Activated Magazine 2004 / 11

(Traditional Chinese Activated mag 11 -English text mostly from English mag issues 7 and 19)

cover:
The Incredible Journey

THE COMING HEAVENLY LIFE OF LOVE!
Matchless Pearl

Incredible Journey

page 2
Activated USA
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Orange, CA 92863-4307
USA
e-mail:
"mailto:activatedUSA@activated.org"

Activated Europe
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ENGLAND
e-mail:
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India
e-mail:
"mailto:activatedIndia@activated.org"

Editor: Sunny Hsu
Graphic Design: Giselle LeFavre, Marcus
Illustrations: Hugo Westphal,
Ana Fields
Production: Francisco Lopez
© 1999 Aurora Production, Ltd.
All Rights Reserved

Unless indicated otherwise, all
Scripture quotations in Activated! are
from the Chinese Union Bible, Chinese Living Bible,
Modern Chinese Bible & new Chinese Bible.

 

 

Personally Speaking

    Have you ever wondered if there is a life after this one? As the proverb says, “Life is short”, is life really that short? If we only have this life, then aren't there many things that have happened that are really unfair? Normally, Chinese are more practical, we are always taught to think about others, to work hard for our children and family all our lives. Try our best to do good,  be sincere and live a good life. However, usually because our ability & love is limited, and our personal desires and weaknesses stand in the way, we are not able to do our job very well.
God loves us, He knows our hearts, and He sent Jesus to die for our sins on the cross. Through believing & receiving Jesus, not only will our sins be forgiven, but He’ll give us strength & love to help others, so that our lives will be a blessing in other’s lives by His grace. And you know what, besides that He has even arranged a very beautiful, wonderful place for us, where we’ll be with our loved ones forever, where all of our dreams will come true, & that is Heaven!
Jesus tells us, “In My Fathers house are many mansions. … I go to prepare a place for you … that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14: 2, 3). The apostle Paul says, “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him” (1 Cor 2:9) He also says, “The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” Imagine! What the Lord wants to give you is far more than what you have asked or thought!-Because He loves you!
The Bible has described & explained about Heaven in great detail, if you believe & receive Jesus, you’ll go there. (Jn 3:16) We wish you’ll have brighter faith & hope for the future through reading this issue of Activated!, that not only will you have Jesus’ love in this life, but because of your hope for the next life, that you’ll become a better witness to others, & will lead them to know & receive Jesus, that they may receive these wonderful promises as well.

Sunny Hsu
For your Activated! family

page 3
A New Location
A bank in Binghamton, New York, had some flowers sent to a competitor who had recently moved into a new building. There was a mix-up at the flower shop, and the card sent with the arrangement read, “With our deepest sympathy”.
The florist, who was greatly embarrassed, apologized. But he was even more embarrassed when he realized that the card intended for the bank was attached to a floral arrangement sent to a funeral home in honor of a deceased person. That card read,” Congratulations on your new location”!
For the Christian, death is like going to a new and better location. And to be in a beautiful place with Jesus, to leave heartaches and physical pain behind, to be reunited with loved ones- -all that is something to look forward to, not to dread or fear. So to the believer who passes on we can indeed say, “Congratulations on your new location”!
*****
When Robert Browning's father lay dying -- he was past eighty at the time -- his cheerfulness alarmed the attending physician.  “Does the old gentleman know he is dying?” the doctor inquired of his daughter in a low voice.
The father overheard him and smiled. “Death is no enemy in my eyes,” he said.
For those who trust Jesus Christ, death is not a sheriff dragging us off to court, but a servant ushering us into the presence of a loving Lord. --Haddon W. Robinson

****
Think of…
Stepping on a shore, and finding it Heaven!
Of taking hold of a hand, and finding it God's hand.
Of breathing new air, and finding it celestial air.
Of feeling invigorated, and finding it immortality.
Of passing from storm and tempest to an unbroken calm.
Of waking up, and finding Home.
--Robert E. Selle

page 4

Passing into Life
Compiled from the writings of
David Brandt Berg

Noted journalist Arthur
Brisbane once pictured a crowd of grieving
caterpillars carrying the corpse of a cocoon to its final resting
place. The poor, distressed caterpillars, clad in black raiment,
were weeping. The beautiful butterfly, meanwhile fluttered happily above the muck and the mire of earth, forever freed from its confining shell.
Needless to say, Brisbane had the average funeral in
Mind. He sought to convey the idea that when our loved
ones pass, it is foolish to remember only the cocoon and
concentrate our attention on the remains, while forgetting the bright butterfly.

