And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake,
Some to everlasting life, Some to shame and everlasting contempt.
Those who are wise shall shine Like the brightness of the firmament,
And those who turn many to righteousness Like the stars forever and ever. [Daniel 12:2-3]
The undeniable truth is that everyone born into this world must sleep on the dust of the earth, because people must die at time appointed unto them to leave this world.
The scripture describes death as sleep, so in this passage, God revealed unto Prophet Daniel what must be at the end of time – during the White Throne Judgment of God when all people shall be judged according to what they had done when they were alive.
After he (Jesus) had said this, he went on to tell them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.” His disciples replied, “Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better.” Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep. So then he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, [John 11:11-14] NIV.
The dust of the earth described in the above scripture means the ground or soil where the dead are buried.
After Adam disobeyed God Almighty at the Garden of Eden, He placed a curse upon Adam that he must die and return to the dust which is the ground where he must be buried.
By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.” [Genesis 3:19] NIV.
You see that sin always bring consequences or punishment to anyone who does or practices it. Here we see how Adam and Eve were cursed, and they lost their home, the beautiful Garden of Eden and lost fellowship with God after they sinned against Him.
We all must die one day and somewhere, and be buried into the dust of the earth, from where we all shall awake unto judgment into hell fire or life in the kingdom of God. When, how and where we shall die is something God in His own wisdom and power has hidden from all of us.
Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him. [Hebrews 9:27-28] NIV.
We thank God who sent Jesus Christ His Only Son to save and grant us salvation and eternal life in His Kingdom.
As the scripture says, Jesus our Lord and Savior is coming back again to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him.
Jesus says “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. [Revelation 22:12] NIV.
When Christ shall return to reward His saints, will you awake from the dust of the earth to shame and everlasting contempt, or will you awake to everlasting life?
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. [2 Corinthians 5:10]
Those who obeyed the Lord and died doing His will shall be rewarded with everlasting life, and they shall shine like the brightness of the firmament and like stars forever and ever.
On the contrary, those who rejected Jesus Christ, and who died in their sins and in disobedient to the word of God shall awake to shame and everlasting contempt in hell fire forever and ever.
Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. [1 Corinthians 6:9-10] NKJV.
Jesus Christ, the Son of God was crucified and died on the cross for all mankind so that we all can be made free from sins, and turn to God in righteousness.
And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. [Revelation 20:12] KJV.
For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will. For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him. “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man. [John 5:21-27] NKJV.
DID YOU NOT KNOW THAT JESUS CHRIST IS THE JUDGE OF ALL THE LIVING AND THE DEAD?
DID YOU NOT THAT JESUS CHRIST IS THE ONLY LORD AND SAVIOR OF ALL MANKIND?
DID YOU NOT KNOW THAT JESUS CHRIST GIVES ETERNAL LIFE TO ALL WHO ACCEPTS HIM AS LORD AND SAVIOR?
DID YOU NOT KNOW THAT BELIEVERS IN CHRIST WHO DOES THE WILL OF GOD SHALL NOT COME INTO JUDGEMENT, BUT HAS PASSED FROM DEAD INTO LIFE?
DID YOU KNOW HOW MUCH LOVE AND FAVOR THAT GOD ALMIGHTY HAS GIVEN UNTO THOSE WHO BELIEVE ON THE NAME OF HIS SON JESUS CHRIST?
These are the benefits of believing in Jesus Christ, and accepting Him into your heart as Lord and Savior of your life.
See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. [1 John 3:1] NIV.
WE ARE THANKFUL AND VERY MUCH GRATEFUL TO OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST WHO DIED ON THE CROSS FOR US TO REDEEM US BACK TO GOD, AND TO MAKE US KINGS AND PRIESTS UNTO HIS FATHER.
And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. [Revelation 1:5-7] KJV.
God Almighty has made every provision for you through His dear Son, Jesus Christ so that you can be made a child of God, and be counted among kings and priests in the Kingdom of God.
Will you accept Jesus Christ, the Son of God today as your Lord and Savior so that you can be made a son of God, and inherit eternal life in heaven?
Are you ready to confess your sins and accept Jesus Christ into your heart as your Lord and Savior?
If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. [Romans 10:9-10] NIV.
If your answer is yes, then pray this prayer of repentance and salvation.
PRAYER OF REPENTANCE AND SALVATION
Lord Jesus, for too long I have kept you out of my life. I know that I am a sinner and that I cannot save myself. No longer will I close the door when I hear you knocking. By faith I gratefully receive your gift of salvation into my soul. I am ready to trust you as my Lord and Savior. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for coming to this world. I believe you are the Son of God who died on the Cross of Calvary for my sins and rose from the dead on the third day. Thank you for bearing my sins and giving me the gift of eternal life. I believe your words are true. Come into my heart, Lord Jesus, and be my Savior now and forever. Amen.
IF YOU HAVE PRAYED THIS PRAYER WITH ALL YOUR HEART, YOU ARE NOW BORN AGAIN, AND YOU ARE A CHILD OF GOD.
Praise be to God Almighty, and congratulation!