Last month while heading to the beach, I had what I think was a heat stroke. This was an I am Unsettling Unpleasant near-death experience.  It really shook me. It was not nearly dying that shook me. I’ve had several near death experiences. But it was the horrible unpleasantness of this experience.
 Is this whole experience Demanded a re-evaluation Or should I say a deeper examination of my my preparation for the the final moment of this life.

Of course lesson number 1 Is that Either way I will live..I know with all of my being in all of my heart that theTermination of this mortal life is just the beginning of life eternal, for me. (This Was as I will call it the Pauline Revelation. )
  This is validated by the Scripture verse:
Philippians 1:20-25 NLT For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die. 21 For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. 22 But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really don’t know which is better. 23 I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me. 24 But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live.

 So I am sure with Paul. That whether I stay in this mortal realm or depart, either way I will live.

 As I have prayed about this I realized that lesson number 2 is that God wants me to live The good Life Here and now.
 The hymn – God will take care of you!  It’s a simple piece of music that States the end up the independence truth. We can trust God in this life and the next. Jesus said:
• I have come that they may have life & that they may have it more abundantly. Jn. 10:10b NKJV

 The bigger promise and lesson number 3 Is that not only can we have a good life here but we can have = The Great life There.

 Whether it will be Jesus actually coming after believers hebelievers here. Or whether it will be it will be release of this mortal shell, into the eternal realms of glory. As another hymn says:  I’ll Fly Away!
 The Bible is filled with promises of heaven to the devoted follower of Christ. Assurance and reassurance is a huge theme in the New Testament!
 Consider the words of Jesus to the thief dying beside him on the cross. Luke 23:42-43 NLT Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” And Jesus replied, I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.” If Jesus could make this promise to the thief in the last moments of his life. Then certainly He can make that sure & steadfast promise to us, in the course of our life.  If we will completely turn to Him and humbly ask Him like that man did.

 Lesson number 4 is realizing that while Jesus was alive only on Earth that there there was a Prayer Jesus Refused to pray!
• “’I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. ‘ (John 17:15.)  Jesus Fowler’s wanted to leave the problems and difficulties of this life. But. But Jesus would not let them until they had faced and completed what they did what they were here to do. He would not pray for that prayer for them and He will not pray that prayer for us.
• This life matters!!!!  He intends for us to do what he has sent us here to do. And so until it is time, it is not time!!!

 Lesson number 5 is that in regards to the end of life we should learn a Total Absence of fear! The scripture tells us that perfect love casts out all fear.

 But as we face this unpleasant prospect of dying. The question is???• What if there’s… A bitter end….
2 Cor. 4:10 Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.
• The possibility of an unpleasant end to this flesh life.. really exists..  If we love Jesus, we may indeed pay a price in the suffering of our flesh. Like it or not. That is true gospel!
• Ecclesiastes 12: (AMP) 6-Earnestly remember your Creator before the silver cord [of life] is broken, or the golden bowl is crushed, or the pitcher at the fountain is shattered and the wheel at the cistern is crushed; 7 then the dust [out of which God made man’s body] will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.

 Death will be for the believer,
• A transition like the breaking of a seed. Is the Gossamer strange that ties to this life will come undone. And through this process, **A Price is Often Paid** Acts9:16 Is “suffering for his namesake” If you will study church history and other documents you will realize that most of the disciples in early New Testament followers literally paid with their lives, to be a follower of Christ.  Yes, so if we also are to literally be a follower of Christ, there is indeed a possibility that we will pay with our lives.  This is not popular. But it is true. Do you love Him? Then you must serve Him.   The price he paid must become the price that you are willing to pay. His Grace is free but it is never cheap!!!

 Last number 6. Is that we should have Ultimate Anticipation for
• Life after Life.  While you may literally have to face a tremendous price for Jesus if we love Him and serve Him. The scripture promises that death shall be swallowed up in victory.
• 2 Cor. 5:1 we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God Himself and not by human hands.
• The real Faith proposition sees beyond the end of this flesh…

 The last lesson, lesson number 7 is that This Most Wonderful of realization only comes with a Dynamic Confrontation with Christ.
2 Corinthians 12:2–4. ESV
2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. 3 And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— 4 and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter.
How do you experience your dynamic, supernatural experience of the assurance of Life Eternal = Life After Life ???
Each one of us must answer this for themselves! Christ has provided the ultimate assurance. Through love service, we must individually appropriate this eternal truth. As Paul to the Philippians has well advised: 2:12
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;

 It is settled forever in heaven. Paul was so committed from the beginning ofrom the beginning of his ministry that it was never in doubt for him. Whether he lived or whether he died either way it was in the Lord and for the Lord. Here on this Earth there were prices to pay and he was willing to pay them. And forever and for eternity he was going to be with his Lord and he knew this completely and surely. So even if there was a price to be paid at the end of his mortal life , he was willing to pay it. It was settled. And even so it must be settled in us. So the end of my unpleasant recent near death experience is that I have reevaluated an even more deeply determined. That though I might have to face an unpleasant experience in the end of this life. It will be a  A complete Union with my Lord is that which will follow And that I can have that insurance settled in my mind and heart even in that moment. And the way I do that is by having it settled now.

• Scripture verses:
Philippians 1:20-25 / New Living Translation

20 For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed,

but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past.

And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die.

21 For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better.

22 But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really don’t know which is better.

23 I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me.

24 But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live.

Last month while heading to the beach, I had what I think was a heat stroke. This was an Unsettling Unpleasant near-death experience.  It really shook me. It was not nearly dying that shook me. I’ve had several near death experiences. But it was the horrible unpleasantness of this experience.
 This whole experience Demanded a re-evaluation, Or should I say a deeper examination, of my preparation for the the final moment of this life.

