OUR HOPE
DOROTHY CROUT BRYANT
DESTINY LIES AHEAD, OH WHAT WILL IT BE,
WHAT EVER IS TO BECOME OF ME?
LIFE OFFERS NO FAVORS OF THAT I AM SURE,
HOW LONG WILL THIS FUTURE ENDURE.
I CLAIM EVERY MOMENT AS IF IT WERE MY LAST.
WHY DO I CONTINUALLY HOLD ON TO MY PAST.
I will take a look to see what I can see,
SO THAT I WILL KNOW WHAT WILL BECOME OF ME
.
I WILL HOLD ON TO EVERY WORD THAT I READ,
AND SEE TO UNDERSTAND, SO THAT I MAY BE SET FREE.
I WANT TO BE SET FREE FROM THE NAGGING DOUBTS.
THINGS I HAVE HEARD MUST BE SORTED OUT.
THEY GIVE ME NO HOPE, ONLY FEAR AND UNREST.
LORD, PLEASE GUIDE ME, AS I SEEK THE TRUTH, THAT OTHERS MAY BE BLESSED.
IT IS AN ENDLESS JOURNEY TO SOME WHO BELIEVE WE WILL LIVE UNTIL WE DIE
AND THAT IS IT. FOR THOSE WHO FEEL THERE IS SOMETHING MORE, I WANT TO INCREASE
YOUR HOPE; FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO BELIEVE THE LIE THAT DEATH IS ALL THAT AWAITS,
I WANT TO GIVE YOU HOPE. LIFE IS A JOURNEY; IT BEGINS WITH CONCEPTION IN A WOMB AND
CONTINUES TO BIRTH, GROWING OLDER AND EVENTUALLY TO DEATH. IT IS A CYCLE. FOR THOSE
WHO HAVE HOPE, DEATH IS JUST THE BEGINNING OF A LONGER AND MORE BEAUTIFUL
JOURNEY. THIS JOURNEY CANNOT BE DESCRIBED IN WORDS, IT IS A HOPE AND KNOWLEDGE
THAT PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE IT CLING TO. IT IS TRULY SOMETHING MORE. IF YOU ARE NOT SURE
WHAT YOU BELIEVE I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU SO THAT YOU CAN KNOW THIS TRUTH THAT
I HOLD ON TO, AS WELL AS MILLIONS OF OTHERS.
“IN THE BEGINNING GOD CREATED THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH”. GEN. 1:1
THIS IS WHERE OUR HOPE HAS ITS BEGINNING. FIRST THERE WAS GOD, BEFORE ANYTHING ELSE
WAS, THERE WAS GOD. GOD BEGAN WITH NOTHING AND CREATED FROM NOTHING, EVERYTHING.
HE CREATED THE HEAVENS , THE EARTH, THE STARS, THE MOON, THE SEAS, EVERY CREATURE ON
EARTH AND IN HEAVEN. GOD THEN CREATED HIS MOST PRECIOUS AND BELOVED CREATION, HE
CREATED MAN. WHEN HE STARTED TO CREATE MAN, HE MADE A STATEMENT;
“AND GOD SAID, LET US MAKE MAN IN OUR IMAGE, AFTER OUR LIKENESS: AND LET THEM HAVE
DOMINION OVER THE FISH OF THE SEA, AND OVER THE FOWL OF THE AIR, AND OVER THE CATTLE,
AND OVER ALL THE EARTH, AND OVER EVERY CREEPING THING THAT CREEPETH UPON THE EARTH.
SO GOD CREATED MAN IN HIS OWN IMAGE, IN THE IMAGE OF GOG CREATED HE HIM; MALE AND
FEMALE CREATED HE THEM.” GEN. 1:26-27
“AND THE LORD SAID, IT IS NOT GOOD THAT THE MAN SHOULD BE ALONE; I WILL MAKE HIM AN
HELP MEET FOR HIM.” “AND THE LORD GOD CAUSED A DEEP SLEEP TO FALL UPON ADAM, AND HE
SLEPT; AND HE TOOK ONE OF HIS RIBS, AND CLOSED UP THE FLESH INSTEAD THEREOF; AND THE RIB,
WHICH THE LORD GOD HAD TAKEN FROM MAN MADE HE A WOMAN, AND BROUGHT HER UNTO THE
MAN. AND ADAM SAID, THIS IS NOW BONE OF MY BONES, AND FLESH OF MY FLESH: SHE SHALL BE
CALLED WOMAN, BECAUSE SHE WAS TAKEN OUT OF MAN.” GEN. 2:18, 21-23
WE SEE FROM THIS SCRIPTURE GOD CREATED EVERYTHING. IN THE PROCESS HE HAD HELPERS.
