This Is What I Know About Life And Death.

 Luke 2:25-31 - And there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him.  And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.  
 
And he came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to carry out for Him the custom of the Law, then he took Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said, "Now Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to depart inpeace, according to Your word; for my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples,…"  

• My View About Life 

I have been so blessed by God that the only way for me to live is to live a righteous and devout life like Simeon, to the best of my ability.
 
First, living a righteous life has to do with the physical acts of a man and woman. A few weeks ago in one of my Pump Ups I focused on the text that said, "Jesus went about doing good…."
 
When we do good for others we are living a righteous life and imitating our Lord.
 
When we harm or hurt people we are unrighteous. There are a lot of unrighteous people in our world.
 
In Matt. 7:15-16 Jesus said, - "Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.  "You will know them by their fruits." NASU
 
My view about life is to be righteous and in order for me to be righteous I need to do good for others. I hope that you will likewise choose to be a righteous person. You will be known by your fruits according to Jesus.
 
What type of fruit are we bearing?
 
Second, living a devout life has to do with the spiritual acts of a man or woman. Simeon was in the temple worshiping God. He was looking for the consolation of Israel, Jesus Christ.
 
How is our daily worship of God?
 
Are we reading His Word, the Bible? Are we praying to or communing with Him?  
 
Have we been looking for the second coming of Jesus? 

• My View About Death 

Death is not a bad thing. Simeon knew when He was going to die to some degree. He knew it wasn't going to happen until he saw the Lord's Christ or Anointed One.
 
Joseph and Mary bring Jesus into the temple according to the Law . This shows they were devout people. When Simeon sees Jesus he knows he has seen the Messiah and he will be able to die peaceably.
 
Did you notice what Simeon said about death?
 
"Now Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to depart in peace,…"
 
Death is a releasing. Death happens when our spirit is released from our body. Simeon even says, "He is being released to depart in peace."
 
When death comes knocking at the Christian's door, it will be ok. We don't have to be afraid or intimidated by death. It is a releasing so that we can depart and be in peace.
 
Here is what the Apostle Paul had to say about death in 2 Corinthians 5:6-8 -Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord — for we walk by faith, not by sight — we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.
 
When our spirit is released from our bodies it will get to go home and be with the Lord.
 
What is your view of Life?
 
What is your view of Death?
 
Are your views from this world or from God's Word?
 
Think On These:
 
You will have a better life if you make the most of the best and the least of the worst.
 
Let God have your life. He can do more with it than you can.

Stay Pumped, 

Gary A. Serago
 
Minister of God's Word

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