 

pages 5-7
The Incredible Journey
It had been a very special evening for both Roger
and Irene. In the quiet little restaurant where
they had dinner, they finally decided to get
married. As both of them enjoyed the romantic
music & atmosphere for the occasion, they realized
that the hour was very late, considering they
both had to be at work in the morning. To avoid
the stop signs and traffic lights in town, Roger
decided to take Irene home by way of the old
highway that went around the town. As they raced
along the highway they continued enjoying each
other’s company as well as the pretty view of the
town lights below and the rich sound of the stereo
which filled the car with their favorite music.
Neither of them noticed the big truck that
was careening towards the approaching intersection
from the left, until suddenly Irene cried,
“Roger!-Look out!” The truck’s horn blasted its
warning and Roger stepped on the accelerator to
try to lunge past it, as it was too late to brake! The
terrible sound of the crash-the screeching tires,
the crumpling metal, the shattered glass, pieced
the quiet of the night!-Then all fell silent again.
When Roger awoke, he immediately called out,
“Irene!-Are you okay?”-”Yes, I think so!” she
answered. They embraced and held each other,
thankful to God that they had somehow managed
to survive such a horrible accident! Besides the
relief they felt in finding that the other was all right,
they felt incredibly light. “Roger, what’s happening
to us?” Irene asked. “Our feet...they’re not even
touching the ground!”-”I...I don’t know,” he
answered. “It seems like we’re going up!-I’ve never
felt like this before...Oh my God!-Look back down
on the road by my car!-Those two bodies, they’re
us!-We must be...dead!”
Suddenly, as if some unseen force took hold
of them, they were drawn up, higher and higher,
until it seemed like they were in some sort of a long
dark tunnel or passageway through which they were
now flying at an incredible speed! Soon a very dim
light appeared far ahead of them, and as they flew
through the tunnel it grew larger and brighter until
it became dazzling and brilliant!-But strangely, it
did not hurt their eyes!
That Light actually was a brilliant Being of
Light! Everything around them was bathed in a brilliant
warm light and they were both overwhelmed
and filled with a great feeling of love and
compassion! The fear and apprehension that they
had felt is completely gone! They feel so wonderful,
so loved!
Suddenly the Being of Light gives both Roger
and Irene a detailed review of their entire lives, like
a full-color, three-dimensional video! They watch it
and see themselves from the time they were tiny
toddlers all the way through to the time of the
accident!-All of the selfish, unkind and unloving
deeds, and all of the good things too! Every little
detail in their lives are shown in front of their eyes,
so that they can clearly and honestly see how their
lives are. It‘s as if they are being made their own
judges. The entire review only lasts a few moments!
When the review first finished, both of them
felt very ashamed to look into the eyes of the Being
of Light. But they are so relieved to find them
still warm and loving, full of sympathy and understanding! They
both realize now that this kind and loving person is Jesus! Although
all of their wrongs and mistakes, shortcomings and failures
of the past are perfectly known to Him, He still loves them
and receives them with open arms!
He lovingly reminds them, “I love you, and I died for your
sins. And since you believed in Me and accepted My sacrifice for
you, so your sins are cleansed and forgiven forever. Come now,
enter the Kingdom that I have prepared for you!” And with that
He takes them both by the hand and they begin flying again.
As they enter this beautiful crystal-gold Space City, they are
thrilled to meet the reception party that is there to greet them! A
voice Roger has so terribly missed calls to him from behind, “Welcome
Home, Son!” He turns to meet his mother whom he loved
dearly who had died of an illness seven long years earlier. She
looks beautiful, young, vibrant and radiant with health! They cling
to each other and weep for joy, thanking Jesus for this wonderful
reunion!
*
The story of Roger and Irene’s “Incredible Journey” is based
on the life-after-death experiences of thousands of actual cases
which have been scientifically documented in many authoritative
studies and books! Of course, in all such cases, the subjects, some
who were clinically dead for 20 to 30 minutes, were revived and
came back, testifying that the Being of Light who reviewed their
lives gave them the opportunity to return to their bodies!-But
these are the exceptions, as most people do not come back after
passing on.
Are you ready for that incredible journey? Is there a place
for you in God’s beautiful Heavenly City? (Revelation 21) Roger
and Irene were ready because they had both believed in and had
received Jesus into their
hearts. “For God so loved
the World (you and me!),
that He gave His only begotten
Son (Jesus!), that
whoever believes in Him,
should never die, but have
Everlasting Life!” (John 3:
16) So open your heart, believe
and receive Jesus! He
loves you! .