Of course lesson number 1 Is that Either way I will live!..I know with all of my being in all of my heart that the Termination of this mortal life is just the beginning of life eternal, for me. (This Was as I will call it the Pauline Revelation. )
  This is validated by the Scripture verse:
Philippians 1:20-25 NLT For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die. 21 For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. 22 But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really don’t know which is better. 23 I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me. 24 But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live.

 So I am sure with Paul. That whether I stay in this mortal realm or depart, either way I will live!

 As I have prayed about this I realized that lesson number 2: is that God wants me to live The good Life Here and now.
 The hymn – “God will take care of you!”  Is a simple piece of music that States the deeper aspects of the whole truth in plain terms. We can trust God in this life and the next. Jesus said:
• I have come that they may have life & that they may have it more abundantly. Jn. 10:10b NKJV

 The bigger promise and lesson number 3 Is that not only can we have a good life here but we can have = The Great life There.

 Whether it will be Jesus actually coming after believers here. Or whether it will be it will be release of this mortal shell, into the eternal realms of glory at a natural end. Either way; As another hymn says:  I’ll Fly Away!
 The Bible is filled with promises of heaven to the devoted follower of Christ. Assurance and reassurance is a huge theme in the New Testament!
 Consider the words of Jesus to the thief dying beside him on the cross. Luke 23:42-43 NLT Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” And Jesus replied, I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.” If Jesus could make this promise to the thief in the last moments of his life. Then certainly He can make that sure & steadfast promise to us, in the normal course of our life.  If we will completely turn to Him and humbly ask Him like that desperate man did.

 Lesson number 4 is realizing that while Jesus was alive on Earth, that there there was 1 Prayer Jesus Refused to pray!
• “’I pray not that Thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. ‘ (John 17:15.)  Jesus Followers wanted to leave the problems and difficulties of this life.. But Jesus would not let them until they had faced and completed what they were here to do. He would not pray that prayer for them and He will not pray that prayer for us.
• This life matters!!!!  He intends for us to do what He sent us here to do. And so until it is time, it is not time!!!

 Lesson number 5 is that in regards to the end of life we should learn a Total Absence of fear! The scripture tells us that perfect love casts out all fear.

 But as we face this unpleasant prospect of dying. The problem question is??? • What if there’s… >>A bitter end<<….
2 Cor. 4:10 Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.
• So, The possibility of an unpleasant end to this flesh life.. really exists for all of us..  If we love Jesus, we may still indeed pay a price in the suffering of our flesh. Like it or not. That is true gospel!

• Ecclesiastes 12:6-7, (AMP), brings us to lesson number 5’s importance. – We should fearlessly and “Earnestly remember our Creator before the silver cord [of life] is broken, or the golden bowl is crushed, or the pitcher at the fountain is shattered and the wheel at the cistern is crushed; 7 then the dust [out of which God made man’s body] will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.”

 Death will be for the believer,
• A transition like the breaking of a seed. In the end, the Gossamer strings that tie us to this life will come undone. The lungs will stop breathing. The heart will stop beating. And the brain will stop functioning. And through this process, **A painful Price is Often Paid.

Acts9:16 refers to Paul’s call to “suffer for His namesake” … If you will study church history and other documents you will realize that most of the disciples in early New Testament followers literally paid with their lives, to be a follower of Christ.  So if we also are to literally be a follower of Christ, there is indeed a possibility that we will pay with our lives.  This is not popular. But it is true. Do you love Him? Then you must serve Him.   The price He paid must become the price that you are willing to pay. His Grace is free but it is never cheap!!!

 Last number 6. Is that we should have Ultimate Anticipation for
• Life after Life.  While you may literally have to face a tremendous price for Jesus if we love Him and serve Him. The scripture promises that death shall be swallowed up in victory.
• 2 Cor. 5:1 we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God Himself and not by human hands.
• The real Faith proposition sees beyond the end of this flesh…

 The last lesson, lesson number 7 is that This Most Wonderful of realization only comes with a Dynamic Confrontation with Christ.
2 Corinthians 12:2–4. ESV
” I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter.” …
How do you experience your dynamic, supernatural experience of the assurance of Life Eternal = Life After Life ???
Each one of us must answer this for themselves! Christ has provided the ultimate assurance. Yet Through our own love service to Jesus, we must individually appropriate and realize this eternal truth. As Paul to the Philippians has well advised: in 2:12
“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;”

 It is settled forever in heaven. Paul was so committed from the beginning of his ministry that it was never in doubt for him. Whether he lived or whether he died either way it was in the Lord and for the Lord. Here on this Earth there were prices to pay and he was willing to pay them. And forever and for eternity he was going to be with his Lord and he knew this completely and surely. So even if there was a price to be paid at the end of his mortal life , he was willing to pay it. It was settled. And even so it must be settled in us. So the end of my unpleasant recent near death experience is that I have reevaluated an even more deeply determined. That though I might have to face an unpleasant experience in the end of this life. It will be a  A complete Union with my Lord is that which will follow And that I can have that assurance settled in my mind and heart even in that moment. And the way I do that is by having it settled now.

Reread the main
• Scripture verses:
And let it be forever settled in you also!!

Philippians 1:20-25 / New Living Translation

20 For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed,

but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past.

And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die.

21 For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better.

22 But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really don’t know which is better.

23 I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me.

24 But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live.

It is settled then! “Christ in you is the hope of glory!” And at the end of life let that hope dwell in you for all eternity.