Nwsltr-092610-Intersection of Life and Death
The Watchman Newsletters, hard hitting expose, and biblical. This week“on the road you travel daily, there is an intersection. It is called Life and Death”

By the Watchman
Dana G Smith
Keywords: Intersection, life, death, appointed, judgment, God, Jesus Christ, Yeshua, Massiach, america, sins, rebellion, watchman, eternity
Words:3719

Hebrews 9:28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

The sun was a bright one this morning and the air crisp. I hiked the workout bag back onto my shoulder as I headed to the car. “Thank you Lord for this day of mercy” I said out loud as I walked across the parking lot. I rolled down the window, put on some music as I waited for my companion to arrive. While I did so, the lot just off where the car was parked revealed golden and dry branches of various growth. They stood there, bending over slightly because of the winds we get here. As I surveyed the scene, indeed they were sentinels as to the changing of the gaurd of seasons.

The mountain stood before me as another beacon of the times we now were in. The year of 2010 is not over, but in all, nothing surprising occurred. More of what we had been warning about kept going on and the current administrations attempts to bring more socialized ways to America had been passed in the healthcare legislation. Although the dem’s succeeded and in so doing brought to forefront to many Americans how different this current sitting President actually was. The information guru’s at the White House kept churning out their doctrines and in the midst of it tried to convince Americans that the economy was doing fine and all was well in their world. The trouble was then and today, unemployment is not much better, banks on the troubled list amount to just under 900, and many experts outside of the White House see the economy world wide, but especially in America headed for a deep abyss.

Life is what America had always been about. It seemed at times to be in the dark grip of trouble during the past. She had known depression, bankruptcies, unemployment, war, death, and much more. But in it all, her citizenry had managed to pull together and bring the nation of freedom out of the slump. Yet in it all, life was what America had been about. Even today, that four letter word is what many Americans pursue. Even so, as they do, the way they go about it has been affected by current troubles. It is hard to pursue life, liberty, and happiness if your unemployed or your children are in the ongoing war that never ends. It is hard to find peace if all you see is the world in chaos and trouble. Yet for many Americans, the things they pursue, literally allows them to bury their heads in the sands of this nations many facets of pleasure. This is the current battle cry of America and many nations. That is pleasure and fun. So much so, it means everything. Paul had something to say on this in Timothy. Paul said that the people of these “last days” would face “perilous times” then after a litany of words that described a society that was totally devoid of goodness, he went on to say these people in this society would be “lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God.” They would pursue all manner of pleasures and lusts no matter what anyone or any God would say about it. The history books are replete with nations and peoples who thought this way, i.e. ‘Sodom, Gomorrah, Nineveh, Israel, Judah, Babylon, Rome and others’.

2 Timothy 3:1  ¶This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2  For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3  Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4  Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

As I drove this morning heading home, I came to an intersection. As the car sat idling, I waited for the many cars and trucks to pass by so I could enter the busy four lane highway before me. As I watched these cars and the people in them you could see that they were busy in their own worlds heading for their own little destination. They had jobs and/or some other important engagement to get to. For them, at this moment, it was the only thing on their mind. Slowly the traffic cleared then one last car turned off onto the road I was on and a woman in an Suv drove by.  I watched as she turned and drove on. Her medium brown hair made up and shining in the morning light. She gripped the steering wheel as if it was going to get away and went on by me. She never looked to the right or left, and had a fixed vision on what lay ahead of her. The car went on by me as I watched her. It was then, I heard the Spirit speak to me. The morning light reflected on the hood of my car. There was no traffic and the quietness of the morning was evident. There I was, alone, and the phrase was spoken clearly to me, “the Intersection of Life and Death”. At that moment, at that instant, I had received what I had been seeking the Lord for.  I go through this every week.