 

page 8-9

Heaven and its pleasures
Sometimes the sorrows and disappointments of this life can weigh heavily on our hearts. When things don’t work out, or when we suffer personal defeats or losses, the strain of it all can sometimes make us wonder if anything we do is worthwhile. Can sincere and honest individuals truly succeed in creating a better society in a world where all too often evil, corruption and mans selfishness seem to prevail? When we are down and discouraged, the outlook doesn’t seem very bright. But that’s when we must continue to trust in Gods Word and His promises, because a better world is coming soon.
Sorrow may endure for a night, the Bible says, but joy comes in the morning (Psalm 30:5). The glorious morning of Heaven will break after the deep shadows and night of this life, so keep your eyes on the Lord and His wonderful promises of Heaven hereafter! You will find it easier to bear the burdens that you’re facing now when you realize these trials are only for a moment, compared with eternity to come.
All the disappointments, broken promises and heartbreaks will soon be forgotten and blotted out like a bad dream when that glorious dawn of Heaven arrives.
“The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18). Revelation 21:4 says that God will wipe away every tear from our eyes. Isn’t that wonderful? He’s going to wipe away all those tears, all that heartbreak and discouragement, and there will be no more tears, no more pain, no more death, no more sorrow!
Despite the fact that Heaven is the ultimate paradise, many people don’t seem to be planning to go there. How strange! Even though this life is often full of pain and sorrow and problems, they accept their present existence here as the end, and refuse to believe in a better life to come. Why? Perhaps its because the idea many people have of Heaven--lying around on a cloud, playing a harp all day and doing nothing except being “holy”--does not sound very appealing. Thank God that is not what the Bible says Heaven is like!
Jesus said, “In My Fathers house are many mansions. I go to prepare a place for you” (John 14:2). It’s been almost two thousand years since Jesus said that. By “preparing,” do you think He meant He needed to fluff up some clouds for us to lie on and manufacture enough harps to go around? Of course not! This whole concept of Heaven is contrary to Gods Word, the Bible! If you want an idea of what Heaven is really like, read the last two chapters of the Bible, Revelation chapters 21 and 22.
As it is described there, the Heavenly City, the home of all the saved Christians of all ages, is so amazing, so breathtakingly beautiful, that it is almost beyond description! Imagine, if you can, a city with streets made of scintillating crystal-clear gold, a city about 1,500 miles (2,400 km) high, 1,500 miles wide and 1,500 miles long! Within its shimmering gates of pearl is the Paradise of God, where the River of Life winds gracefully through lush parks where laughing children and gentle animals play together--and where departed loved ones await our coming!
Can you visualize a world with no more death, no more pain, no more fear, no more sorrow, no more sickness, no more crying; a world where everything is a joy and a pleasure; a society where everybody works together in harmony, cooperation and love? Its more than our finite human minds can fathom. As the Bible says, “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him” (1 Corinthians 2:9).
Even though it is so much more wonderful than anything we have known here on earth, in many ways Heaven is like the pleasurable aspects of this life we are presently living, only much, much better! It has all the best things of this life, without any of the trouble, pain, sickness, worry or death--a world of roses without thorns. On this old earth, we still cannot fully enjoy all of the joys and pleasures of life, but Heaven is the place where all of our hearts desires will be fulfilled. Anything good you ever desired, anything you ever dreamed of, will be yours in Heaven.
Gods Word tells us that He will make all things new, and that those who overcome will inherit all things (Revelation 21:5,7). Who overcomes the world? Those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God (1 John 5:5). Those who believe in Jesus will inherit all things, for it is Gods delight to give you the desires of your heart. He says, “Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4). “It is your Fathers good pleasure to give you the kingdom [Heaven]” (Luke 12:32).
In Heaven there will be every pleasure and excitement you have ever experienced on earth, only far better! You’ll have untold love, the joys of children, variety, change, the challenges of new horizons, new work, new tasks to perform, and even the adventure of pioneering new worlds. Every thrill, every excitement, every love or fulfilling work that you longed for in this life will be yours in that heavenly realm--if you love Jesus and believe in Him now! Do you?
The Bible says, “They that are saved will walk in that city.” (Rev 21:24) Will you walk in that wonderful Heavenly City? You wouldn’t want to miss it, would you? If you haven’t received Jesus as your Saviour, receive Him right now! Then you can be sure that the Heavenly mansions & all the pleasures of paradise that Jesus has promised to all those who belong to Him will be yours as well! Until that day, trust Him & love Him with all your heart, bravely do what He’s asked you to do on Earth, and don’t let any disappointment of this life get you down! Amen?

