“And they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh: but he received it not.” Mark 15:23

As Jesus was paying the ultimate price for your sin, the crowd that was gathered at the foot of the cross contained not just the ones who were carrying out His death sentence given by Rome but also the religious critics.

Many in this group were taunting Jesus saying:

“And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.” (Luke 23:35)

God had come to earth some thirty-three years before and grew up among them and watched Him “increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.” (Luke 2:52) This child became a man and used his “wisdom and stature” to put these same men in God’s “favour.”

Some of these men had been witnesses to the power of God; not only healing the sick, giving sight to the blind and even raising of the dead but still taunted Jesus to save Himself. These “rulers” were ignorant of the work of God that was taking place right in front of their eyes.

This same child who became a man now hung on a sinner's cross, not for His sin but, for the sin of these very same men who taunted Him and became a part of God’s purpose in Jesus hanging on the cross. They did not see who Jesus was but others did. One of the men who was overseeing the execution of Jesus had this experience:

 “And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God.” (Mark 15:39)

There was another as well:

“And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:39-43)

It was for this purpose Jesus had rejected the “wine mingled with myrrh” that would have dulled the pain of the cross so He would be able to finish His work –taking the atonement of the sin of the world to the Holy of Holies that is in God’s heaven and this “thief” was the first living recipient of God’s grace.

 For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city. (Acts 18:10)

A follower of Jesus should be motivated to practice good behavior knowing that from the vilest of sinners come the people of God and these are the people made fit for heaven.

“And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus.” (1 Cor 6:11)

 All Heaven-bound redeemed people of God are taken from the pool of the darkness of sin and are made “Priests and Kings” by the power of the gospel.

The prophet Isaiah reveals what our first exposure to God’s Kingdom will be:

“He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it. And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.” (Isa 25:8-9)

Our tears of pain and suffering will be “wiped away” by our Heavenly Father. We will no longer experience the oppression of Satan and his evil workers and we will “be glad” with no heaviness of heart or pain of physical and emotional distress.   

We have been “positioned” already in our heavenly home by God’s grace that redeemed us. Jesus “…hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.” (Eph 2:6-7)

We are His “ambassadors” with a message of hope of becoming citizens in Heaven and the sure destruction that awaits all who reject the blood of the Saviour. This is the work of every follower of Jesus. This is how God calls His “much people” out of the city of destruction. 

As a follower of Jesus, you should be moved to compassion just as your Lord was when the lost and confused sinner is observed:

“When he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.” (‎Matthew 9:36)

People who are without the hope of eternal life live a life of useless religious labor, trying to fill their empty souls. How gloomy these words sound. “Having no shepherd,” they are lost and without someone who cares for them in this dark world. Like children, lost from their parents, they are at the mercy of strangers who would do them harm.    

The message we proclaim is it is not just a light that shows the lost sinner a way to escape the sure destruction. We proclaim the message of a home in Heaven with Jesus for all eternity. The words of the hymn Amazing Grace, written by John Newton, makes the observation about our life in Heaven:

“When we’ve been there ten thousand years,

  Bright shining as the sun,

We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise

  Than when we first begun.”

You are God’s people, blessed and on your way to your eternal home in Heaven.

 “Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O Lord God of truth.” Psalm 31:5

It has been said of the dead “They can’t take it with them and there are no trailer hitches on the hearse carrying the dead.” Indeed, the words of Job are true:

 ”Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return.” (Job 1:21)

When the hour of departure to leave this life and we enter into eternity; earthly riches hold no value to the departed, “They can’t take it with them.”

Jesus, speaking to this subject, gives this warning about seeking temporal possessions:

“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal.” (Mat 6:19)

Jesus exposes this truth, when we value “treasures” that are collected on earth they may not even last until we die.

The words, “Into thine hand I commit my spirit” have been recorded as being said by many holy men in their dying testimonies. Of all the men to say these words, none was greater than the “Son of Man” when He said:

“And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.” (Luke 23:46)

What we treasure determines what we collect. In Jesus’ words of warning, He also gives us this advice, “Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven.” (Mat 6:20) How do you know if your “treasures” are in heaven or here on earth? This is a rather easy question to answer. Jesus, speaking to this very subject, said:

“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Mat 6:21)

Where is your treasure? Take a close look at your life and see what value you place on your possessions and how they are positioned in your life. Do you love God more than your “stuff”? Job, after losing all his wealth, did not curse God. Even the loss of his loved ones did not move his faith. Job, living in a painful affliction, rejected his wife’s encouragement to curse God and die. Job had “committed” his spirit to God.

Check out your treasure. It is there you will find not only your heart but where you have “committed” your spirit. If you find your heart in your temporal possessions perhaps you should take the advice that Jesus gave to His followers in Laodicea who said:

“I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing.” (Rev 3:17)

Jesus' counsel to these Christians whose hearts and faith were resting in their personal wealth and who were spiritually, “wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked” (Rev 3:17) He told them to sell off their temporal possessions that held their hearts and to:

”…buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.” (Rev 3:18)

What holds your heart? Is it the power of “stuff” you have in this world? People you love, possessions you amass and good health are all subject to loss in your lifetime. The only thing you will take with you in death is what you have "laid up for yourselves in heaven.”

Today would be a good time to take the “trailer hitch” off your hearse and buy the “white raiment” that Jesus has for you. Today, not when you face death, is the time you should say the words “Into thine hand I commit my spirit.”

