Death

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90 Minutes In Heaven (book review)

Title: 90 Minutes In Heaven–A True Story Of Death And Life
Author: Don Piper with Cecil Murphey
Publisher: Revell Publishing
Date: 2004/2014
Pages: 241

90 Minutes In Heaven–A True Story of Death and Life (book review)

Don Piper, with the help of Cecil Murphey, tells this true story of death and life. Don was a minister at a minister’s conference in central Texas. He had left the conference and was driving home, when he was hit head on by a large truck. The emergency team that had arrived on the scene had found him dead in his vehicle, with various body parts shredded.

Another minister came along and felt God lead him to pray for the dead man in the vehicle and then to sing a song. As he was singing, Don began to sing along with him, having come back to life.

Don spent next eighteen months in the hospital recovering with no expectation to every walk again. In this story, Don talks about what he saw in heaven when he died and what it was like. Then he talks about the pain and suffering he went through during the time of recovery and all the questions he had. Later, Don learns how to use what God had allowed him to go through to point others to Jesus and the reality of heaven.

He is now a world-wide traveling speaker telling people about the accident, death, life, time of recovery and that heaven is real and that the only way to it is through Jesus. His focus is more on the need for people to be saved, then just talking about heaven.

Prior to reading his book, I had the opportunity to hear Don Piper in person and meet him directly. I strongly encourage everyone to read this book. It is a short and easy book to read, but it will challenge your belief in life after death, heaven and the need for Jesus to get to heaven.

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Psalm 88:3-4 Feeling Hopeless

For my soul is full of troubles, and my life draws near to the grave. I am counted with those who go down to the pit; I am like a man who has no strength, Psalm 88:3-4

There are often days in which a person feels as if the days are nothing but trouble and that there is no longer any hope. No matter where a person looks, there is trouble and pain. All that appears to be left is death. During these times a person feels weak and helpless with no hope of anything getting better.

The writer of this psalm is stating that his life is full of trouble that is heading towards death and that he has no strength left.

Everyone has days of troubles and sorrows. Sometimes those days appear to have no end and just keep on going and going from bad to worse. During these times, the world looks to things of the world to help numb the pain that a person is going through.

Drugs, sex, alcohol, movies, music and anything else that can take the mind off of the pain and suffering is used to help. Some will then turn to suicide, thinking that there is nothing left and no more hope for a better life. There is no longer any strength left to keep standing and moving forward.

Believers are not immune to pain and suffering. They will also have many of the same sorrows that the world has. However, believers can have a hope that the world does not know, nor understand.

Instead of turning to the things of this world that will only bring death in the end, believers can turn to God. He is a God of love and mercy and can give the needed strength to keep walking through the storms of life. There is a hope of eternal salvation that awaits those who put their trust in Him.

Pain and suffering are real, and you most likely have days in which that is all you feel. You will have days in which you have no strength left to want to keep moving forward. During these times put your hope in Christ Jesus. Turn to God for the needed strength. He will walk by your side in the storm of your life to give you the strength and hope you need. You have the hope of eternal life waiting for you. Don’t give up.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that God will give you strength to make it through hard times; that you will know God’s presence each day; and that you will know the hope you can have in Christ Jesus.

Picture by Scott Rodgerson on Unsplash

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Psalm 49:20 Honored Yet Still Perishing

A man who is in honor, yet does not understand is like the beasts that perish. Psalm 49:20

People with great wealth are often highly honored by others. Buildings, parks and other places are often named after the person, because of one’s great financial contributions. Others will give them special seats at meetings or events. Everyone will talk highly of the person, even if they have never physically met or had something done for them. The world looks at their wealth and thinks that they are something great, while rarely looking at what their real character is like and what they truly understand.

The writer of this psalm is describing the wealthy. Here he points out that the man who is in honor, but does not have any understanding, is no different than the beasts of the field that will perish.

Having great wealth appears to be a great honor to the world. Wealth makes the person look like one has finally made it and really knows what is good and great. Wealth and having things is the focus and purpose of many in this world.

Although being wealthy can allow a person to do a lot of different things, both good and bad, it is not everything. If one does not have a good understanding of life, all that wealth is absolutely worthless and will fail in the end. It cannot save a person’s soul or redeem one back from the judgement of death due to sin.

Instead of believing in wealth and self, believers are to have a full understanding and put their trust in God. It is God who removes sin and saves and gives eternal life. It is God who gives true purpose in this life. Without that understanding, a person is no different than the animals and will perish in the end without hope or true life.

Whether you have great wealth and honor or not has nothing of true value in your life, if you do not have the proper understanding of life on this planet. Everything on this earth is temporary and will fail in the end.

Put all of your trust in God, not the temporary things of this fallen world. It is Jesus who will save your soul and give you eternal life, not honor or wealth. Focus on doing God’s will and building His kingdom is true understanding that gives true life. Don’t perish due to lacking understanding.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will understand what God has done for you; that you will understand your need for God; and that you will understand what God’s purpose is for your life.

Picture by Polina Kuzovkova on Unsplash