“AND THE EARTH WAS WITHOUT FORM, AND VOID; AND DARKNESS WAS UPON THE FACE OF THE
DEEP. AND THE SPIRIT OF GOD MOVED UPON THE FACE OF THE WATERS.” GEN. 1:2
THIS TELLS US THE SPIRIT OF GOD MOVED UPON THE FACE OF THE WATERS. NOT
ONLY GOD CREATED, BUT HIS HOLY SPIRIT HELPED HIM CREATE. THIS IS A TRUTH
THAT IS IMPERATIVE THAT YOU GRASP IT. YOU MUST KNOW WHERE YOU HAD
YOUR BEGINNING AND HOW IMPORTANT YOU ARE TO GOD, THE CREATOR. IF YOU DO NOT
KNOW THIS, WITH HEART KNOWLEDGE; DOWN IN THE DEPTHS OF YOUR BEING, YOU WILL
NEVER KNOW YOU ARE A CHILD OF HOPE. HOPE WAS BIRTHED IN YOU FROM THE CREATION OF
TIME WHEN GOD CREATED MAN AND WOMAN, HE SAID IT WAS GOOD. NO MATTER WHAT
YOU HAVE BEEN THROUGH IN YOUR LIFE, NO MATTER WHAT ANYONE HAS SAID OR DONE
TO YOU, GOD, THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE CREATED YOU AND HE CREATED SOMEONE
GOOD. HE KNEW YOU FROM THE BEGINNING, BEFORE ANYONE CAME INTO YOUR LIFE TO BLESS
YOU OR TO CURSE YOU, AND HE LOVED YOU.
THE PSALMIST PUTS IT INTO WORDS SO WONDERFUL.
“O LORD, THOU HAST SEARCHED ME, AND KNOWN ME. THOU KNOWEST MY DOWNSITTING
AND MINE UPRISING, THOU UNDERSTANDEST MY THOUGHT AFAR OFF. THOU COMPASSEST MY
PATH AND MY LYING DOWN AND ART ACQUAINTED WITH ALL MY WAYS. FOR THERE IS NOT A
WORD IN MY TONGUE, BUT, LO, O LORD, THOU KNOWEST IT ALTOGETHER. THOU HAST
BESET ME BEHIND AND BEFORE, AND LAID THINE HAND UPON ME. SUCH KNOWLEDGE IS
TOO WONDERFUL FOR ME; IT IS HIGH, I CANNOT ATTAIN UNTO IT. WHITHER SHALL I GO FROM
THY SPIRIT? OR WHITHER SHALL I FLEE FROM THY PRESENCE? IF I ASCEND UP INTO HEAVEN,
THOU ART THERE: IF I MAKE MY BED IN HELL, BEHOLD, THOU ART THERE. IF I TAKE THE WINGS
OF THE MORNING, AND DWELL IN THE UTTERMOST PARTS OF THE SEA; EVEN THERE SHALL
THY HAND LEAD ME, AND THY RIGHT HAND SHALL HOLD ME. IF I SAY, SURELY THE DARKNESS
SHALL COVER ME; EVEN THE NIGHT SHALL BE LIGHT ABOUT ME. YEA, THE DARKNESS HIDETH
NOT FROM THEE; BUT THE NIGHT SHINETH AS THE DAY: THE DARKNESS AND THE LIGHT
ARE BOTH ALIKE TO THEE. FOR THOU HAST POSSESSED MY REINS;: THOU HAST COVERED ME
IN MY MOTHER’S WOMB. I WILL PRAISE THEE; FOR I AM FEARFULLY AND WONDERFULLY MADE:
MARVELOUS ARE THY WORKS; AND THAT MY SOUL KNOWETH RIGHT WELL. MY SUBSTANCE
WAS NOT HID FROM THEE, WHEN I WAS MADE IN SECRET, AND CURIOUSLY WROUGHT IN THE
LOWEST PARTS OF THE EARTH. THINE EYES DID SEE MY SUBSTANCE, YET BEING IMPERFECT;
AND IN THY BOOK ALL MY MEMBERS WERE WRITTEN, WHICH IN CONTINUANCE WERE
FASHIONED, WHEN AS YET THERE WAS NONE OF THEM. HOW PRECIOUS ALSO ARE THY
THOUGHTS UNTO ME, O GOD! HOW GREAT IS THE SUM OF THEM! IF I SHOULD COUNT THEM THEY
ARE MORE IN NUMBER THAN THE SAND: WHEN I AWAKE, I AM STILL WITH THEE.” PSALM139:1-18
IN THE PSALMS, AND DAVID, THE KING OF ISRAEL, TALKS WITH GOD. HE RECOGNIZE WHAT WE ALL
MUST RECOGNIZE IN ORDER TO FACE THE TRIALS OF LIFE.. WE MUST RECOGNIZE, UNDERSTAND
AND KNOW WITH ALL OF OUR HEART, GOD, THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE, KNOWS EVERYTHING
ABOUT US AND LOVES US MORE THAN LIFE ITSELF.
GOD GAVE ISRAEL A TRUTH THAT IS FOR EACH OF HIS CHILDREN IN JEREMIAH 31:3
“THE LORD HATH APPEARED OF OLD UNTO ME, SAYING, YEA, I HAVE LOVED THEE
WITH AN EVERLASTING LOVE: THEREFORE WITH LOVING KINDNESS HAVE I DRAWN THEE”.
