We've come this far O Lord, Please take our hand and lead us home!

We’ve come this far O Lord, Please take our hand and lead us home!

This is not to taste death at this moment, but our destiny set for each of us is to arrive at our life-welcoming residence with you and the saints who’ve gone before us.

If we were to stop for just a moment and consider what was promised from the first fall of mankind and see what awaits us, through the passion of Christ, we would quickly pull away from the many who see this as just a fast trip to nowhere.  Heaven is real; and so is hell!

“My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me.  I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish.  No one can take them out of my hand.”  (Jn 10: 27 - 28).

“Like a shepherd he feeds his flock; in his arms he gathers the lambs, Carrying them in his bosom, and leading the ewes with care.”   (Is 40: 11).  

The Lord, our Savior, the shepherd of our souls, Christ has come to take our hand and walk beside us leading us home, a home of eternal protection free from all that will bring our souls down.  

“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains upon him.”  (Jn 3: 36).  This is the truth spoken by Jesus, the second person of the HolyTrinity;  Right from the mouth of God himself.  Here is where far too many will not believe because this proclamation is not covered in sexual and other enticements that the world promises.  What lies ahead for those who believe will bathe in the grace of eternal happiness.  Those who do not believe will bathe in the fires of hell with banishment from God and heavenly paradise, for all eternity.

Speculation of what might be ahead for all of mankind can become confusing as well as misleading.  “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and am here.  

 I did not come on my own, but he sent me .  Why do you not understand what I am saying?  Because you cannot bear to hear my word.  You belong to your father the devil and you willingly carry out your father’s desires.  He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand the truth, because there is no truth in him.  When he tells a lie, he speaks in character, because he is a liar and the father of lies.  But because I speak the truth, you do not believe me.  Can any of you charge me with sin?  If I am telling the truth, why do you not believe me?   Whoever belongs to God hears the words of God; for this reason you do not listen, because you do not belong to God.”  (Jn 8: 42 - 47).  These words are the same as a  judge pronouncing a scathing sentence on a convicted criminal.  Hear them and take heed; do you want them as your final pronouncement or “Come, you who are blessed by my Father.  Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”  (Mt 25: 34).  

These words free us from the probability of damnation to the kingdom of saints and angels for all eternity.

Ralph B. Hathaway