Nougat 9

God is not dead – He is alive (x3)

I feel Him in my hands,

I feel Him in my feet;

I feel Him all over me

Do you know (remember) that chorus? It was a ‘hit’ during my early childhood; and we loved the noise activity that accompanied it. Despite the fun encompassed in the song’s actions, it carries even deeper spiritual truth for those who choose to believe. For not only is it a declaration of God’s existence; it also establishes faith in God’s manifest presence and sovereignty over our lives. In today’s Holy Nougat, we also make a profound declaration of faith.

“For if we believe that Yeshua died and rose again, so with Him God will also bring those who have fallen asleep in Yeshua.” 1 Thessalonians‬ ‭4:14‬ ‭TLV‬‬

Again we note, our Faith journey, like any other Faith begins with believing. And for the record, even atheists have a belief – they choose NOT TO. It is something we opt to hold as true, despite having little, or because of having enough, tangible irrefutable proof for what we affirm as fact. Now this is important; because we may find ourselves engaged in heated conversation with others, and the biblical texts which we use to corroborate (ie support) our claims often carry ZERO weight with a nonbeliever. It is about what we believe and how we live that Truth.

So what are we being asked to hold as True this time around?

Not only are we holding Christ’s death and resurrection as true but we are now also adding implications of the Resurrection. (Now I tell you a Truth, THIS HERE implication, it warms my heart immensely ) We are holding to a promise to those passed and gone, to us and to countless generations after! For the promise is – With Christ’s resurrection, God is keeping God’s promise to raise to eternal life ALL who die in the Faith in Christ Jesus. We have to take it as true, for. I one has returned from Heaven to confirm that those long gone are there. Moreover we also arrive at the conclusion, partly from this same promise, that having died ‘in the Lord’, our beloved sleep … in peace.

I would not dare to question this assumption. It is one of the perks of this promise. What I would encourage however, is that we also opt to LIVE this promise of Life beyond Death in our journey of Faith. God is NOT dead; NOR is Jesus. And despite the death and destruction surrounding us in this life, we live boldly for the next where all is well, healthy and life-enhancing forever.

First we LIVE for and with Christ in the here and now.

I feel God in my mind, yes God is in my heart, cause God lives inside of me yay yay yay! (the appended Nicqi version)

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May all we seek be found in Christ