Pull quote: Despite the fact that Heaven is the ultimate paradise, many people don’t seem to be planning to go there.

pages 10-11
The matchless pearl
Author unknown

YEARS AGO, while an American
named David Morse was living
and working in India, he met
and became friends with a
pearl diver, Rambhau.
Morse spent many evenings
in Rambhau’s cabin,
reading to him from the Bible
and explaining its central
theme: God’s love and salvation
in Jesus. Rambhau
enjoyed listening to the Word
of God, but whenever Morse
would encourage Rambhau to
accept Christ as his Savior,
Rambhau would shake his head and reply,
“Your Christian way to Heaven is too easy for
me! I cannot accept it. If I gained admittance
to Heaven in that manner, I would feel like a
pauper there-like a beggar who has been let
in out of pity. I may be proud, but I want to
deserve my place in Heaven. I want to earn it,
and so I am going to work for it.”
Nothing that Morse could say seemed to
have any effect on Rambhau’s decision. Years
passed.
Then one evening Morse heard
a knock on his door. It was Rambhau.
“Come in, friend,” said Morse.
“Will you come with me to
my house?” asked the old diver. “I
have something to show you. Please
don’t say no.”
“Of course I’ll come,” replied
Morse.
As they neared his cabin, Rambhau said,
“In a week’s time I will start working for my
place in Heaven. I am leaving for Delhi, and I
am crawling there on my knees.”
“That’s crazy!” Morse exclaimed. “It’s nine
hundred miles to Delhi. The skin will break on
your knees, and you will have blood poisoning
before you get there-if you ever get there!”
“No, I must get to Delhi,” affirmed
Rambhau, “the immortals will reward me for
it! The suffering will be sweet, for it will
purchase Heaven for me!”
“Rambhau, friend, you can’t. How can I let
you do that, when Jesus Christ has already suffered
and died to purchase Heaven for you?”
But the old man could not be moved.
“You are my dearest friend on earth. You have
stood by me in sickness, in want. Sometimes
you have been my only friend. But even you
cannot turn me from my desire to purchase
eternal bliss. I must go to Delhi!”
Once inside the small cabin, Rambhau
walked to a back room and returned shortly
with a small but heavy strongbox.
“I have had this box for years,” he said. “I
keep only one thing in it. Now I will tell you
about it. I once had a son. ...”
“A son! Rambhau, you have never once
mentioned him!”
“No, I couldn’t.” As he spoke, the diver’s
eyes fi lled with tears. “But now I must tell you.
My son was a diver too. He was the best pearl
diver on the coasts of India. He had the swiftest
dive, the keenest eye, the strongest arm,
and the longest breath of any man who ever
dived for pearls. What joy he brought me!”
“As you know,” Rambhau went on, “most
pearls have some defect or blemish that only
an expert can discern, but my boy
always dreamed of finding the perfect
pearl. One day he found it! But
in gathering it, he stayed under
water too long. He died soon after.
That pearl cost him his life.”
The old pearl diver bowed his
head. For a moment his whole
body shook, but there was no
sound. “All these years,” he continued,
“I have kept this pearl. Now I am going
and may not return, so to you, my best friend, I
am giving my pearl.”
Rambhau worked the combination on
the strongbox and drew from it a carefully
wrapped package. Gently parting the cotton
packing, he picked up a mammoth pearl and
placed it in Morse’s hand.
It was astoundingly large, almost unreal,
and glowed with a luster never seen in cultured
pearls! It would have brought a fabulous
sum in any market.
For a moment Morse gazed with awe
and was speechless. Then he exclaimed,
“Rambhau! What a pearl!”
“That pearl, my friend, is perfect,” replied
the Indian quietly.
Then Morse was struck with a new
thought: This was the very opportunity he had
prayed for to help Rambhau understand the
value of Jesus’ sacrifice.
“Rambhau,” he said, “this is a wonderful
pearl, an amazing pearl! Let me buy it. I will
give you ten thousand dollars for it.”
“What? What do you mean?” Rambhau
asked.
“I will give you fifteen thousand dollars for it,
or if it takes more, I will work for it.”
Rambhau stiffened his whole body. “This pearl
is beyond price. Not a man in the world has
money enough to pay what this pearl is worth to
me. On the market, a million dollars could not
buy it. I will not sell it to you. You may only have
it as a gift.”
“No, Rambhau, I cannot accept that. As much
as I want the pearl, I cannot accept it that way.
Perhaps I am proud, but that is too easy. I must
pay for it, or work for it.”
The old pearl diver was stunned. “You don’t
understand at all, my friend. Don’t you see? My
only son gave his life to get this pearl. Its worth is
in the lifeblood of my son. I cannot sell this, but I
can give it to you. Just accept it as a token of my
love for you.”
Morse was choked, and for a moment could
not speak. Then he gripped the hand of the old
man.
“Rambhau,” he said in a low voice, “don’t you
see? My words are just what you have been saying
to God all the time.”
The diver looked long and searchingly at
Morse. Slowly he began to understand.
“God is offering you salvation as a free gift,”
Morse said. “It is so great and priceless that no
man on earth can buy it. No man on earth could
earn it. If he were to work for it all his life, his
life would be millions of years too short. No man
is good enough to deserve it. It cost God the lifeblood
of His only Son to gain entrance for you
into Heaven. In a million years, in a hundred pilgrimages,
you could not earn that entrance. All
you can do is accept it as a token of God’s love for
you, a sinner.
“Rambhau, of course I will accept the pearl in
deep humility, praying God I may be worthy of
your love. Rambhau, won’t you accept God’s great
gift of Heaven, too, in deep humility, knowing it
cost Him the death of His Son to offer it to you?”
Tears rolled down the old man’s cheeks. The
veil that had clouded his understanding was
beginning to lift. “I see it now. I could not believe
that salvation was free. Now I understand. Some
things are too priceless to be bought or earned. I
will accept His salvation, my friend!”.