It was that on which I was to write for Sunday’s newsletter.  Life and Death, but as I thought just for a moment there, it seemed like an eternity. Yet, I knew this woman was in her Life, she was busy, probably had family, and many who loved her. But does she know where she is headed? Does she know that the intersection will be before her someday. That place, this road called life, many are on it right now. They follow this road and it is always before them. They cannot escape it unless they divert the life God gave them. They cannot turn off this road until the intersection is there. I read daily and it really hits me when I work on our Warn Radio programs, that is, this intersection where life and death cross. You see, they don’t meet. They are strangers, both have different jobs, occupations if you will. One takes from the living and brings them to a plane of none physical existence. This is the place, we as humans have never transferred to go and come back again. That is, on a continued basis. There are those who have died and come back, but these people are not who I am talking about. Because in that instance of life and death, it is a moment between the soul of man and the God who made them.

This woman will cross the ‘intersection of life and death’ one day. When she does it will affect all who have known her. The God whom we serve, that is, if you serve him, is full of mercy and compassion. It is he who is the God of all Souls, they belong to him. As the Prophet Ezekiel writes saying of the LORD which says this “Behold, all souls are mine.” This statement alone should make people understand they have one to answer too. But this is not enough for them. Further Ezekiel writes of the LORD which says further “the soul that sinneth it shall die.”

Ezekiel 18:4  Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.

Furthermore, this intersection of death is found by many daily. It never ends, it never rests, and it does not have mercy. Life on the other hand, shows no mercy either. We think it does, but it does not. It can make us think it provides mercy and health. But both of these things come not from Life nor from the men of the worlds wisdom who profess such mercy and health. There is only one source, one in whom is true mercy and in him is life. It is the Father, the LORD God of all who said, that the “soul that sinneth it shall die.” They shall die physically which is what the road of death does, and the soul of that body, that which God made will face then this God who shall judge according to his righteous judgment.  God is no respecter of persons. If a person sows to the flesh, that flesh will reap corruption. If that person does not take care of his soul, that soul shall die. This is the road that is before all people today. One of life, which one day shall meet death. When death appears, that soul shall meet that uncertain appointment in a time where time is no more. They shall be alive, but yet dead, awake but as if in a dream. They will have no power where to walk or place themselves in this world, for this is that place where God dwells. He encompasses it all, i.e. ‘time, space, dimension, past, present, future, and all things that exist’. They all exist and are held together in him.  It is a place where the true frailty of mans nature is revealed. All his cockiness, pride, wicked ways, and rebellion will be revealed. Nothing can be hidden in this place. It is all in the open. As such, all deeds you have done in this life will be taken and laid before God in his righteousness. Every thought, deed, word, and thing you have done or not done shall be revealed.  It is in that moment in eternity before a holy God that the Apostle Paul wrote this to reveal what it is like:

2 Corinthians 5:11  Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.

Yes, terror, that is what men and women will experience when they are before this God! That is, many of them. These are those who have proudly gone their own ways before God and did not consider what he has done to deliver them from his wrath. A Godly and righteous wrath that says, “the soul that sinneth, it shall die.” It has set the penalty, it is death. God has also set the road map saying “It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.”

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

You don’t believe in God you say, well you will! You don’t think there is a hell, better re-think that because when you get there, you will know it exists. You don’t think that sodomy is wrong, or that fornication is against the Lord, and that iniquity is not all that bad. Further you see nothing wrong with abortion.  You believe you  are your own God and say in your heart “what need do you have of this other God whom you cannot see”! You have made it through life quite well, no thanks to this God whom you cannot see or touch, so in your heart, he doesn’t exist. If he does, he is inept and off somewhere in eternity playing golf.  Further, as with many other people, you can think, reason, and solve problems. We can do this ourselves you say, after all your religious ways bring trouble.  Yes, these are what people believe and follow on their road in life. All of these are before them as they travel and one day these fallacies will fall headlong into the abyss of eternity. When they do, you will drop right along with them and will be facing this God.

But you see God knows your frame, that your dust! He knows that you are as a vapor, as grass or flowers that are here today and gone tomorrow. Even if you lived to be 1000 years old, it is still a drop in the bucket of the waters of the eternal grace of God and his gift of life with him. Although God is terror to the wicked, yet he is full of ‘mercy and grace’. He loveth all people.