GOD, THE ETERNAL CREATOR DRAWS PEOPLE TO HIMSELF WITH LOVING KINDNESS.
THIS CANNOT BE MEASURED, NOR BE GREATER THAN IT ALREADY IS. IT IS HIS HOPE FOR
ALL WHO WOULD BELIEVE HIM AND LOVE HIM AND ACCEPT HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON,
JESUS CHRIST. AS WE PROBE THESE TRUTHS MORE DEEPLY, WE ARE GIVEN ANOTHER TRUTH.
“FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD, THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, THAT
WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM SHOULD NOT PERISH, BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE.” JOHN 3:16
NOW WE COME TO THE THIRD MEMBER OF THE TRINITY OR THE GODHEAD. FIRST YOU MET
GOD THE FATHER, WHO WAS IN THE BEGINNING, THEN YOU MET THE HOLY SPIRIT WHO
WAS IN THE BEGINNING, NOW YOU WILL MEET THE SON. IF YOU HAVE ACCEPTED HIM AS
YOUR SAVIOUR AND LORD YOU WILL WANT TO KNOW ABOUT HIM AND IF YOU HAVEN’T
ALREADY ASKED HIM TO COME INTO YOUR HEART AS YOUR SAVIOUR, YOU WILL MOST CERTAINLY
WANT TO KNOW ALL YOU CAN ABOUT HIM, FOR HE IS YOUR HOPE. HE IS THE PATHWAY TO
ETERNAL OR EVERLASTING LIFE, AS STATED IN JOHN 3:16
“FOR GOD SENT NOT HIS SON INTO THE WORLD TO CONDEMN THE WORLD; BUT
THAT THE WORLD THROUGH HIM MIGHT BE SAVED.” JOHN 3:17
“IN THE BEGINNING WAS THE WORD, AND THE WORD WAS WITH GOD, AND THE
WORD WAS GOD. THE SAME WAS IN THE BEGINNING WITH GOD. ALL THINGS WERE MADE
BY HIM; AND WITHOUT HIM WAS NOT ANY THING MADE THAT WAS MADE
IN HIM WAS LIFE; AND THE LIFE WAS THE LIGHT OF MEN. AND THE LIGHT SHINETH IN
DARKNESS; AND THE DARKNESS COMPREHENDED IT NOT.” JOHN 1:1-5
HERE ARE THE TRUTHS TO GIVE YOU THE HOPE YOU WANT AND NEED. READ THEM,
BELIEVE THEM AND HOLD THEM TO YOUR HEART. WITH THESE TRUTHS AND OTHERS I WILL
SHARE, YOU CAN WATCH YOUR HOPE GROW AND PUT DOUBTS TO DEATH FOREVER, AS WELL
AS FEAR.
FIRST: BEFORE ANYTHING THERE WAS GOD. GEN.1:1
SECOND: GOD THE FATHER AND GOD THE SON AND GOD
THE HOLY SPIRIT CREATING THE HEAVENS AND
THE EARTH WITH HIM. GEN. 1:1-2
THREE: NOTHING WAS MADE THAT WAS NOT MADE
BY HIM. JOHN 1:1-5; GEN. 1:1-2,31
FOURTH: GOD CREATED MAN IN HIS IMAGE. MAN DOES
NOT LOOK LIKE GOD FOR GOD IS SPIRIT, IT IS THE
SPIRIT OF A MAN THAT HAS ACCEPTED CHRIST.
THIS MAN IS CAPABLE OF LOVE AND FEELING AS
GOD ENABLES HIM. HE HAS REASONING AND
A SOUL AND SPIRIT, WHICH NO OTHER CREATURE
HAS. GEN. 1:26-27
FIFTH: GOD CREATED ALL MEN, WOMEN, BOYS AND
GIRLS, AND KNEW AND LOVED THEM FROM
THEIR BEGINNING. PSALM 139:1-18
SIXTH: GOD PROVED HIS LOVE FOR US BY SENDING
HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON TO LEAVE HEAVEN
AND COME TO EARTH AND DIE ON A CROSS
AND BE RAISED FROM THE DEAD THAT WE MAY
HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE. JOHN 3:16-17
SEVENTH: HEAVEN AWAITS EVERY ONE WHO HAS BELIEVED
THAT JESUS, GOD’S SON IS THE SAVIOUR OF THE
WORLD, AND ACCEPTED HIM AS THEIR SAVIOUR.
