Fruitful Living
Christ our Lord
• The word of God
Dear Reader,
Tomorrow is Palm Sunday but instead of focusing on the usual story of the Triumphal Entry, important though it is, we would like to share with you how the gospel of Luke handles Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem and His actions thereafter.
The Triumphal Approach to Jerusalem: Luke 19:28-40
After Jesus said this, He went on in front of them toward Jerusalem. As He came near Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, He sent two disciples ahead with these instructions: “Go to the village there ahead of you; as you go in, you will find a colt tied up that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If someone asks you why you are untying it, tell him that the Master needs it.” They went on their way and found everything just as Jesus had told them. As they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying it?” “The Master needs it,” they answered, and they took the colt to Jesus. Then they threw their cloaks over the animal and helped Jesus get on. As He rode on, people spread their cloaks on the road. When He came near Jerusalem, at the place where the road went down the Mount of Olives, the large crowd of His disciples began to thank God and praise Him in loud voices for all the great things that they had seen: “God bless the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory to God!” Then some of the Pharisees in the crowd spoke to Jesus. “Teacher,” they said, “command your disciples to be quiet!” Jesus answered, “I tell you that if they keep quiet, the stones themselves will start shouting.” – (Good News)
Let us now continue with why Christ died. The hymn writer, Henry Francis Lyte (1793 – 1847) puts it so appropriately in one of his hymns.
“PRAISE, my soul, the King of heaven, To His feet thy tribute bring;
Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven, Who like thee His praise should sing?
Praise Him! Praise Him! Praise the everlasting King.” – MHB 12: Stanza 1
And it is true Christ died that we would be delivered from the bondage of sin – “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” – Rom. 6:23 (NIV). Christ died to Ransom us, Heal us, Restore us and Forgive us.
As you enjoy this article, please commit yourself again to the Lord Jesus Christ in whom is “Eternal Life.” Let Him ride into the “Jerusalem of your heart.” Weep over your sins and cleanse your heart which is the temple of the Holy Spirit from all that does not please our Holy, loving God.
WHY CHRIST DIED
When God first created mankind, He intended that an intimate relationship should exist between the Creator and His creatures. But the first man and woman chose to disobey God and, therefore, forfeited the privilege of this close friendship with God. Moreover, through their disobedience, sin made its entry into the world: ‘Sin came into the world through one man.’ – Romans 5:12
This sin gave Satan the firm foothold he had been looking for. Sin and Satan now held the world in a vice-like grip. God’s people now walked in darkness: oppressed by Satan. Spiritually speaking, they lived in a never-ending winter: rarely experiencing the warmth of God’s love. Enslaved by sin as they were, they were doomed to die both physically and spiritually. ‘(Adam’s) sin brought death with it. As a result, death has spread to the whole human race because everyone has sinned.’ – Romans 5:12
Who could rescue God’s creation from the curse of Satan, the enemy? Mankind’s rescuer would need to be someone strong enough to engage in battle against the power of Satan; someone who would fight compromise with evil, for evil cannot combat evil; only goodness can do that. There was only one person who could even attempt the rescue bid: God Himself. So God entered the world in the form of the perfect man: Jesus Christ. ‘God in Christ was reconciling the world to Himself.’ – 2 Corinthians 5:19
Jesus knew the solution to the sin-problem. He, the man-who-never-sinned, would need to take upon Himself every sin each individual in the world had ever committed and would ever commit. It would be as though He Himself had committed the crimes of the cosmos. He would, therefore, pay the penalty in person. He would die: ‘Without beauty, without majesty (we saw him), no looks to attract our eyes; a thing despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and familiar with suffering, a man to make people screen their faces He was despised and we took no account of Him.
And yet ours were the sufferings He bore, ours the sorrows He carried. But we, we thought of Him as someone punished, struck by God, and brought low. Yet He was pierced through for our faults, crushed for our sins. On Him lies a punishment that brings us peace, and through His wounds we are healed. We had all gone astray like sheep, each taking his own way, and Yahweh burdened Him with the sins of all of us.’ – Isaiah 53:2-6
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, help me to drink in these facts:
Mine were the sufferings you bore
Mine the sorrows you carried
You were pierced through for my faults
Crushed because of my sin
God laid on you the punishment that brought me
Peace
Joy
And a whole new start in life
Help me to say an adequate
Thank you.
