St Matthew, Chapter 10, verse: 29, Heavenly Value.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Confidence in divine protection) Part 6.  

Now, in Christ's description of hell, he has given his disciples a picture of the torment that awaits those who do not heed the message of the kingdom.  Within the minds of the disciples lurks the picture of the many souls that will not see the kingdom.  There are many that they have encountered that have turned away from the message.  There are many who have not accepted the laws but turned to the worship of pagans.  There are many who live by the passions of their hearts and who disregard the calling to repentance.  So the disciples see how Satan is winning the souls of the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Christ tells them, by way of example, "Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing?"   Are not two birds sold for a very small value?  In just the same manner, are not two small things sold for a very small value?  Are not two, lost body and lost soul, sold for a value that is very small, a value that is of no value?  Christ wants his disciples to know that those who do not accept the message have little value.  Those who are lost are like the sale of two sparrows for a very little value.  There is no value.  There is no loss.  He continues by saying, "And yet, not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father's leave." 

So even though Satan is capturing the souls of the lost sheep of the house of Israel, those souls are the ones who have not accepted the message sent from the father.   God our father does not allow souls to go willingly into hell.  He knows all of those that do.  He makes every effort to save those lost souls.  He provides opportunities for them to repent.  He provides ways for them to hear the message.  He provides a means for them to return to the God of their forefathers.  God knows all and any lost soul is only lost by his leave and by the choice of the individual.  For Christ has told his disciples that the Father will protect them.  He has told them that the Spirit of the Father will come to them.  He has given them training to protect themselves from the tricks and traps of the devil.  So they are prepared and they will prepare others who will listen and heed the message of the kingdom of heaven.

Christ has said to his disciples that they are the salt of the earth.  But what if the salt looses its strength.  Of what good is it except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.  He has also shown that the birds of the air and the lilies of the field neither toil nor sweat.  Yet the heavenly father provides for them just as he will provide for them.  Even for those who do not accept the message, God waits patiently, even up to the last minute, for the veil of deception to be thrown off and the eyes opened and they repent.   For our God is a God of mercy and a God of patience and a God of love.  And yet not one sparrow falls to the ground except by his leave.  Like the disciples, are you of great value to your heavenly father?  Is your body and soul compared to two sparrows who are sold for a farthing, a very small value?  Can you hear the message?  Do you care?  Christ is calling you to repentance that he may love you.  Will you come?

St Matthew, Chapter 10, verse: 28b, Heavenly Protection not Fear.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Confidence in divine protection) Part 5.  

Christ has told his disciples not to be afraid in several ways.  He does not want them to have fear.  He does not want them to open the door to fear and thereby allow the minnions of the evil one to enter into their hearts and minds to destroy their defenses.  They are the warriors.  They are the victors.  They are the conquerers.  The Spirit of the Father is with them and will arm them with words of wisdom.  Have confidence in heavenly protection.  So Christ has given them the pep rally and boosted their spirits in preparation for battle.

He has told them not to fear those that can destroy the body.   Though they may cause pain in the physical realm, there is no harm in the spiritual realm.  The soul will remain and will rejoice in the presence of the Lord.  Christ tells them however, to be afraid of Satan.  He says, be afraid of him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.  So he wants us to know that there is destruction in hell.  He wants us to know that there is a physical place called hell where Satan reigns.  And in this place Satan can destroy the body and the soul.  He can cause pain.  He can cause suffering.  He can cause disease.  He can cause all manner of physical and spiritual destruction.  This is what we should fear.  We should fear going to hell.  We should fear being in a place where there is no hope.  We should fear being in a place where we will live in eternity in pain and suffering. 

So Christ is instructing his disciples about this place called hell and what will happen in this place.  This is not the place where his disciples will go.  But he gives them a picture of this place so that they will know where those who do not accept the message, will go.  Christ wants his disciples to understand the immense pain and suffering that the unbeliever will undergo when they leave the physical realm.  He wants them to have complete knowledge so that they can speak to the lost sheep of the house of Israel and convey to them the choice that they will make.  For they are the first to hear the message of the kingdom of heaven.  They are the first to see the disciples of Christ.  They are the first to have the opportunity to repent and turn back to the Lord.  After these, then the rest of the Gentiles will hear the message of the kingdom of heaven.