JOHN 14:1
IF I LEFT YOU HERE, IT WOULD NOT BE THE END OF THE STORY OR THE BEGINNING OF
YOUR HOPE, SO WE WILL CONTINUE ON OUR JOURNEY OF HOPE AND TRUTH. GOD SENT HIS
SON, JESUS MESSIAH TO EARTH IN THE FORM OF A BABY TO GROW TO BE A MAN, TO DIE ON
A CROSS, THAT ALL WHO WOULD BELIEVE ON HIM WOULD BE SAVED. SAVED
FROM WHAT, YOU MIGHT ASK. SALVATION IS A DEBT THAT HAD TO BE PAID FOR THE SINS
OF MANKIND. ADAM AND EVE, THE PARENTS OF ALL OF US, SINNED IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN
AGAINST GOD. GOD HAD TOLD THEM NOT TO DO ONE THING, AND ONE THING ONLY; THAT
WAS TO NOT EAT OF THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL. THEY COULD EAT
OF ALL THAT HE GAVE THEM EXCEPT THIS TREE. SATAN, A FALLEN ANGEL, WHO FELL
BECAUSE HE WANTED TO BE AS GOD, TOLD ADAM AND EVE GOD DIDN’T REALLY MEAN THAT,
IF THEY WOULD EAT OF THE FRUIT, THEY WOULD BE LIKE GOD. SO THEY OBEYED LUCIFER,
SATAN, AND ATE OF THE FRUIT. INSTEAD OF MAKING THEM LIKE GOD, IT MADE
THEM FALL FROM PERFECTION AND A DIVINE RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. JUST LIKE IT DID
SATAN. YOU WILL FIND THIS TRUTH IN GENESIS. BECAUSE OF ADAM AND EVE’S
SIN OF REBELLION, THEIR CHILDREN DOWN THROUGH THE AGES HAVE TAKEN ON
THAT SAME NATURE. A NATURE OF SIN AND REBELLION. THE SIN DEBT HAD TO BE PAID
AND MEN TRIED TO DO IT FOR CENTURIES, BY SACRIFICING AN ANIMAL, BUT FAILED
BECAUSE THE DEBT HAD TO BE PAID BY A SACRIFICE THAT WAS PERFECT. THIS PLAN OF
REDEMPTION HAD TO FINALLY BE DONE RIGHT, IN ALL PERFECTION: BECAUSE IT HAD
ETERNAL CONSEQUENCES. GOD, THE ONE WHO HAD BEEN SINNED AGAINST WAS THE
ONLY ONE WHO COULD AFFORD THE REDEMPTION PRICE. THE PRICE WAS THE
GREATEST PRICE EVER PAID FOR ANYTHING. IT WAS THE DEATH ON A CROSS OF
GOD’S ONLY SON.
“LET THIS MIND BE IN YOU, WHICH WAS ALSO IN CHRIST JESUS: WHO, BEING IN THE
FORM OF GOD, THOUGHT IT NOT ROBBERY TO BE EQUAL WITH GOD: BUT MADE HIMSELF OF
NO REPUTATION, AND TOOK UPON HIM THE FORM OF A SERVANT, AND WAS MADE IN THE
LIKENESS OF MEN: AND BEING FOUND IN FASHION AS A MAN, HE HUMBLED HIMSELF, AND BECAME
OBEDIENT UNTO DEATH, EVEN THE DEATH ON THE CROSS. WHEREFORE GOD ALSO HATH
HIGHLY EXALTED HIM, AND GIVEN HIM A NAME WHICH IS ABOVE EVERY NAME: THAT AT
THE NAME OF JESUS EVERY KNEW SHOULD BOW, OF THINGS IN EARTH, AND THINGS UNDER
THE EARTH: AND THAT EVERY TONGUE SHOULD CONFESS THAT JESUS CHRIST IS LORD, TO
THE GLORY OF GOD THE FATHER.” PHILIPPIANS 2:5-11
JESUS THE CHRIST, OF HIS OWN WILL, IN OBEDIENCE TO THE GOD THE FATHER,, CAME TO
EARTH TO DO WHAT A SERVANT WOULD DO, OBEY THE WILL OF HIS LORD. THE ULTIMATE
SACRIFICE WAS PAID FOR THE SINS OF MANKIND. OUR SINS WERE COVERED, TOTALLY WIPED
OUT BY THE BLOOD OF GOD’S ONLY BEGOTTEN SON. THE WONDERFUL TRUTH IS, THE STORY
DOES NOT END HERE. AFTER JESUS DIED AND AROSE FROM THE DEAD THESE WORDS
WERE WRITTEN OF HIM AND GIVEN FROM HIM TO HIS DISCIPLES. HE HAD COME, HE HAD
PAID A GREAT PRICE FOR MAN’S SIN, NOW HE WANTED HIS DISCIPLES TO TELL THE WORLD
WHAT HE HAD DONE AND WHAT WAS AVAILABLE FOR EACH OF THEM. THE DEBT
FOR ALL SIN HAD BEEN PAID FOR ALL WHO WOULD RECEIVE THE GIFT OF ETERNAL LIFE. THE
STORY MUST BE TOLD STARTING IN JERUSALEM WHERE HE WAS CRUCIFIED AND
GOING INTO ALL THE WORLD. THIS GIFT OF ETERNAL LIFE WAS NOT JUST FOR ONE
TOWN, OR ONE CITY OR ONE CLASS OF PEOPLE, IT WAS FOR ALL WHO WOULD BELIEVE.
