The 2nd Smallest Word

13 years ago by Emmanuel Higgins

Yes, just a small word. Hence this gem will only be short. :) Remember Jesus told a story about a certain man who was robbed and left half dead on the road to Jericho? And how the kind Samaritan had compassion on him and attended to his needs. Jesus said something profound after He told the story. "...Go, and do thou likewise" - Luke 10:37 Jesus says go, and then what does He say? Do! It's easy to say now, ah yes, of course I would have stopped and helped the poor man on the sid...

Read More

Deepen His Footsteps

13 years ago by Emmanuel Higgins

As a younger child I have fond memories of bush walking (hiking) with my family in the national park around our property. Sometimes when I walked behind Dad I would watch intently to see where he stepped, then with my short little legs I would try to jump to where he last stepped, and then watch his next step and jump to where his foot had just been, and so forth. This reminds me of a powerful spiritual lesson. First let's read some verses from Matthew 7. "Enter ye in at the strait gate: ...

Read More

Oh Death, Where is Thy Sting?

13 years ago by Emmanuel Higgins

A few weeks ago we started on a journey through the Bible searching its pages for the truth about death. Why does it exist? What is it? What happens after death? However, what the Bible teaches about death must not become just a lifeless theory. No, no! The plan of redemption, God's marvellous love, the amazing condescension of the Son of God to this fallen world, the death and resurrection of Christ, His plan to uplift man from the ruin and degradation of sin, is the theme around which every...

Read More

1,000 Years and the 2nd Death

13 years ago by Emmanuel Higgins

In last week's gem we discovered that those who die in Christ Jesus will sleep until He returns to this earth in the clouds of glory to take them with Him to heaven. But now.. what happens to the rest of the dead? And what are the righteous doing? What does the Bible say? The Bible tells us about two resurrections: "Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrec...

Read More

Does Hell Last Forever?

13 years ago by Emmanuel Higgins

Would a God of infinite love, delight in torturing sinners in a lake of fire for eternity? Does hell last forever? What does the Bible say? If you have not already done so, please read the following gems that set the scene for what we are about to study: Why Death? What is Death? Hope Beyond This World 1,000 Years and the 2nd Death Now let's dig deep in the word of God for answers. Always remember to have a prayerful, humble spirit as you study the Bible, that way ...

Read More

Hope Beyond This World

13 years ago by Emmanuel Higgins

Last week we dug deep in the treasures of God's word to discover what death is, and what happens when a person dies. We read from the book of Job: " So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens [be] no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep. " - Job 14:12 So the dead, lie in the sleep of death until the heavens be no more, which we learnt was the coming of the great day of God in which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise (2. Peter 3:10). Th...

Read More

What is Death?

13 years ago by Emmanuel Higgins

Last week we saw why death came to be, and what causes it. Today we're going to open the Bible to find answers to the question of death. What is it? And what happens when someone dies. Remember, God has given us the Bible, the manual of life which has answers to these questions. So let us begin by reading about the story of Lazarus. To fill in a little of the story, word came to Jesus that Lazarus, a good friend of His, was sick. Instead of immediately making way to the side of Lazar...

Read More

Why Death?

13 years ago by Emmanuel Higgins

Death... A dark cold pit of fear rises in the hearts of many at the thought. Why do people die? Is death the end? These and many other questions might be looming in your mind. Let's turn to the ultimate source of wisdom, the very own word of God for answers. God is love. Being a God of love, in love He created a perfect man and women. Do you think a God of love would delight in death? "[As] I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked" - Ezekiel 33:1...

Read More

God Our Strength

13 years ago

How many of you feel weak as you go through life trying to be a good Christian? I know that at times I have felt that and have wondered if the struggle was worth it. The Bible clearly says though that, "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." - Psalms 46:1 So how can this promise be a reality in our lives? I would like to share with you a time in my own life when I realized more fully how to make this a reality. In January 2007 we went as a family to NZ fo...

Read More

Which Passport?

13 years ago by Emmanuel Higgins

What is the best form of identity that you could have if you were travelling in a foreign country? Yes, It would be, of course, your passport. Now your passport answers some very important questions. It says who you are, what your nationality is, it has a picture of you and gives a passport number that is unique to only you. Because of these things, we say the passport is your identity. Now, let's shift our focus off this temporal, earthly identity and open the Bible to see if we can discover...

Read More