Pull quote:
Its worth is in the lifeblood of my son. I cannot sell this, but I
can give it to you.

 

pages 12-13

THE COMING HEAVENLY LIFE OF LOVE!
What Heaven will really be like
Compiled from the writings of David Brandt Berg

            The place where all of God’s children are going to dwell with Him forever is not some fanciful dreamland way off in outer space somewhere, but an even more amazing dream city that’s going to come down from God, out of space, to a new earth. And God is going to come down and live with us, and we with Him (Revelation 21:1-3). It’s going to be such a literal down-to-earth Heaven that the last two chapters of the Bible, Revelation chapters 21 and 22, describe the heavenly city in detail-its exact measurements, design, colors, and materials.
Let's read how the apostle John described this wonderful place: "The City's glory is similar to the extremely expensive gem, looks like diamond, and shines like crystal. The City is of pure gold, and is similar to bright glass." (Revelations 21:10,11,18) St. John said, that when he went there an angel measured the city wall, and it was 216 feet high! Each layer was 18 feet high, all are constructed with a different kind of gem or jewel, such as diamond, ruby, jade etc.! (Revelations 21:17-20) Because the city wall is 1500 miles long on each side, the base is totally 6,000 miles long! - - Imagine! 6,000 miles of giant diamonds, jade, rubies and so on. Man has never seen such a marvelous sight!
"The 12 gates are of 12 pearls, each gate is a pearl!" (Revelations 21:21) Can you imagine a city gate of 216 feet high? They are incomparably huge! Those pearls are unseen of in this world!
But before God brings down His heavenly city, He is going to purify the surface of the earth with fire, destroy the atmospheric heavens, and re-create a beautiful new earth and new atmospheric heavens. It will be the same ball, the same planet, but with a beautiful renewed surface, like a beautiful Garden of Eden-the Paradise of God (Psalm 102:25-26; Isaiah 51:6; 2 Peter 3:7, 10, 12).
We don’t know exactly how it is going to work or what everything is going to be like there, but we do know that it’s going to be a better world than the present one. It will be a world without death, sorrow, pain, or any of the other problems of today (Revelation 21:4). There’ll be no more war, all the weapons of war will be abolished. “Nothing will hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, the Lord says.” (Isaiah 65:25)
The inhabitants of Heaven are not going to be entirely different. They’re even going to look much like they did in this life, just as Jesus still looked like Himself after His resurrection. In His supernatural body, after He was resurrected from the grave, Jesus could appear and disappear, walk through walls and locked doors, and move from place to place at the speed of thought. Yet He ate and drank, and His disciples could still see Him and touch Him (Luke 24:36-43; John 21:12-13). In Heaven, people are going to have new supernatural bodies like His, incorruptible, immortal. Their old, decaying, natural bodies will go back to the dust, and they will be given new resurrected bodies that will live forever (Philippians 3:21; 1 John 3:2).
Due to the fall of man through sin when he was first placed on earth, we haven’t really had a chance to enjoy life as God originally intended, but in Heaven we will-and I think the Scriptures corroborate this. Heaven is going to be an amplification and eternal continuation of what we who know and love Jesus already have in our hearts.