“THEN HE OPENED THEIR UNDERSTANDING, THAT THEY MIGHT UNDERSTAND THE
SCRIPTURES. AND SAID UNTO THEM, THUS IT IS WRITTEN, AND THUS IT BEHOOVED CHRIST
TO SUFFER, AND TO RISE FROM THE DEAD THE THIRD DAY: AND THAT REPENTANCE AND
REMISSION OF SINS SHOULD BE PREACHED IN HIS NAME AMONG ALL NATIONS, BEGINNING IN
JERUSALEM.” LUKE 24:45-47
“LET NOT YOUR HEART BE TROUBLED: YE BELIEVE IN GOD, BELIEVE ALSO IN ME.
IN MY FATHER’S HOUSE OF MANY MANSIONS: IF IT WERE NOT SO, I WOULD HAVE TOLD YOU.
I GO TO PREPARE A PLACE FOR YOU. AND IF I GO AND PREPARE A PLACE FOR YOU, I WILL
COME AGAIN, AND RECEIVE YOU UNTO MYSELF; THAT WHERE I AM, THERE YE MAY BE ALSO.
AND WHITHER I GO YE KNOW, AND THE WAY YE KNOW.” JOHN 14:1-4
JESUS KNEW THE TASK THAT LAY AHEAD FOR THE DISCIPLES AND ALL THOSE WHO
WOULD FOLLOW THEM SPREADING THE GOSPEL THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. HE KNEW
THEY NOR WE COULD NOT STAND UP UNDER THE PRESSURE OF THE EVIL ONE.
THE ONE WHO WOULD NOT CEASE TEMPTING AND HARASSING THE CHILDREN
OF GOD. SO JESUS LEFT HIS HOLY SPIRIT TO LEAD, GUIDE, DIRECT, EMPOWER, EQUIP,
AND COMFORT HIS CHILDREN.
“THESE THINGS HAVE I SPOKEN TO YOU, BEING YET PRESENT WITH YOU. BUT THE
COMFORTER, WHICH IS THE HOLY GHOST, WHOM THE FATHER WILL SEND IN MY
NAME, HE SHALL TEACH TEACH YOU ALL THINGS, AND BRING TO YOUR
REMEMBRANCE, WHATSOEVER I HAVE SAID UNTO YOU. PEACE I LEAVE WITH
YOU, MY PEACE I GIVE UNTO YOU: NOT AS THE WORLD GIVETH, GIVE I
UNTO YOU. LET NOT YOUR HEART BE TROUBLED, NEITHER LET IT BE AFRAID.”
JOHN 14:25-27
“HOWBEIT WHEN HE, THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH, IS COME, HE WILL GUIDE YOU
INTO ALL TRUTH: FOR HE SHALL NOT SPEAK OF HIMSELF; BUT WHATSOEVER
HE SHALL HEAR, THAT SHALL HE SPEAK: AND HE WILL SHOW YOU THINGS
TO COME. HE WILL GLORIFY ME: FOR HE SHALL RECEIVE OF MINE AND SHOW IT
UNTO YOU. ALL THINGS THAT THE FATHER HATH ARE MINE: THEREFORE
SAID I, THAT HE SHALL TAKE OF MINE AND SHOW IT UNTO YOU.” JOHN 16:13-15
HOW DID THEY KNOW WHERE HE WAS GOING AND HOW TO GET THERE? HE HAD
GIVEN THEM INSTRUCTIONS WHILE HE WAS ON EARTH. THEY BELIEVED, THEREFORE THEY
HAD A HOPE. THIS IS TRUE FOR ALL WHO BELIEVE.
“HE THAT BELIEVETH ON THE SON HATH EVERLASTING LIFE: AND HE THAT BELIEVETH
NOT THE SON SHALL NOT SEE LIFE; BUT THE WRATH OF GOD ABIDETH ON HIM.” JOHN 3:36
“THEN ANSWERED JESUS AND SAID UNTO THEM, VERILY, VERILY, I SAY UNTO YOU, THE SON
CAN DO NOTHING OF HIMSELF, BUT WHAT HE SEETH THE FATHER DO; FOR WHAT THINGS
SOEVER HE DOETH, DOETH THE SON LIKEWISE. FOR THE FATHER LOVETH THE SON, AND
SHOWETH HIM ALL THINGS THAT HIMSELF DOETH: AND HE WILL SHOW HIM GREATER WORKS
THAN THESE, THAT YE MAY MARVEL. FOR AS THE FATHER RAISETH UP THE DEAD, AND
QUICKENETH THEM EVEN SO THE SON QUICKENETH WHOM HE WILL. FOR THE FATHER
JUDGETH NOT MAN, BUT HATH COMMITTED ALL JUDGMENT UNTO THE SON: THAT ALL MEN
SHOULD HONOUR THE SON, EVEN AS THEY HONOUR THE FATHER. HE THAT HONOURETH NOT
THE SON HONOURETH NOT THE FATHER WHICH HATH SENT HIM. VERILY, VERILY, I SAY
UNTO YOU, HE THAT HEARETH MY WORD, AND BELIEVETH ON HIM THAT SENT ME, HATH
EVERLASTING LIFE, AND SHALL NOT COME INTO CONDEMNATION; BUT IS PASSED FROM
DEATH UNTO LIFE. VERILY, VERILY, I SAY UNTO YOU, THE HOUR IS COMING, AND NOW IS
WHEN THE DEAD SHALL HEAR THE VOICE OF THE SON OF GOD: AND THEY THAT HEAR
SHALL LIVE. FOR AS THE FATHER HATH LIFE IN HIMSELF; SO HATH HE GIVEN TO THE SON TO
HAVE LIFE IN HIMSELF; AND HATH GIVEN HIM AUTHORITY TO EXECUTE JUDGMENT ALSO,
BECAUSE HE IS THE SON OF MAN.” JOHN 5: 19-27
JESUS HAS GIVEN US MANY TRUTHS HERE. FIRST; HE HAS TOLD US HE CANNOT DO
ANYTHING ASIDE FROM THE FATHER. SECOND; HE HAS TOLD US BECAUSE THE FATHER
LOVES HIM, THE SON CAN DO ALL THE FATHER DOES, EVEN TO RAISING THE
DEAD. THIRD; HE HAS TOLD US THE FATHER DOES NOT JUDGE, THAT HE HAS
COMMITTED THAT TO THE SON. FOURTH; HE HAS TOLD US THE FATHER HONOURS THE SON.
