Life – Judy in the Sky

Read Deuteronomy 30 – Repentance and Forgiveness
God sees all of time at once. He is outside of time. When he sees a newborn baby, he also sees her going to prom, having her own babies, aging, walking with a cane, and dying. It is a big idea for us, and I want you to hold onto that as you think about our chapter.
God knows Israel will stray and he is already offering restoration. Verse one speaks of a future exile… isn’t that incredible? They are just entering the Promised Land and God leaves this word for the future generations who mess up. God says if they repent and obey, he will restore them. (:2)
Do you know this has already happened? God’s Word is incredible! It happened when they were brought back from Babylonian captivity – It’s recorded in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah in the Old Testament. And in our time it happened when Israel was restored as a nation in 1948! “The LORD your God will return you to the land that belonged to your ancestors, and you will possess that land again. Then he will make you even more prosperous and numerous than your ancestors!”
In 2019, I traveled to Israel. I saw this first hand. But there’s more to come. God says he will change their hearts so that they love him with all their heart and soul so they may live. (:6) Remember, God is outside of time. Beloved, we live in such an exciting time to see these things become reality. Keep watching!
God says his instructions are not too hard for them. He put them right in their hearts so they can obey. (:11-15) This is the choice between life and death, and the LORD longs for them to choose life. (:19) And this all goes back to the promise God made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob – the LORD God Almighty keeps his promises! (:20)

Read John 14 – The way. The truth. The life. – Those are such pure and powerful words, and John 14 has an abundance of them.

Jesus gives such a peaceful picture of eternity in these Scriptures. You may recognize them from memorial services, but why wait for a moment of grief to set your mind on heaven(14:1-4)?

And Jesus also gives hope for today – we will do works like Jesus, and He will give us what we ask for in his name(:12-14). In verse :16 the apostles (and eventually us) learn about the Holy Spirit, the Advocate who will help us and be with us forever.

Later, a great question is asked: why doesn’t everyone know Jesus? It is a tragedy that some people chose disobedience over love (:22-24).

Beloved, imagine how mind blowing it must have been to keep up with all Jesus was explaining! That’s one reason the Holy Spirit is so essential to believers (:26). Let’s hold on to verse 14:27, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not be afraid.”🕊