So we have our warning.  Just as Christ told his disciples back then, he is telling us today.  Fear the one who can destroy the body and the soul in hell.  Fear the place called hell, where one will live in eternal damnation.  Fear Satan. 

Will you hear the message?  Can you understand the meaning of the message or are you deaf to it?   The evil one will use all his tricks and traps to prevent you from hearing it.  He will attempt in every way to keep you from the kingdom of heaven so that he can get you in hell to destroy what God has created.  Are you afraid of him who can destroy both body and soul in hell?  You should be!!

St Matthew, Chapter 10, verse: 28a, Heavenly Protection not Fear.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Confidence in divine protection) Part 4.  

As Christ speaks to his disciples about the things of the spiritual realm that they are to repeat in the light, they become afraid.  He has spoken to them on several occasions about fear, telling them that they should not be afraid.  They should not have fear or allow fear to enter into their hearts.  For that fear opens the door for the evil one to enter in and to destroy their defenses.  Instead, he has told them to keep their minds and hearts focused on his words and the words of the father.  They are to remain calm in their thoughts and hearts so that the Spirit of the Father can come in and destroy the plans of the evil one.

Now Christ gives his disciples another warning as to who they should and should not fear.  He tells them,  "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul."   Christ wants his disciples to know the truth of their nature.  The disciples have a body and a soul.  One is distinct from the other even though they exist together as one  being.  The evil that men do when possessed of the evil demons would destroy the body.  They cannot destroy the soul.  As we look back on history one can see how the prophets were persecuted and killed because they obeyed the will of God and not the will of man.  Satan would destroy the body of those he cannot reach.  But he would prefer to destroy the body and the soul in hell. 

Christ tells his disciples not to fear those who would destroy the body.  Do not let fear of the loss of physical life of the flesh take hold of you.  This is nothing to fear.  For those who would destroy the body can do nothing else.  They cannot destroy the soul of a person and therein is the difference.  For those who belong to Christ will leave the physical realm and go to be with him in the spiritual realm.  They will live in heaven with their heavenly father.  So Christ provides to his disciples an explanation of the battle that lies before them.  This is a battle for the minds and hearts and souls of men.  This is the harvest of the ones who are the fruit of the spirit that belong to Christ and not to Satan.  The devil wants to take as much fruit as he can from the harvest.  But Christ and his disciples are there to collect the good fruit that belongs to the father.  The rest will be harvested and thrown into the lake of fire.

Often times death comes like a thief in the night and brings pain and suffering to those who are not prepared for the transition.  Loved ones grieve for their lost friends, spouses, children.  And yet the transition is one of joy and peace and happiness for those who are prepared.  Christ told his disciples in this passage not to be afraid of the destruction of the body because that destruction can not kill the soul.  Instead death is but a transformation.  So be not afraid of anyone or thing that can kill the body.  For happy are they who are prepared. 

When we live in the world and are fully present in the world, death comes as a shock.  The world has led us to believe that we are to live a full life and die at an old age of 80 to 100 years old.  So we do not prepare for that circumstance.  We prepare to live in the world.  We prepare to enjoy the riches of this life.  We prepare for the passion and lust and selfishness of this world without any forethought of the afterlife.  And yet it comes. 

It comes when one is not prepared.  It comes sometimes in unexpected ways.  It comes in illnesses.  It comes in disease.  It comes in accidents.  It comes by design.  It comes through the actions of those possessed by the suggestions of demons who kill without any forethought or remorse.  And sometimes it comes through a move of God who allows nature to take its course.  Yet we are not prepared and find death unexpected. 

The medical miracles of our modern times imply to us that we will live forever.  With time we will be able to cure diseases.  With time we will be able to repair broken limbs and hearts and replace organs.  With time man may be able to live eternally.  Yet death comes and man can not stop its progress.  Christ has given his disciples spiritual principals by which to do battle.  He has told them not to be afraid of one who can kill the body and not the soul.  Will you believe in Christ and prepare yourself for the coming of death?  Are you afraid of those who would kill the body?  Christ tells us not to!!!