FIFTH; HE HAS TOLD US IF YOU BELIEVE ON THE FATHER, YOU WILL BELIEVE
ON THE SON. SIXTH; HE HAS TOLD US IF WE BELIEVE ON THE SON WE WILL NOT
COME UNDER CONDEMNATION. SEVENTH; HE HAS TOLD US ,”HE THAT HEARETH MY
WORD AND BELIEVETH ON HIM THAT SENT ME HATH EVERLASTING LIFE”.
“THOMAS SAITH UNTO HIM, LORD, WE KNOW NOT WHITHER THOU GOEST; AND HOW
CAN WE KNOW THE WAY? JESUS SAITH UNTO HIM, I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE:
NO MAN COMETH UNTO THE FATHER, BUT BY ME. IF YE HAD KNOWN ME, YE SHOULD
HAVE KNOWN MY FATHER ALSO: AND FROM HENCEFORTH YE KNOW HIM, AND
HAVE SEEN HIM.” JOHN 14:5-7
THE LOVE GOD HAS FOR THE SON, IS NOT JUST SHOWERED ON THE SON ONLY.
THE LOVE GOD THE SON HAS FOR THE FATHER DOES NOT STOP THERE. BE BLESSED AS
YOU READ THESE VERSES.
“NEITHER PRAY I FOR THESE ALONE, BUT FOR THEM ALSO WHICH SHALL BELIEVE
ON ME THROUGH THEIR WORD; THAT THEY ALL MAY BE ONE; AS THOU, FATHER,
ART IN ME, AND I IN THEE, THAT THEY ALSO MAY BE ONE IN US: THAT THE WORLD
MAY BELIEVE THAT THOU HAST SENT ME. AND THE GLORY WHICH THOU GAVEST
ME I HAVE GIVEN THEM; THAT THEY MAY BE ONE, EVEN AS WE ARE ONE: I
IN THEM, AND THOU IN ME, THAT THEY MAY BE MADE PERFECT IN ONE; AND
THAT THE WORLD MAY KNOW THAT THOU HAST SENT ME, AND HAST
LOVED THEM, AS THOU HAST LOVED LOVE ME. FATHER, I WILL THAT THEY ALSO,
WHOM THOU HAST GIVEN ME BE WITH WHERE I AM; THAT THEY MAY BEHOLD
MY GLORY, WHICH THOU HAST GIVEN ME: FOR THOU LOVEST ME BEFORE
THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD..” JOHN 17:20-24
AS YOU READ THIS PRAYER JESUS PRAYED, BEFORE HE WAS CRUCIFIED AND
AROSE FROM THE DEAD, COULD YOU NOT FEEL THE LOVE HE HAD FOR THOSE
WHO WOULD BELIEVE ON HIS NAME. EVEN THOUGH WE WERE NOT EVEN
BORN HE WAS PRAYING FOR US. HE WAS PRAYING FOR US TO KNOW HIS LOVE
AND THE LOVE OF GOD THE FATHER. IF THAT DOESN’T GIVE YOU HOPE, I
DON’T KNOW WHAT WILL. PLEASE READ THE WHOLE CHAPTER.
