comes to Christ for salvation. The Philippian jailer asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" Paul and Silas answered, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you shall be saved."
When we are sick we may believe that the surgeon is capable of removing whatever is causing our illness, but we have to go further and put our trust in him by actually going to the operating table. There are many people who believe that Jesus Christ really existed. They do not doubt His death and resurrection, but that makes no difference to their lives. They fail to take that final step of actually committing themselves to Him.
Jesus says, "Behold I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me."
Revelation 3:20. Will you therefore, open the door of your heart and let the Saviour in. He has promised "Him that cometh to Me I will not cast out".
Salvation Steps
God, in His infinite grace, has provided a plan of salvation/redemption for all of us:
John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever
believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Ephesians 2:8-9
8: For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves:
it is the gift of God:
9: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Titus 2:11-14
11: For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all
men,
12: Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly,
righteously, and godly, in this present world;
13: Looking for that blessed hope,
and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
14: Who
gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself
a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, is the only means of salvation.
John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh
unto the Father, but by me.
Acts 4:12
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under
heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
The steps to accept this wonderful gift and be received into the family of God are:
1. Realize that you are a sinner.
Romans 3:23
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Romans 5:12
Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin;
and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through
Jesus Christ our Lord.
1 Timothy 1:15
This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ
Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
2. Repent for the forgiveness of your sins.
NOTE: The English word “repent” is translated from the Greek word “μετανοέω [metanoeo /met·an·o·eh·o/],” which is comparatively rare in both classical and Hellenistic Greek. The most common meaning of this Greek word is “to change one’s mind.” If the change of mind comes from a recognition that the previously held view was improper, then there is a sense of regret or remorse.
Mark 1:14-15
14: Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching
the gospel of the kingdom of God,
15: And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom
of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
Mark 6:12
And they went out, and preached that men should repent.
Luke 13:3
I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Luke 15:7
I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that
repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
Luke 15:10
Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of
God over one sinner that repenteth.
Luke 24:46-47
46: And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ
to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:
47: And that repentance and remission
of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
Acts 2:38
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the
name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of
the Holy Ghost.
Acts 3:19
Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out,
when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
Acts 17:30
And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men
every where to repent:
Acts 26:20
But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout
all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn
to God, and do works meet for repentance.
3. Believe in and receive Jesus Christ.
John 3:36
He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth
not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
Acts 10:43
To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth
in him shall receive remission of sins.
Romans 1:16
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God
unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Romans 10:9
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe
in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Galatians 3:22
But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by
faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
John 1:12
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of
God, even to them that believe on his name:
Romans 5:11
And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
by whom we have now received the atonement.
Romans 5:17
For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which
receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by
one, Jesus Christ.)
Colossians 2:6
As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in
him:
None of us are guaranteed tomorrow. So, if you have never accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior, do not delay.
2 Corinthians 6:2
(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the
day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold,
now is the day of salvation.)
Isaiah 55:6
Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
1 Timothy 6:7
For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry
nothing out.
Added: July 22, 2010