Many people say that we have to prepare for our death. We have to 'get right with God', or 'fix our ways'. We have to clean ourselves up for God and make sure we're in good standing to be brought into heaven with him forever. What do we have to do to get ready for our death? What do we have to make sure we do before Jesus returns? God does not require you to clean up your life or do anything to be 'good enough' for him. You don't need to have it all sorted and figured out—in fact, you can't. But Jesus has it figured out for us. Jesus has chosen us as the firstfruits to be saved. We are his own beloved children. All we who have faith 'need' to do, is trust in God's promises, and stand firm in the faith passed down to us. We prepare for the end by trusting in Jesus' promises, standing firm in the faith, and live as he has called us to in that faith.

We are often anxious about the details of the end. Not only details of our own death, but details about the end of all things. We often want to look for signs and indications that the end is coming and is near. We think we can pinpoint the time either generally or specifically of Jesus' return, or we grow anxious and worried about what that end will be like. No one knows the day of his death. Jesus tells us that no one will know when he returns, not even him, only the Father. Yet, we don't have to be afraid of the end, because Jesus' words, his promises, they will not pass away. Even though things may be difficult until then, we don't have to worry, because Jesus will come and welcome us who are awake in faith, into eternal life with him. We don't have to worry about when the end will come, because we know where we are going, we know Jesus' promises, and we know that his promises will never pass away.

Death is scary. It's the great unknown. We don't know what it will be like, what it will feel like. What we will see. What we will be like. Death is a slow, painful process, and we largely don't know what's coming up on the other side. Our sin has caused death to enter into this world. Death is a negative consequence of our sin, and while we know it's not right, we don't what what it will be like. We do know at least one thing. We know that we will be with Jesus. Just as Jesus said to the thief on the cross, we know it's also true for us. We will be with Jesus in paradise. Our suffering will cease. Our pain will be no more. We will no longer be afflicted by sin and suffering in our bodies and our lives. We don't have all the details, but we do have Jesus' promises. Jesus has saved us from death, so that we do not have to fear death, experience eternal suffering, but we will be with Jesus in paradise.

The Peace and Seymour communities gather to worship, spend time in community together, and hear about God’s goodness and see how he works even in our daily lives.

The Peace and Seymour communities gather to worship, spend time in community together, and hear about God’s goodness and see how he works even in our daily lives.

The Peace and Seymour communities gather to worship, spend time in community together, and hear about God’s goodness and see how he works even in our daily lives.

We carry much shame with us in our lives. We're ashamed of our past, our actions, our mistakes. If guilt is the recognition of our sin, shame is the emotion and feeling that comes with it. We are ashamed of who we are, what we've done, and this shame drives us to separate ourselves from others, and even from God. Jesus does not let us be ashamed. Rather he takes on shame for us. He becomes the one who is shamed, that he might give us honor. Jesus invites in the one who is most shameful, that he may give them the seat and place of honor at his table. Jesus takes away our shame, by going to the cross, welcoming us into his family, and giving us the honor that he deserves.

Compared to the strength of the spiritual powers of evil in this world, we are weak. We are vulnerable to the temptations and oppression of the devil and his demons. We are powerless against sin in this world. We are captive to these things, let alone the earthly powers of this world that can harm us. We cannot protect or save ourselves. But Jesus is more powerful than all these things in this world. Jesus is stronger than that which we believe to be strong and powerful in this world. He saves us from our captivity to the darkness of this world, and he has power over Satan and all evil in this world. While we are at the mercy of the devil and evil in this world, Jesus is stronger, he is on our side, and his promises are bigger than the darkness of this world.