The Spirit Lives On...

​Bible readings...
“For then the dust will return to the earth, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.” Ecclesiastes 12:7
“Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” Matthew 10:28
“The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.” Romans 8:11
“But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. 21 He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control.” Philippians 3:20-21
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Hello everyone…and a big welcome today, to “Sunday Inspiration”…through the Risen Hope Ministries! It’s so good to have you with me today…and my prayer; is that we will leave these moments, with a piece of hope that will help us to keep pressing on…especially during the hard times!
 
Recently, I was asking my friends on Twitter, if they had any specific topics that they would want me to write on…that is, with God’s help…and one of the topics someone wanted me to write on, was based on the difficulties of accepting God and the afterlife. After thinking this over and praying about it; God began to move and lead me in a direction that I believe, will truly give us the hope of heaven and all that awaits the one, who truly places their faith…belief and trust in Him.
 
As we begin today; let’s read the first Bible verse that I have posted for this week, which is found in Ecclesiastes 12:7…and we read...“For then the dust will return to the earth, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.” We must remember that even though the body passes away…the spirit lives on…whether that would be in heaven or hell; for it was God, who breathed life within us and as He has given us His spirit; that spirit will continue to live on…whether it’s through death or the rapture.
 
While preparing for this writing…God was working with my heart and some of the thoughts that came out of our time together was this…just think, when we were created; God created us in His image. The body only became the shell of our being; but once God breathed new life within us; then a spirit was born and that spirit brought that body alive. This spirit is what helps us to function…think and become, who God created us to be.
 
You know…one thing that never really penetrated my mind, when I was younger; is how the spirit cannot die within us. In other words…God designed us and created us in a way that would cause us to live on for all of eternity, which is so amazing…so even though the body returns back to the dust; the spirit returns back to God, as the Bible verse says above. One thing we must remember though…even though our spirits return back to God; He “will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.” Ecclesiastes 12:14
 
One thing we need to remember today, as we share these thoughts together; is that Jesus…God’s Son, died to set us free…and through that freedom, He gave us a choice, as to what direction we would choose to take in life. In John 3:16, Jesus made a promise to us; that whosoever would believe in Him, would not perish but have eternal life with Him…a place where our spirits would be given new bodies…and a place where our spirits would live on, for all of eternity.
 
When I think on the spirit that lives within us; I see our bodies as a glove. Once that glove or body is removed…either through death or the rapture; the spirit will be taken to the place; for which we chose to live for in this life.  
 
Whether we want to admit it or not; there is an afterlife…a place, for which our spirits and souls will live on…and the choices we make in this life now, will truly determine where we will spend all of eternity. Let me ask you a question today, as we close… “Is your spirit choosing the path of this world…or have you chosen the path that will one day lead you to heaven…a place where your spirit will live on eternally with Jesus Christ? Remember one thing…even though our bodies may not live on forever…our spirits will continue to live on for all eternity; so the choice is up to you…will you choose to pick up your cross and follow Jesus?
 
No matter what you may be walking through at this time; just know that hope awaits the one, who truly gives their life over to Jesus. Let Him not only be everything, for everything you need; but let Him be the One, who will eventually lead your spirit to a place, where there will never be pain…heartache or suffering again…a place where you can live in peace, for all of eternity with Him.
Blessings on your day!
It’s Always & Only Because of Him…
Diane
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If you haven’t given your life over to Jesus, may I invite you to say this little prayer…“Lord Jesus, I am a sinner, in need of a Savior…One, who I believe has died for these sins I carry within me. Please come into my heart and be the Lord of my life. Forgive me and renew me in your spirit; that one day, I may be with you, for all of eternity…Amen!”