THE BIBLE IS THE BOOK ABOVE ALL BOOKS. IT GIVES THE CREATION STORY, IT DOES
NOT LEAVE OUT THE SINFULNESS OF MAN. BUT IT GIVES THE STORY OF A LOVE SO
REDEEMING OUR FINITE MINDS CANNOT COMPREHEND. AND ABOVE ALL THIS, IT GIVES
US A FUTURE HOPE. THIS HOPE TELLS OF A PLACE GOD’S CHILDREN WILL GO TO WHEN
THEY DIE. THIS PLACE WILL BE A PLACE OF WORSHIP, A PLACE OF HOLINESS, A PLACE OF
INDESCRIBLE BEAUTY, A PLACE WHERE SIN CAN NEVER EXIST AND A PLACE WHERE
ALL DISEASES, HEARTACHES, AND SORROWS ARE DENIED ENTRY. THIS IS A HOPE
BEYOND ANY COMPARISON TO ANYTHING. THE BIBLE GIVES A DESCRIPTION OF OUR
HEAVENLY HOME, THAT OUR MINDS CANNOT FATHOM AND IT IS ALL AVAILABLE WHEN ONE
BELIEVES AND ACCEPTS THE LORD JESUS CHRIST AS THEIR SAVIOUR. WHEN THIS HAPPENS,
THERE MUST BE REPENTANCE OR TURNING AWAY FROM OUR PAST SINS, AND BELIEVING GOD
WILL ENABLE US TO DEAL WITH AND PUT TO DEATH OUR FUTURE SINS AND FAILURES.
HE IS TRULY A GOD OF LOVE.
SO MANY PEOPLE CANNOT BELIEVE THESE TRUTHS BECAUSE THEY HAVE NEVER KNOWN
UNCONDITIONAL LOVE. MOST OF US LOVE AFTER WE ARE SHOWN LOVE. GOD LOVES BEFORE
HE IS SHOWN LOVE. HE DOES NOT GAGE HOW MUCH HE LOVES US BY HOW MUCH WE LOVE
HIM OR DO FOR HIM. HE GIVES HIS LOVE TO US WHETHER WE LOVE HIM OR NOT. THIS IS
IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE HUMAN MIND TO COMPREHEND, THAT IS WHY WE HAVE TO ACCEPT
THIS LOVE GIFT ON FAITH. FAITH WILL SIT IN A CHAIR WITHOUT BEING ASSURED THAT CHAIR
WILL HOLD THEM UP. FAITH IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST WILL HOLD US UP AND CARRY
US FOR ALL ETERNITY. I CANNOT SHARE WITH YOU THE JOY AND HOPE WITHOUT ALSO
ISSUING A WARNING OF COMING JUDGMENT UPON THOSE WHO DO NOT BELIEVE ON THE
LORD JESUS CHRIST. SOME SAY, I BELIEVE IN GOD, BUT I DO NOT BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST.
THIS CANNOT BE, FOR IF YOU READ AGAIN JOHN 5:19-27, YOU WILL KNOW THERE IS ONLY
ONE WAY TO GOD AND THAT IS THROUGH HIS SON. WORK CANNOT GET YOU THERE, MONEY
WILL NOT GET YOU THERE, NOTORIETY CANNOT GET YOU THERE, THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY,
AND THAT IS THROUGH JESUS CHRIST/MESSIAH. IF YOU CHOOSE TO SAY NO TO THIS
WONDERFUL GIFT OF SALVATION, THERE IS ONLY ONE ALTERNATIVE. YOU WILL NOT
FLOAT IN SPACE, YOU WILL NOT TURN INTO A CAT, RAT, BEETLE, DOG OR MONKEY OR ANY
OTHER CREATION……..ONLY ONE WAY.
“AND THE DEVIL THAT DECEIVED THEM WAS CAST INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE AND
BRIMSTONE, WHERE THE BEAST AND THE FALSE PROPHET ARE, AND SHALL BE TORMENTED
DAY AND NIGHT FOR EVER AND EVER. AND I SAW A GREAT WHITE THRONE,
AND HIM THAT SAT ON IT FROM WHOSE FACE THE EARTH AND THE HEAVEN FLED AWAY;
AND THERE WAS FOUND NO PLACE FOR THEM. AND I SAW THE DEAD, SMALL AND GREAT,
STAND BEFORE GOD, AND THE BOOKS WERE OPENED; AND ANOTHER BOOK WAS OPENED,
WHICH IS THE BOOK OF LIFE: AND THE DEAD WERE JUDGED OUT OF THOSE THINGS WHICH WERE
WRITTEN IN THE BOOKS, ACCORDING TO THEIR WORKS. AND THE SEA GAVE UP THE DEAD
WHICH WERE IN IT; AND DEATH AND HELL DELIVERED UP THE DEAD WHICH WERE IN THEM:
AND THEY WERE JUDGED EVERY MAN ACCORDING TO THEIR WORKS, AND DEATH AND
HELL WERE CAST INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE. THIS IS THE SECOND DEATH. AND WHOSOEVER
WAS NOT FOUND WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF LIFE WAS CAST INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE.”
REV. 20:10-15
THERE IS A NEW DAY COMING
“AND I SAW A NEW HEAVEN AND A NEW EARTH: FOR THE FIRST HEAVEN AND
THE FIRST EARTH WERE PASSED AWAY; AND THERE WAS NO MORE SEA. AND I
JOHN SAW THE HOLY CITY, NEW JERUSALEM, COMING DOWN FROM GOD OUT OF
HEAVEN, PREPARED AS A BRIDE ADORNED FOR HER HUSBAND. AND I
HEARD A GREAT VOICE OUT OF HEAVEN SAYING, BEHOLD, THE TABERNACLE
OF GOD IS WITH MEN, AND HE WILL DWELL WITH THEM, AND THEY SHALL
BE HIS PEOPLE, AND GOD HIMSELF SHALL BE WITH THEM, AND BE THEIR GOD.