Everyone there is going to be good and honest and loving and kind--the perfect society, in perfect fellowship with the Lord and each other. There’ll be no hate or jealousy or selfishness or cruelty. We’ll never grow old and decrepit, or be bound by time. It will be absolutely wonderful!
Within the great heavenly city, all of God’s saved children will live with Him forever (Revelation 21:24, 27). But outside there will still be others in various situations, some better off than others, according to the lives they lived, how much they received God’s truth and were loving to others. And because there will be “no more sea” (Revelation 21:1), unlike our present planet which is four-fifths covered with water, there will be plenty of room for those living outside the heavenly city.
“Only those whose names are written in the Book of Life are allowed to enter the City.” (Revelation 21:27)--Only those who are saved, those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life can be allowed to pass through the pearly gates to enter the City! How beautiful! How wonderful & enormous! There will be nothing unclean, no dirty streets, no violence and no crime. It won't be a “city of sin” as most cities of man are today, it will be God’s Holy City. And will be a pure & beautiful city, everything will be clean, sinless & beautiful! What a wonderful place! In a sense, it will be heaven on earth for everybody, even the unregenerated people who don’t have the right to enter the city or walk its golden streets.
Inside the city, the River of Life will flow out of the throne of God and of Jesus. The river will be lined on both sides with Trees of Life that bear twelve different kinds of fruit, and the “leaves are for the healing of the nations” outside (Revelation
22:1-2). Perhaps these healing leaves are symbolic of the words of God, His truth. Surely the inhabitants of Heaven will go out and be teachers amongst the nations. They will still have a job to do when they get to Heaven.
We who receive Jesus now are going to be the inner circle and live in the city, the charmed city, living charmed lives as eternal super-beings in supernatural bodies. Are you ready? And are you going to take as many others with you as you can?
You don’t have to wait until the coming of the Heavenly City, your heart can be full of Heavenly joy, love & peace today! You only need to receive Jesus -- God’s son -- into your heart! For those of us who have Jesus in our hearts, we are enjoying a little bit of Heaven right now! Thanks to Him, we can look forward to having happiness, joy and wonderful rewards in the world to come! Whoever receives him now will live with Him in that Heavenly City, where we’ll enjoy the greatest blessings, joy & pleasure that God bestows upon us! So don’t miss what He wants to give you, which is the best!

Jesus loves you, he’s waiting to come into your heart right now. Would you like to let Him in? Please say this little prayer: “Dear Jesus, I believe You are the Son of God, & that You died for me. Please forgive all of my sins. I now open my heart & ask You, Jesus, to come in, & to give me Your free gift of eternal life. Please help me to love You & others by telling others about You & Your Love. In Jesus’ name, I pray.”

            God bless you with His love, salvation, and Heaven, now and forever!•

[Callout:] In Heaven, people are going to have new supernatural bodies like His, incorruptible, immortal.

page 14

Answers to your Questions...

          Q: What am I doing wrong…?

I thought that when I received Jesus and was filled with the Holy Spirit, my family and friends would be happy at the change in me. Some are, but others aren’t. In fact, I’m not as close to most of my old friends as I used to be because we have different interests now, and they say they liked “the old me” better. What should I do?

