Death is a mystery to many of us, even believers. We know and understand that as believers we will live eternity with God. I use the portion of scripture in Matthew where holy people that came out of the grave walked into Jerusalem as the continual scripture passage yesterday. This passage alone is not something to dwell to long on, but to retain for the final hope. What I mean is like all miracles and wonders done by God, they are not take away from the resurrection of the Lord who has the power to save us, nor from our Lord purpose in coming to ministry to us in such a personal way. Yet to write on death two things must be understood, that has soon as we die our Spirit is with God and Christ Jesus. That is simple to understand. Yet in the continual scripture below we see Jesus using in parable fashion maybe event that occured in reality, to others it just a story. You decide. First off this is before Christ death. It speaks of two death. One person went to fiery pit another to Abraham bosom. Abraham bosom/ place of eternal rest. Abraham is the one that talks to the man that did not treat Lazarus well, when he could have and he finds himself in torment and longing for water and even wanting someone to warn his family Yet this man would fine no rest. Now Abraham is not God, but he was in this place of no torment. He could not save the man nor have power to save the man's family. Yet the man in hell could be heard by the saints. For the believer a time is coming that we will see the outcome of the lost and unsaved. If we had a choice not one person would be lost.

There is point salvation comes to the heart of man upon belief, yet even the devil believes and trembles, but he is not saved. He cast into eternal lake of fire, a place of torment. Those saved will rise from the dead as those in Abraham bossom did. Does it make any sense to us not really. It not important enough to talk about constantly, but what it does instill hope of eternity. Those that die in Christ have the eternal hope of salvation. What does it mean to die in Christ beyond the buring of our sin. I using term in a double meaning. After we die, did we die with the hope of Christ in us, or did we die, with hope I hope I get into heaven. Did we follow in Christ footsteps caring about others. Our works will not save us. Our works alone can not save us, we need faith and to follow in the footsteps of Christ. The holy men of old walked into Jerusalem from the grave. All being saved that walked into Jerusalem because they were men of faith as Abraham was. God promised redemption to who, was it bloodline or those cirumcised by the heart. The one's in faith as Abraham. Is Abraham only a symbol in the parable of this man being carried and cared for in Abraham's bosom, Abraham and Moses could save no one. Yet their faith an example of hope of eternity. Abraham looked for a home not of this earth. Abraham represent the promise of faith through circumcision, Noah the promise of faith through what they understood about who God is through decades of lost time to know about a Savior named Jesus. Let stop there Is Christ more then Abraham and more then Moses, and Elijah? The promise did not come from who you were but faith. All these men of faith before Christ were imperfect. There sins clearly seen. The need for sacrifice for sin clearly seen. Did Christ ever repent or turn from sin the answer is no. And he never repented why because he was made to be perfect. He was made in perfection of the Father. Often people think of living up to the standards of another. Having to walk in perfection. Though one might receive Christ their ability to sin remains until death. There are many just men and women by human standards. There is always a shock by sin that is committed by a goody two shoes. There is shock of a just man murdering or stealing. There is shock of just/righteous teenage stealing the child she babysitting candy, but worse yet child being babysat by a good teen who sexually abuses a child or worse kills a child. People in good standing in a community learning other's in good standing committing unjust crimes. Some are righteous people in faith. What happened to cause a crime. Psychological and mental issues? Temptation? Not really saved? The worse the standard of sin, the worse people question these people true nature and even spirituality.

The point is this, sin exist, in a believers life but it can not remain for eternity. Moses hit the rock twice, was he accused scripturally for any other crimes. David adultery almost cost him the kingdom, because he sleep with one of his soldiers wives, got her pregnant called the soldier home hoping he sleep with his wife. The soldier did not because his brethern could not come home to their wives, in hopes to cover up the crime of his adultery, one last time, he had the soldier killed and took the man's wife to be his wife.

Who we are as believers has not changed from Old To New Testament. David is said to be filled by the Holy Spirit. Moses is said to be filled, Abraham, seems to have no knowledge of the Holy Spirit in the way of Moses and Abraham. Our justification can only come through Christ being sacrificed on the cross for our sins. Our imperfection causes the knowledge there is nothing we can do for our own salvation, or payment for sin. The sin of crucifying our Lord is not on our head, because of forgiveness from the cross.

Christ paid the price for all sin, so that we can have eternal life, we are not waiting to come out of Abraham bossom to eternal home. Abraham rested and placed in a grave. And his soul was in paradise. When we die our soul goes to eternal rest as a believer and follower of Christ. He is our lawyer and defender that we are children of faith, that are sins have been forgiven and paid by his death and resurrection. Yet we can not remain in our sin as believers, for that is the way of the devil. The lie of faith comes when we fail to repent or turn away from sin. Meaning we choose repentance yet remain in sin? No we have a task a job to get rid of sin in our life by turning away from it. Yes we are still going to fail in regards of sinning. Our perfection comes through forgiveness of sin that been paid by the price Christ death on the cross. We know a day comes when Christ returns there will be trumpet and a shout of victory. A shout of knowing the reality of Christ in incorruptible flesh returning for his children. Returning for those that have not reach the shores of heaven.

Dear Heavenly Father convict us by your Spirit so strong of our sin in our life despite how minimal it seems, help us to know that peace will come to us that believe in your Son. That faith alone is enough, but our strive needs to be to follow after Christ example on how to live, in Jesus precious name, Amen.

Continual Scripture Study for Devotion:Luke 16:21-31 KJV
21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:
28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.
31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.