💥 Comments by Barbara Preston: A member of the body of Christ

I have been watching some of the coverage of Queen Elizabeth’s death and the ascension of her son, Prince Charles, to the throne as King, and, of course, there is much emphasis on the pride and importance of the nation of England in this.

We see this all the time with the US and other nations of the world also.

But while watching this, I have been reminded of the following scripture…

Isaiah 40:17 All nations before HIM (GOD) are as nothing; and they are counted to HIM as LESS THAN NOTHING, and vanity.

(This puts that which I have seen in the right perspective which is to say how GOD sees it.)

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(Comments by Joan Boney)

Hebrews 9:27  And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

Men and women die, falling asleep.  

The person who dies cannot see or hear what other humans are doing. For the person who dies is "asleep".  

Jesus gave us this example of a person who has died:

John 11  

(Jesus said:) Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.

12 Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.

13 Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.

14 Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.

By this Jesus shows us to die is to fall asleep,  So to take flowers to the grave, as the pagans do who know not God, is futile.  The dead person is asleep.

When the person dies his spirit leaves his body.  So that person you once knew is not in that body in that grave.  To worship a dead body is a futile act.  

To talk to a dead person is a futile act.  When I see people of this world do these things I feel sorry that they do not know God and that they do not know what God says about those who die.

My cousin's husband died.  She called and told me.  She said he patted her hand and then just fell asleep.

I told her this is what death is:  the person who dies falls asleep

Then she said something about going to Thurman's grave and I said, "Why?  Who are you trying to impress?  Thurman is asleep and will not even know you are there.  So who are you trying to impress?"

My cousin grew very silent.  Then she said:  "Well then it really doesn't matter where you are buried."

"Right!" I responded.

(I believe my cousin was born again at that moment.)

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I Thessalonians 4  (Paul tells us)

13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep (dead), that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with HIM.

15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent (go before) them which are asleep (dead).

16 For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

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2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

If we follow God and do the will of God we will receive reward.  When the Holy Spirit speaks to us reminding us of a Word from God and we do that Word, we do what is right in the sight of God.  When we hear from God by HIS Spirit and follow what HE tells us, we do well.  For the Spirit of God searches the heart of God to tell each of us the instruction of God for ourselves.  (I Cor. 2)

You can follow a scripture and even do evil trying to impose your own will on the situation without hearing from God to do this.

God will judge each of us and our works at the judgment seat of Christ and then we will know good from evil.

Daniel 12:1-2  And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.

2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

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