          A: From what you write, yours sounds like a typical case of “If you were of the world, the world would love its own” (John 15:19). It costs something to be a real Christian, and it sometimes costs friends--at least at first. This is one of the first and most frequent tests new Christians face: If it comes to that, will they choose Jesus and their newfound faith over old friends? It can be a tough choice, but if you choose Jesus and keep trying to show others His love, sooner or later you’ll find that you have more and closer friends than before--and maybe some old ones, as well.
Take Saint Francis of Assisi (1182?-1226), for example. Little is known about his early life, except that he was quite worldly and carefree as a young man and presumably had plenty of like-minded friends. But when he found Jesus, he changed! Francis family disowned him and many former friends wanted nothing to do with him. Undaunted, Francis went about his business of trying to live a Christ-like life and share Gods love with others, and soon some of his old friends and quite a few others came to him, wanting to know how they could have the love and happiness they saw in him. Francis little group grew into the Franciscans, a religious order that has numbered in the hundreds of thousands over nearly eight hundred years, and touched the lives of countless others. Friends? Millions would be honored to be counted among Saint Francis friends!
So just keep sharing Jesus love with others and shining brightly for Him, and you’ll no doubt win plenty of new friends. “There is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands for My sake and the Gospels, who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time … and in the age to come, eternal life” (Mark 10:29,30).
In the meantime, Jesus will be the best friend you could ever imagine a friend who promises to never leave you, to be with you to the end of the earth, and to stick closer than a brother (John 15:14; Hebrews 13:5; Matthew 28:20; Proverbs 18:24).

page 15
Sailing Home
I am standing on the seashore. A ship spreads
her white sails to the morning breeze and
starts for the ocean. I stand watching her
until she fades on the horizon, and someone
at my side says, “She is gone.” Gone where?
The loss of sight is in me, not in her. Just
at the moment when someone says, “She is
gone, ”there are others who are watching her
coming. Other voices take up the glad shout,
“Here she comes!” That is dying.
--Henry Scott Holland

Where is there a country without sin,
crime, lawlessness, bloodshed, disease, death,
sorrow,or heartache? Heaven is one “coun-
try ”where there is an absence of all the prob-
lems that are common to any other land,
for in God ’s country there are no barriers,
no walls or curtains to divide; no race barri-
ers; no soldiers, because there are no wars;
no policemen or prisons, because there is no
crime; no beggars, because there is no pov-
erty, only plenty for all; no hospitals or phy-
sicians, because germs, diseases, disabilities,
and sickness are unknown; no undertakers,
because there is no death; no separations or
broken homes, only love and harmony. What
a country! Doesn’t the thought of all that
make you homesick for Heaven?
--H.Lockyer

Feeding Reading

Heaven

God’s beautiful promises for our future

 

Jesus promises us eternal life in Heaven
John 11:26.
John 14:2,3.
Peter 1:3,4.
1 John 5:11.

God has a wonderful and beautiful plan for man
1 Corinthians 2:9.
John 3:16.

Heaven comfort for our suffering & sorrow in this life
Romans 8:18.
2 Corinthians 4:17.
2 Timothy 2:12.

There will be no more tears or sadness in Heaven
Isaiah 25:8.
Revelations 21:4.

We are citizens of Heaven
Hebrews 11:15,16.
Hebrews 13:14.

An actual description of Heaven
Revelations 21 & 22

 

Coming next…

Putting love into action…

   The first & greatest commandment Jesus has given us is to love, to “love the Lord with all your heart, all your soul & all your mind”, & the second is to “love your neighbour as yourself”. (Mat 22: 37,39) These 2 commandments are almost equal, almost the same. When He said to love others, what He means is not only your relatives or good friends, but anyone who needs your help.
We need to put our love into action to reach others, therefore ask God to give you His Love to help others. The next issue of Activated! will share more tips on how to love. So don’t miss it! 

page 16
From Jesus--with Love!
Come Fly with Me!

Connect with Me by praising Me, and I will carry you to
heights in the spirit that you never dreamed existed. It’s so
simple, and it doesn’t need to take long. Start praising Me
and see how easy it is. Fill your heart and mind and mouth
with something you’re thankful for, and the chain reaction
will begin. Praise Me for the wonderful life I have given
you. Praise Me for the wonderful people I have surrounded
you with, to love and be loved by. Praising Me for even the
simplest things puts you on My positive channel and in a
position to receive more of My positive input.
Open your heart to Me by praising Me, and I will flood
you with My love and My Spirit-enough to carry you
through the day if you will keep your heart open and turned
to Me. Haven’t you read that I am light, and in Me is no
darkness at all? That’s the way it is. Connect with Me and I
will flood your heart and mind and life with light, so there
will be no room for darkness-the worries and negative
thoughts that can so easily spoil your day by keeping you
earthbound. Praise is your ticket to ride.

 
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