This world is a vapor

Since my last post, my world has been turned upside down. My dear brother, Jason Mahmoud Ibrahim, age 29, died suddenly in his home from natural causes. Jason was a man of God. He was a great husband, father, brother, and son. Looking back on his life, it is clear that His life and His death were both intended to give glory to God.

Jason was an incredibly talented writer. He gave a beautiful eulogy at my Grandmother's funeral in 2007. I would like to share with you some of his words,

By Jesus dying on the cross, he made a way for all of us to never taste spiritual death. This does not reverse the process of physical death, but more importantly, it undoes our spiritual sickness. As 2 Corinthians 5:21 says, “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

Jason knew where he would go when he died. He also knew the key to living

The catch is that accepting God’s forgiveness through Jesus means that God is your Lord—your master—and the rest of your life is His, to do whatever he wants with it. This doesn’t mean you’ll have to become a missionary to deepest Africa, but it does mean that He will take you where He wants you to go, whether that’s an office, a church, a factory, or a jungle. The upside is, wherever He takes you will be the safest, best and most worthwhile place you’ll ever be. As he says in Romans 10:9, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Although I will miss Jason here on this earth and continue to grieve, I know that he is with the Lord Jesus Christ, and that one day I will see him again. I look forward to that day with great anticipation, knowing that our fellowship will be without the pains and sins of this world. Jason is no longer fighting the battle of the flesh, but is in fellowship with the one who has saved him from the battle and will be victorious. All praise be to that great Savior of the world, Jesus Christ!

For more of Jasons writings please see jasonswords.com

A little too comfortable on earth

Have you ever prayed to see your sin?

I believe that this is an important prayer for those who, like myself, struggle with a hardened heart and cloudy vision. When you start to stray away from the Lord and you are no longer feeling close to Him, everything that once seemed so black and white begins to turn a neutral shade of gray. Your heart doesn't seem to thirst or even desire for the Lord's word and you begin to get too comfortable on the earth.

However, when you ask the Lord to show where you are going wrong, where you are sinning and what you need to work on...everything changes! That cloudy gray color begins to look clearer and you see where you are going wrong. Once your vision gets clearer, your heart feels the guilt and conviction and you are again able to fall on your knees and worship the Lord who is rich in mercy and grace.

Jesus! what a Friend for sinners!
Jesus! Lover of my soul;
Friends may fail me, foes assail me,
He, my Saviour, makes me whole.

Hallelujah! what a Saviour!
Hallelujah, what a Friend!
Saving, helping, keeping, loving,
He is with me to the end.