RaeAnn Puryear Stanley

Romans 6:1–8 NKJV

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him,

Romans 8:18 ESV

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

Paul is saying that with the greatest sorrow, the deepest pain, and the harshest of suffering and loss in this life, pail in comparison to the joy that will be received in heaven.

Psalm 34:18 KJV 1900

The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; And saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.

Just as He appeared to Shadrak, Meshak, and Abednego in the fiery furnace, He will be with us in our hour of need.

Matthew 5:4 ESV

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Blessed means happy or fortunate. The blessing is not the mourning but rather the comfort that will come.

Many times in our darkest hour is where we can experience the greatest presence of God in our lives.

Revelation 21:4 KJV 1900

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

There will come a day that those who die in Christ, will no longer know the pain of death. If you die with Christ we have the assurance of eternal rest. However, the reality is that if you die without Christ there is also an eternal destiny awaiting you.

Revelation 20:15 ESV

And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

Do you know Jesus as your personal savior? If not, will you give your life to Him today?