“And he requested for himself that he might die.” 1 Kings 19:4

Strange, is it not, that the man who would never die requested his death from God? What a difference one event can make in the lives of the faithful followers of God. Elijah had just turned the hearts of God’s people from the evil that the government of Ahab and Jezebel had established in Israel by the demonstration of the power of God.

Elijah changed the evil in Israel with these words:

“…call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken.” (1 Kings 18:24) 

The false prophets of Baal invoked their god to no avail and went as far as self-mutilation in their attempt to have their god take action.

When Elijah simply said:

 “Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again.” (1 Kings 18:37)

 The Lord came down and answered with fire and proved that indeed He was the only one and true God.

Now just a short time has passed and Elijah is ready to die. This powerful lion of God is now whimpering like a wounded kitten. Ready to die, Elijah cries out to God, “O LORD, take away my life.”

This is a warning to every soul that dwells in the creation of God. Everyone will face battles that will leave you without strength, power or the will to continue on your own desire or strength. It has been said that suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. 

Last year almost 45,000 people chose a permanent solution to their problems. They have forgone a future where God could restore hope and purpose in their lives. Had Elijah chosen the “permanent solution” he would have missed the ride in God’s “chariot of fire.”

The scriptures record this event with these words:

“And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.” (2 Kings 2:11)

Are you tired of life and just want to die? Do you know someone who is struggling with the “permanent solution?” Be encouraged and be an encourager that God indeed has a purpose and plan for your life. At the end of Elijah’s life, God was waiting with a chariot of fire.

God may not have the same reception for you as He did for Elijah but He indeed will receive you to Himself. Jesus has made this promise to you:

“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” (John 14:1-3)

If you are living in a time of deep sorrow, trouble or depression; there is hope. Your hope will come like the breaking of day. A new and deeper walk with God will be developed if you will place your life in His hands and let Him lift you up from the fears and troubles you face today.

Check out this amazing summation of man in a clear but concise 6-minute video.

A Garden Prepared for Eternity

When God spoke into existence His creation, death of humanity was not a part of the design. Plant life and animal life was fashioned to live, reproduce and pass away but not the crown of God’s creation. It was God’s intended purpose for Adam and Eve to have access to life eternal as long as they remained in His garden that was prepared for them.

The Seduction of Eve by Satan 

As invited guests in God’s Garden, Adam and Eve lived there and had access to the Tree of Life that allowed the natural course of all living things to be interrupted. The natural had been replaced with the supernatural; physical aging and death were suspended and physical life without end was achievable. The seduction of Eve by Satan and the willful disobedience of Adam would interrupt and prohibit the couple from accessing the Tree of Life.

As promised by God, death was the result of the failure of Adam:

“…for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” (Gen 2:17)

Dead to Fellowship

The death of the relationship that Adam and Eve were designed to fulfill with God was over. Death had invaded the ranks of mankind. All of mankind was, and would be, dead to God’s favor and privilege which He granted by His imputed righteousness.

They were dead to fellowship with God. They were dead to the understanding of who God was and who they were in a sin-free condition. Their understanding and all of the humanity that would come as a result of their existence would be limited in understanding their nature and God’s nature.

Their fellowship with God was replaced with fear. The fear that came as the outcome of sin would limit humanity's knowledge of God to knowing they are an offense to Him and now were aware of not only God’ righteousness but now acutely aware of their sin. Adam and Eve, along with all of the humanity, now set out to hide the evidence of their sin from God and each other.

Natural Consequences of Life 

In God’s great mercy He did not end the physical life of Adam and Eve when they failed. God simply removed His favor from their lives and allowed the natural consequences of life to run its course. God removed the couple from the Garden ending their access to the Tree of Life that had protected them from the natural course of life.

The exile from the Garden was the beginning of a spiritual battle between man and God:

“So he drove out the man, and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.”(Gen 3:24)

God created mankind as He was; a spiritual being:

“In his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” (Gen 1:27)

The physical bodies were created from the base elements of the earth: “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground.” But what separated mankind’s physical life from all of the other animal life was God’s personal attention to the physical body. God “breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul.” (Gen 2:7)

Nothing else in God’s creation has a “living soul.” Centuries would pass before the natural effects of sin would slowly bring about the death of Adam and Eve but they, like all flesh, passed from life into death. We, just like our fathers, will also face the death of the flesh but, like Adam and Eve, we are not just flesh and blood but a “living soul.”

Our soul, or the essence of who we are, will continue to live after the nature of all flesh:

  “For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away.” (1 Pe 1:24)

What then? If you are created with an eternal soul; what happens after death? “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:” (Heb 9:27) You will stand before God in a judgment that will determine your eternal abode.

What is the Answer?

God in His mercy has given you a way to undo not only the effects of your sin but the sin nature you are born with:

“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” (Rom 5:12)

God has made a way for you to be in His favor again — a way to restore you back to His righteousness which He will impute to you.

Jesus, who was God in the flesh, became one of His own creation and died for your sin and the sin of the world to become your “tree of life.” You can enjoy not only the favor of God but can have fellowship with Him if you will trust in the Gospel of Jesus.

It is this simple; if you will turn from your sin and confess, accept and proclaim Jesus as your  Saviour, you will be restored to the righteousness that sin has robbed from you. Call on Jesus today and He will receive you and restore you to fellowship and favor with God and you will live through your death with God.