Psalms 103:14  For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.
15  As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.
16  For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.
17  But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children;
18  To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them

Moreover, as he loves them, so he also has provided for them. The Apostle Paul in his Mars hill speech spoke to the men gathered there which discussed the wisdom of the day saying that God “commandeth all men everywhere to repent.” The reason Paul said this, is that God “had appointed a day in which he judge the world in righteousness.” God would judge the world for their rebellion and sin or for their righteousness. The result would be either salvation or death.

Acts 17:30  And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
31  Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead

That is why, this God sent his only begotten Son to bear the sins of many. As Hebrews says “Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many.” This is the “intersection of life and death.” On this intersection is the cross that bore the ‘sinless Passover lamb’, the Son of God. Just as God Passed over the sins of the Israelites who applied the blood and followed his word of instructions so he would Passover the sins of all who applied the blood of the “Passover Lamb.” In applying it, we receive him.  Daily people are driving right pass the cross and are so caught up in their lives and where they are headed, they don’t really see where it will take them!

Hebrews 9:28  So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

Scripture tells us in John that “as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe [trust in, rely upon, cling too] on his name.” These would be people who would be born again,  not by the will of man, nor by mans wisdom, and certainly not with mere head knowledge. They would be ‘born again’ by the power of God.  As our Lord walked on this earth, the devils would cry out speaking who he was, but he bade them to be quiet.  You see the devils not only believed who he was, but they knew he was God. They believed and they were not saved! It takes more than mere head belief to access this. It takes a heart and a soul that cries out. Therefore, it is a true born into the Lord God experience, brought about by the Lord God himself. It does not come by man nor mans wisdom!

John 1:11  He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
12  But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
13  Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
14  And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

The road of life is filled today and in America we as always continue to be pre-occupied. We have religious ways, thoughts, and ideas. But many  have not a clue as to what I am speaking about. Jesus put it bluntly when he said “ye shall die in your sins; for if ye believe [trust in, cling too, rely upon] not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.”

John 8:24  I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.

America has a hard time thinking that she is in danger just as Israel of old was. Or for that matter as was Nineveh, Rome, or other nations that ceased to exist. We trust in our science, our government, doctors, lawyers, war machine, technology, and most important ourselves to get us through. We take not one thought of how we act before God. If we did, we would not do the things we continue to do and foster in this nation. We are destroying all the foundations of liberty, life, and of God. The churches are floundering in materialism and faithlessness. They are as devils who believe God exists, but that is the extent of it. They continue in their own ways and keep the religious aspect, all the while they have not a clue what is about to befall them.

America herself is on this road, one that all nations take. The road they are on will cross one day at the intersection of “life and death.” Many will say then, “LORD, LORD”, but he will say, “I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” The point here our Lord is saying, belief with obedience, for he says “  Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.”

Matthew 7:22  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
24  Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
25  And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
26  And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
27  And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

The road you walk today will lead you as it will lead all people to the ‘intersection of life and death’. Jesus Christ has already been there and triumphed over it. Take note of this and apply it, for God raised him from the dead. He is at the right hand of the Father and coming back again soon. It is he who triumphed over all principalities and powers! It is he who made a way for all men to find this true life in God through Christ Jesus.  The trouble is, many will never find it  let alone believe it, and surely never follow it! If you know this God our Father and his Son Jesus [Yeshua] Christ [Massiach], then thank God for this gift and walk in him. As Paul wrote the Colossians, “rooted and built up on him, stablished in the faith.” For the pathway, this road you walk will surely find the “intersection of life and death.” It is at this point in our life, being appointed unto death, we would of surely found death if it had not of been for our Lord Yeshua ha Massiach, Jesus Christ, the only Begotten Son of God!

Hebrews 9:28  So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

2 Peter 3:14  Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

Colossians 2:6  As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
7  Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
8  Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
9  For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
10  And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
11  In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
12  Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
13  ¶And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
14  Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
15  And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

In closing, be comforted in these verses that you who know him, keep yourself in him. However, if you do not know him, then take this “Passover Lamb” and apply the blood, so God will Passover your sins and bring you into his Kingdom.

Shalom, be found in him,
The Watchman
Dana G Smith
Is 21:6