Not Planning On Dying Twice

Reading From Dec. 31, 2008
Revelation 19-22

TOPIC: The Wrong Crowd

SCRIPTURE: "He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son. BUT for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death." (Rev.21:7-8)

OBSERVATION: As I read these verses, the part that jumped out at me was the "Cowards" are listed in the same crowd as the unbelieving, the corrupt, the murderers, the immoral, the idolaters, the liars, and those practicing magic arts.

A Coward is defined as somebody lacking courage, and somebody regarded as fearful

SIDE NOTE: I don't know about you but I've been a coward before according to that definition.

A deeper investigation into this word reveals that the "cowards" are not those who are simply fainthearted in their faith or who sometimes doubt or question. (Praise the Lord)

BUT

those who turn back from following God.
They are not brave enough to stand up for Christ,
they are not humble enough to accept his authority over their lives.

APPLICATION: I don't know about you but I don't won't to be in with that crowd because if you finish reading verse 8 the consequence of being in that crowd is NOT something I can bear.
Verse 8b reads "... their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death."

As I read these verses my mind went straight to Joshua Chapter 1.
There we find God telling Josh in
Chapter 1: 6 = Be strong and courageous
and again in
Chapter 1:7 = Only be strong and very courageous
and then again in
Chapter 1:9 = "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous!
Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord Your God is with you wherever you go."

Let me repeat it in case you didn't pick up on the repetition

Be strong and courageous
Only be strong and very courageous
Be strong and courageous

This is a command ! ! !

From God

PRAYER: Father God, thank you for reminding me that I am to be courageous in all things because of you. As long as I abide in you, you've got my back. Praise the Lord!!!