RANSOMED
A man was once caught stealing from his employers. When the case was heard in court, the judge imposed a fine of GH¢50. Failure to pay the prescribed fine, he said, would result in imprisonment. The night of the court hearing, the man despaired. He had no money. That was why he had resorted to stealing in the first place. How was he to pay the fine? The thought of a period in prison filled him with horror. Next morning, a brown envelope fell through this man’s letter-box. It contained ten, crisp, new five Ghana Cedis notes and a hand-written explanation: To pay off the debt. The offender never discovered where the money had come from. The only information he could glean was that a member of the nearby church heard of his plight and decided to set him free from the threat of imprisonment.
When Jesus died on the cruel cross, He brought our release from the clutches of the evil one. He also set us free from the bondage to sin in which we had been trapped. And He delivered us from the effects of the sin-stained past and from the guilt that enshrouded us: The death of Christ ‘One act of perfect righteousness, presents all men freely acquitted in the sight of God.’ – Romans 5:18. ‘God loved the world so much that He gave his only Son, that everyone who has faith in Him may not die but have eternal life.’ – John 3:16
This article has been heavily inspired by Joyce Hugget in “Approaching Easter, Meditations for Lent.”
STAY BLESSED!
For further inquiries please contact us on Tel Nos. 0243588467 or 0268130615
Email: saltnlightministries@gmail.com
Website: saltandlightgh. org
Christ our Lord
By Dr. Joyce Aryee, the author
Fruitful Living
What Will Heaven Be Like?
Heaven is a place of hope
Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God.”
— Revelation 21:3
Introduction
As we journey through life, the thought of a future home with Jesus fills our hearts with peace and anticipation. Heaven is not just an abstract idea or a distant place, but it is God’s promised home for those who believe in Him. Today, we will explore what heaven will be like according to Scripture, how it intersects with the new earth, and why this promise is central to our faith.
1. Heaven: God’s Dwelling Place
Heaven is described as the central dwelling place of God, where He rules the universe from His throne. Although God is omnipresent, heaven is uniquely where His glory is most fully displayed. The Bible promises that when Christians die, they immediately go to heaven to be with Christ (Luke 23:43). However, this is not the final destination. One day, God will bring heaven down to earth, transforming the current heaven into what the Bible calls the “new heaven and new earth.”
This concept is revolutionary. While many imagine that heaven is a place where believers escape the troubles of the earth, the Bible reveals that God’s ultimate plan is to dwell with His people on a renewed earth. As Revelation 21:1 says, “Then I saw ‘a new heaven and a new earth,’ for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away.”
2. Heaven on Earth: The New Creation
God’s plan has always included not only redeeming humanity but also restoring creation. The fall of Adam and Eve affected not only mankind but the entire universe. However, God’s redemption plan extends to all of creation. Isaiah 65:17 promises, “See, I will create new heavens and a new earth.” This new earth will be free from sin, corruption, and death.
The future heaven, or new earth, will be a place where the glory of God is fully revealed. Jesus’ resurrection secured this future, as His victory over sin and death ensures that all of creation will be renewed. It will be a place of perfect fulfillment, joy, and peace—a world where God Himself will walk with His people once more, just as He did in the Garden of Eden.
3. The Throne of God: Reigning with Christ
In the present heaven, God’s throne is the central feature. Yet, when the new earth is created, His throne will be established there. Revelation 22:3 says, “The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city.” This means that the new earth will literally be “heaven on earth.”
Believers will reign with Christ in this new creation, reflecting the original purpose for humanity. In Genesis 1:28, God gave Adam and Eve dominion over the earth, and in the new earth, this dominion will be fully realised. Believers will serve God, not in tedious labour but in joyful, meaningful work. The Bible promises that we will reign with Him forever, ruling as His children in a perfect, restored world.