AND GOD SHALL WIPE AWAY ALL TEARS FROM THEIR EYES; AND THERE SHALL
BE NO MORE DEATH, NEITHER SORROW, NOR CRYING, NEITHER SHALL THERE
BE ANY MORE PAIN: FOR THE FORMER THINGS ARE PASSED AWAY. AND HE
THAT SAT UPON THE THRONE SAID, BEHOLD, I MAKE ALL THINGS NEW. AND
HE SAID UNTO ME, WRITE: FOR THESE WORDS ARE TRUE AND FAITHFUL. AND
HE SAID UNTO ME, IT IS DONE. I AM ALPHA AND OMEGA, THE BEGINNING
AND THE END. I WILL GIVE UNTO HIM THAT IS ATHIRST OF THE FOUNTAIN
OF THE WATER OF LIFE FREELY. HE THAT OVERCOMETH SHALL INHERIT ALL
THINGS; AND I WILL BE HIS GOD, AND HE SHALL BE MY SON.” REV. 21:1-7
ALL THOSE WHO CLAIM SUCH HOPE ARE CHILDREN OF THE KING
THEY HAVE LAID THEIR BURDENS DOWN, AND NOW TO HIM THEY SING.
OH, LONELY ONE FULL OF DESPAIR. HE IS THERE FOR YOU TOO
I WAS ONCE WHERE YOU ARE
AND HE GAVE ME A LIFE ANEW.
I NOW DESIRE THIS TRUTH TO BE SO REAL IN YOU
THAT YOU WILL CLAIM IT FOR YOUR OWN
AND HAVE A LIFE BRAND NEW NEAR HIS THRONE..
THEN ONE DAY, I WILL SEE YOU THERE
NEXT TO THE KING OF KINGS
AND I WILL KNOW YOU AND LOVE YOU
AND WE WILL JOIN THE OTHERS AND SING.
FATHER, I PRAY FOR ALL THOSE WHO READ THIS, TO STUDY IT, SO IT MAY
BECOME A PART OF THEIR VERY HEART. FATHER, YOU PROMISED YOUR
WORDS WOULD NOT COME BACK VOID AND I AM CLAIMING THAT PROMISE
ON BEHALF OF ALL THOSE WHO READ THIS. PLEASE BRING THEM TO
YOUR THRONE OF GRACE IN ANSWER TO MY PRAYER THAT THEY
MAY KNOW YOUR LOVE, AND REPENT OF THEIR SINS AND BELIEVE
IN THEIR HEARTS THE TRUTH OF THE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON
OF GOD. IN JESUS NAME. AMEN
DOROTHY CROUT BRYANT
FOOT NOTE: I HAVE NEVER HAD MORE TROUBLE WRITING AN ARTICLE AND
GETTING IT TRANSPOSED AS THIS ONE. I ALMOST GAVE UP, I WAS SO
DISCOURAGED. EACH TIME I UPDATED IT, IT TOTALLY SCRAMBLED
THE SENTENCES. I USUALLY WRITE MY WORK AND THEN POST IT
BUT THIS I DID ON THE COMPUTER. I KNEW GOD HAD GIVEN IT TO ME
AND WANTED TO GIVE IT TO OTHERS, BUT I DID NOT KNOW HOW. I
SPENT OVER TWENTY HOURS SPACING IT CORRECTLY AND EDITING IT.
THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE WRITING TIME. BUT THIS IS NOT ABOUT
ME. IT IS ABOUT MY LORD AND SAVIOUR, WHOM I SERVE.
I WANTED NOTHING TO INTERFERE WITH THE MESSAGE, AS IT IS
IMPERATIVE THAT IT BE UNDERSTOOD, IT IS A SPECIAL AND
WONDERFUL TRUTH FROM THE HOLY WORD OF GOD. I FEEL THERE
IS SOMEONE IT IS ESPECIALLY MEANT FOR. IF YOU FEEL THAT IT IS
YOU, PLEASE LET ME KNOW. PLEASE PRAY FOR ME AS I CONTINUE
TO WRITE AND PUT ON MY WEB SITE THINGS I HAVE ALREADY WRITTEN.
I COVET YOUR PRAYERS FOR PROTECTION FOR THIS WEB SITE AND
THAT GOD WOULD USE IT MIGHTILY FOR HIS GLORY AND MANY
WOULD COME TO A SAVING KNOWLEDGE OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.
PLEASE FORGIVE ANY ERRORS AND DON’T LET IMPERFECTION EVER
INTERFERE WITH YOUR SEEKING AND BELIEVING THE TRUTH.
GOD BLESS YOU.
Dorothy Crout Bryant
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