Many Christians hope they'll live forever in heaven, but
aren't sure.
The Bible says we can be certain, because eternal life begins
the moment we believe.
1) Not in the distant future.
2) Salvation is not something we must wait for, but a present
possession and joy.
3) Past tense - we HAVE crossed from death to life.
Being alive in Christ should give us a new perspective on life.
Festo Kivengere is a Christian bishop in Uganda, Africa, a
country that was terrorized by dictator Idi Amin.
In 1973 three men in his church were executed by firing squad.
Festo told of what happened.
"People were commanded to come to the stadium and witness the
execution.
Death permeated the air as a silent crowd of 3,000 watched.
I had permission from the authorities to speak to the men before
they died, and two of my fellow ministers were with me.
They brought the men in a truck and unloaded them.
They were handcuffed and their feet were chained.
The firing squad stood at attention.
As we walked onto the center of the stadium, I was wondering what
to say.
How do you give the gospel to doomed men who are probably
seething with rage?
We approached them from behind, and as they turned to look at us,
what a sight!
Their faces were all alight with an unmistakable glow and radiance.
Before we could say anything, one of them burst out:
"Bishop, thank you for coming!
I wanted to tell you.
The day I was arrested, in my prison cell, I asked the Lord Jesus
to come into my heart.
He came in and forgave me all my sins!
Heaven is now open, and there is nothing between me and my God!
Please tell my wife and children that I am going to be with Jesus.
Ask them to accept him into their lives as I did."
The other two men told similar stories, excitedly raising their
hands, which rattled their handcuffs.
I felt that what I needed to do was to talk to the soldiers, not
to the condemned.
So I translated what the men had said into a language the
soldiers understood.
The military men were standing there with guns cocked and
bewilderment on their faces.
They were so dumbfounded that they forgot to put the hoods over
the men's faces!
The three faced the firing squad standing close together.
They looked toward the people and began to wave, handcuffs and all.
The people waved back.
Then shots were fired, and the three were with Jesus.
We stood in front of them, our own hearts throbbing with joy,
mingled with tears.
It was a day never to be forgotten.
Though dead, the men spoke loudly to all of Kegezi District and
beyond.
There was an upsurge of life in Christ, which challenges death
and defeats it.
The next Sunday, I was preaching to a huge crowd in the hometown
of one of the executed men.
Again, the feel of death was over the congregation.
But when I gave them the testimony of their man, and how he died,
there erupted a great song of praise to Jesus!
Many turned to the Lord there.
New life in Christ brings three new relationships. (William Barclay)
A. A new relationship with God.
1) Instead of a judge, he becomes our father.
2) Old sins are not held against us.
3) A special closeness and courage flows into our lives.
B. A new relationship with our other people.
1) Hatred should become love.
2) Selfishness should become service.
3) Bitterness should become forgiveness.
C. A new relationship with ourselves.
1) We are usually our own worst enemy.
a) Weakness becomes strength.
b) Tension becomes peace.
2) Inward change, both sudden and gradual.
a) Old habits conquered.
b) New way of thinking.
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