Dr. C. S. Lovett’s
MARANATHA FAMILY NEWSLETTER
June 2024
ARE YOU AFRAID OF YOUR LAST ENEMY?
When you go to a funeral, listen to the preacher talk about heaven. He makes it sound so wonderful. He says death brings the reunion of loved ones, the end of all toil, and the struggle to survive in a hostile world. He paints a picture of solid comfort with no fear or distress of any kind. He even backs it up with God's Word. "...and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall no longer be any death; there shall no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain, for these first things will have passed away." (Rev. 21:4)
HOWEVER IS THAT ALL?
Some even feel their wasted lives will somehow blossom once they are ushered into Jesus' presence. Well, the apostle Paul does not limit himself to that happy view of death. If death ushers in the bliss and joy so many expect, wouldn't that make death the believer's last FRIEND? But Paul does not buy that idea. Squarely in the middle of his resurrection passage, he calls death the Christian’s LAST ENEMY! (1 Cor. 15:26). Indeed, there is more to it.
What does the apostle see in death that would make him call it the last enemy? Death is the last enemy of the Christian because it closes the believer's last chance to get ready for heaven. When death summons, we are all through laying up treasures for ourselves in heaven. That is critical, for the Lord made it clear only treasure we will have in heaven is that which we lay up for ourselves (Matt. 6:20). When you add the fact that we can't make one more change into the likeness of Jesus, death does become a frightening enemy.
NO CHANGES IN HEAVEN
Here is why death is our last enemy: It puts an end to all spiritual growth. I mean no more changes in our person! I am serious about that, and here is why. The conditions for personal change do not exist in heaven. God never changes and neither will we once we step outside of TIME. Only on earth can we change.
Let's say you are in heaven and want to become more forgiving, how would you go about it? You have to be HURT in order to forgive. But who is going to hurt you in heaven where there is no hurt? Suppose you want to become more long-suffering. How can anyone develop that grace without suffering for a long time? There is no suffering in heaven. The same is true for becoming more patient, resisting evil, or any of the qualities the Lord seeks to develop in us. There simply is no way to acquire the fruit of the Spirit in heaven. The conditions for making us more like Jesus just DO NOT EXIST there. Eternal things do not change. That is why God says..."I am the Lord, I change not" (Mal. 3:6). He is eternal.
SEE WHAT THIS MEANS?
You have heard the phrase..."Only one life; will soon be past, only what's done for Christ will last." Those words summarize what I've been saying. If we want treasure in heaven, we have to get busy and earn it now. No one is going to do this for us. It will be too late for that when death strikes.
God looks for changes in us every day. CHANGE is the most important word in our Christian vocabulary. Our talk should be sweeter today than it was yesterday. We should pay our bills better, be kinder in speaking of others, be careful with our mates, serve our employers more faithfully, raise our children more diligently, and display more peace in anxious situations. Why, we should even drive our cars better. Those are reasonable expectations.
If we don't change now while there is time -- WE'LL ENTER HEAVEN JUST AS WE ARE AT THE POINT OF DEATH AND NEVER CHANGE! Once the body dies, the man inside is released. Since his life is independent of the body’s life, he continues to exist in the spirit realm. The man and his body are two separate creatures. Until Jesus came, no one knew that ONLY THE BODY DIES at death. The person doesn't die; he can't. Jesus Himself demonstrated this truth:
"But it is now made manifest by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who ABOLISHED DEATH and brought life and IMMORTALITY TO LIGHT through the gospel" (2 Tim. 1:10).
We knew nothing of immortality until Jesus showed that death to the body has NO EFFECT on the person. He went through the death experience and returned to the same body to prove it. It didn't hurt Him a bit. This was to show believers they need not fear the death process. He proved that one's PERSON is unharmed and continues to live, even though his body dies.
The body has its own life. The soul (person) has its own life. The two are INDEPENDENT of each other. It is because the SOUL is the image of God, and therefore spirit, that it continues to live after the body dies. Consequently not the slightest harm occurs to the soul. Death merely releases the Christian from his body ("earth suit"), so that he might operate in the presence of the Lord.
HOW TO MEET DEATH
You may laugh at my telling people how to meet death. How could I know about that? Well, I have seen plenty of it. During my years as a chaplain at Los Angeles County General Hospital, I observed many departures at close range. I have held people's hands as they left the body and flashed to their spiritual destinations. I have seen Christian death and heathen death so often, I can affirm there is only one way to die -- IN HIS ARMS!
