5 Minute Lessons on the Kingdom of God
God Was Sitting in the Chair
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John was an old man that had a terminal illness. He knew that his life was nearing an end. He felt a need to draw near to God.
Someone had told John that if he took a chair and put it close to his bed, that God would sit there beside him. He talked to God for hours each day, as he believed God was sitting in that chair.
The old man held nothing back as he talked to God about his life and the new journey he was yet to take. The time came and John felt the need to talk to a minister. Although John was not a Catholic, the only minister that was available to come was a Catholic priest.
John told the priest about what someone had told him about God sitting in the chair beside him. "Would God mind if I took some time telling Him my problems?" "Not at all," the priest replied. "God would be delighted." The old man told the priest of all the hours of conversation that he had with God as God listened to him while God sat in the chair. As the priest left John's room, he told him he would come back tomorrow to visit with him.
That very night John passed away. When the priest came back the next day, the nurse informed him of John's passing. The nurse told the priest, "There was something very unusual about the passing of John. I can't really explain it, but before he died, he got up from his bed and went to that chair, sat down and laid his head over as if he was laying his head on someone's shoulder. Then he was gone."
"Draw near to God and He will draw near to you..." (James 4:8 New American Standard Version)
Someone had told John that if he took a chair and put it close to his bed, that God would sit there beside him. He talked to God for hours each day, as he believed God was sitting in that chair.
The old man held nothing back as he talked to God about his life and the new journey he was yet to take. The time came and John felt the need to talk to a minister. Although John was not a Catholic, the only minister that was available to come was a Catholic priest.
John told the priest about what someone had told him about God sitting in the chair beside him. "Would God mind if I took some time telling Him my problems?" "Not at all," the priest replied. "God would be delighted." The old man told the priest of all the hours of conversation that he had with God as God listened to him while God sat in the chair. As the priest left John's room, he told him he would come back tomorrow to visit with him.
That very night John passed away. When the priest came back the next day, the nurse informed him of John's passing. The nurse told the priest, "There was something very unusual about the passing of John. I can't really explain it, but before he died, he got up from his bed and went to that chair, sat down and laid his head over as if he was laying his head on someone's shoulder. Then he was gone."
"1Look at how great a love the Father has given us, that we should be called God's children. And we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it didn't know Him. 2Dear friends, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet been revealed..." (1 John 3:1‑2 Holman Christian Standard Bible)
Questions
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Read Luke 16:19-31 (The Living Bible)."19'There was a certain rich man,' Jesus said, 'who was splendidly clothed and lived each day in mirth and luxury. 20One day Lazarus, a diseased beggar, was laid at his door. 21As he lay there longing for scraps from the rich man's table, the dogs would come and lick his open sores. 22Finally the beggar died and was carried by the angels to be with Abraham in the place of the righteous dead. The rich man also died and was buried, 23and his soul went into hell. There, in torment, he saw Lazarus in the far distance with Abraham.
24'"Father Abraham," he shouted, "have some pity! Send Lazarus over here if only to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in these flames."
25'But Abraham said to him, "Son, remember that during your lifetime you had everything you wanted, and Lazarus had nothing. So now he is here being comforted and you are in anguish. 26And besides, there is a great chasm separating us, and anyone wanting to come to you from here is stopped at its edge; and no one over there can cross to us."
27'Then the rich man said, "O Father Abraham, then please send him to my father's home— 28for I have five brothers—to warn them about this place of torment lest they come here when they die."
29'But Abraham said, "The Scriptures have warned them again and again. Your brothers can read them any time they want to."
30'The rich man replied, "No, Father Abraham, they won't bother to read them. But if someone is sent to them from the dead, then they will turn from their sins."
31'But Abraham said, "If they won't listen to Moses and the prophets, they won't listen even though someone rises from the dead."'" ‑ Luke 16:19-31 (The Living Bible)When Lazarus, the poor beggar died, what happened to him (Luke 16:19-31)?Answer -
Jesus died on the cross so we can be friends with God.Answer
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Return From the Grave