He is everything to me

Psalm 22:1 “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning?”

Hebrews 2:6 “It has been testified somewhere, “What is man, that you are mindful of him, or the son of man, that you care for him?”

I am a sinner, and the thought of appearing before the Just One...

(Hebrews 2.14-15)

“founder/pioneer of our salvation” (2.10) - saved from what?

…from what comes next, after death (2.15)

What all have - fear of what comes next

Military leader, Greek philosopher, Xenophon (431 BC) - “man is enslaved by the fear of what comes after death.”

Seneca - “to die without the fear of death is to be desired”

Cicero considers it a near human emotion.

Acts 24:24–25 “After some days Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, and he sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus. And as he reasoned about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment, Felix was alarmed (terrified) and said, “Go away for the present. When I get an opportunity I will summon you.””

We can train our thoughts and harden ourselves to dismiss such fear.

But any who consider the prospect, feel the tug of the Spirit...

Message

God sees kings (2.6-8).

2 Timothy 2:11–13 “The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself.”

We are more than we have become.

God sees sons (2.10).

Romans 8:15–17 “For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.”

Abba - warm affection. The confidence of family.

God sees brothers (2.11-13).

Romans 8:28–29 “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.”

Jesus sees his bride (2.12).

Revelation 19:7 “Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready;”

God sees friends (2.14-16).

Isaiah 41:8 “But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, the offspring of Abraham, my friend;”

John 15:15 “No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.”

Conclusion

I have found a friend in Jesus-

He’s ev’rything to me,

He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul;

So, what do you think will happen at your death?

Look at what we know happened.

I want to give you water so you never thirst again.

I want to show you the Father.

I want to bear your burdens.

I want to crush your enemy.

I want you to be where I am, forever.

He entered into our mess, and gave everything.

Hebrews 2:17–18 “Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.”

Aaron was far off. Jesus is Emmanuel.

Let me ask you, is it evil to leave my wife and murder my neighbor?

We believe this. Then...

John 14:1–3 ESV

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.