PERMANENT CONSEQUENCES
Christians will not all be equal in heaven. The place we give Jesus in this life determines the place He gives us in the next life. In Jesus' kingdom, there will be all kinds of jobs ranging from cabinet officers, ambassadors, and department heads, down to street cleaners, sewer workers, and day laborers. When death calls us into God's presence, we will appear before His judgment seat (2 Cor. 5:10). If you want a good job with Jesus, you'll have to EARN IT.
"Get rich quick" schemes abound today, but Jesus invites us to become RICH toward God. It's not a scam, but a legitimate offer. It is my job to help my brethren get ready for their entrance into eternity. I am called to help you become rich toward God and qualify for a high position in Jesus' kingdom. You can’t afford to be “ashamed before Him at His coming” (1 John 2:28). So you need to be ready for your . . .
GRADUATION TO GLORY!
C. S. Lovett
Copyright © 2024 Personal Christianity. All rights reserved.
SINCE YOU ASKED
Question: “The Bible tells us that we are a spirit that lives in a body and has a soul. What teaching do you have that tells us what the soul is? And what goes to Heaven or Hell?”
Answer: As for the soul, that is what Genesis calls the “image of God.” God made man in His image (Gen. 1:21). However, since God is spirit, His image must be spirit also (John 4:24). If we accept that, then the body is merely a vehicle that allows him to get about on this planet. It seems clear the soul is eternal, whereas the body is a temporary “earth suit” he lives in so he can be tested to see what he will do with his free will. Also, he lives in space and time which are also created. During his sojourn on earth, man hears about the Lord in various ways as the Lord reveals Himself to men. A man makes a freewill choice to love God and trust Him or shrug off whatever revelation he has received. If he elects to trust God, he is qualified to spend eternity with Him in Heaven. If he rejects the revelation he received, he is forever separated from God in Hell.
TESTIMONIES
DEALING WITH THE DEVIL: “This is a great book that helps you identify how the enemy works in your thought life. Read this book years ago but wanted a copy for my wife to read so that she could fight the good fight against the forces of evil.” (Online by Chancy Hill Jr.)
DEALING WITH THE DEVIL: “This book is exceptional because it gives an account of understanding basic principles for dealing with evil influences in one's life. These actions and influences left unchecked, lead to a life of bondage and misery, even health issues. Many questions about life are answered and solutions are suggested for the serious student of well-being. This book is fundamental to building a solid foundation for your faith.” (Online by tophat56)
CLARITY OF SCRIPTURES: “I’ve just got to stop and praise the Lord for the clarity and helpfulness in your explanation of the Scriptures. No question about it. He has used you in my life to help me grow more than any other author. Thank you for your love of the Lord.” (R.H.—PA)
THRILLED INSIDE: “I have all your Lights and have had them for several years. I had a strong leading to read LOVETT’S LIGHTS ON ROMANS again. As I read this time, I couldn’t believe what was happening inside me. It was as though I had never read these words before! There was a blessing on every page. It thrilled me inside! This book should be required reading and on the shelf of every Christian School.” (G.G.—OK)
RESOURCES
NEWLY REVISED--LOVETT'S LIGHTS ON ROMANS (2024): 360 pages. Available on Amazon.com for $15.99 HERE.
LOVETT'S LIGHTS ON ACTS (2023): 407 pages. Available on Amazon.com for $15.99 HERE.
LOVETT'S LIGHTS ON THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT (2022) 372 pages. Available on Amazon.com for $15.99 HERE.
LOVETT'S LIGHTS ON JOHN (2021): 381 pages. Available on Amazon.com for $15.99 HERE.
WITNESSING MADE EASY (2019): 213 pages. Available on Amazon.com for $14.99 HERE.
DEALING WITH THE DEVIL (2018): 242 PAGES. Available on Amazon.com for $14.99 HERE.
THE PREPARED LIFE (2017): 159 pages. Available on Amazon.com for $13.99 and is also available in Kindle form for $7.99 HERE.
(You may also be able to purchase these books from your bookstore or a Barnes and Noble store can order them for you.)
CONTACT US:
Personal Christianity, PO Box 918, Middleton, ID 83644
626-338-7333
www.cslovettbooks.com
info@cslovettbooks.com
“Preparing for His Appearing” Since 1951