4. The Uniting of Heaven and Earth
A remarkable truth about the new heaven and new earth is that they will not be two separate realms. Instead, they will be united under Christ. Ephesians 1:10 describes God’s plan to “bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.” This means that there will no longer be a division between the spiritual and physical realms.
Just as the curtain separating God from humanity was torn when Christ died, the barrier between heaven and earth will be removed in the new creation. The result will be one seamless universe, where God dwells among His people forever.
5. The Wonders of the Holy City: New Jerusalem
The Bible describes the New Jerusalem as a city of unparalleled beauty and glory. Revelation 21:2 reveals that the city will descend from heaven to earth, and it will be the capital of the new earth. This city is described as having gates that are always open and streets of pure gold. Revelation 21:24 says, “The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendour into it.”
This implies that the new earth will have cultures, nations, and rulers—all redeemed and purified. The diversity of people and cultures on the new earth will reflect the creativity of God. All the best aspects of history, culture, and art will be restored and redeemed for God’s glory.
6. Life on the New Earth: Joy and Fulfillment
Life on the new earth will be anything but boring. Some people mistakenly believe that heaven will be a place of endless inactivity, but this is far from the truth. Revelation 22:3 tells us that “His servants will serve Him.” Our work in heaven will be fulfilling and without the curse of sin. We will use our talents and gifts to glorify God in everything we do, and our desires will perfectly align with His will.
The new earth will also be a place of feasting, fellowship, and joy. Matthew 8:11 promises that we will dine with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. The Bible often depicts heaven as a banquet, where we will enjoy food, drink, and celebration with Christ as the guest of honour.
We will also have the opportunity to continue learning, growing, and exploring God’s creation. The wonders of the new earth will be endless, as Ephesians 2:7 says, “in the coming ages He will show the immeasurable riches of His grace.” We will spend eternity discovering new aspects of God’s greatness and beauty.
7. The Restoration of Relationships and Creation
One of the most comforting promises of the new earth is the restoration of relationships. In heaven, all brokenness will be healed. There will be no more pain, sorrow, or death. God will wipe every tear from our eyes, and we will be reunited with loved ones who have also placed their faith in Christ. The relationships we experience in heaven will be free from sin and full of love, as we will know each other fully and perfectly in Christ.
Moreover, the new earth will see the restoration of creation itself. The Bible suggests that even animals will be present on the new earth. Isaiah 65:25 describes a world where “the wolf and the lamb will feed together.” This imagery points to a peace that extends to all of creation.
Conclusion
Heaven, as revealed in Scripture, is not a distant or abstract place. It is our true home, where we will dwell with God forever. The new heaven and new earth will be a place of unimaginable beauty, joy, and fulfillment. As we look forward to this future, we are reminded of God’s incredible love and grace. He desires to be with us, and His plan from the beginning has been to dwell among His people. Let us live in light of this hope, sharing the good news of the gospel and anticipating the day when heaven and earth are united under Christ.
Stay blessed!
For further inquiries please contact us on Tel Nos. 0302-772013 or 0268130615
Email: saltnlightministries@gmail.com
Website: saltandlightgh. org
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- By Dr Joyce Aryee, the author
Fruitful Living
National Chief Imam blesses Muslim Youth in Agriculture project
The National Chief Imam with Mr Mensah at his residence at Fadama
The National Chief Imam, Sheikh (Dr) Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, has urged Ghanaian Muslims to venture into agriculture in order to enhanced food security in the country.
The Chief Imam said this when the Managing Director of Sky Dolphin Limited, Wisdom Mensah, paid a courtesy call on him at his residence at Fadama, a suburb of Accra on Monday.
Mr Mensah presented a gift to the National Chief Imam in support of his planned anniversary of the birth of Prophet Muhammad (Maulid) which comes off today October 5 at Fadama.
The National Chief Imam asked for Allah’s blessing for the success of the Muslim Youth in Agriculture project.
Mr Mensah is supervising the Muslim Youth in Agriculture project, a partnership between the Muslim community and the Sky Dolphin Limited, which involves novel aquaponics project, a mixture of fish farming and crop farming, aimed at creating jobs for the teeming unemployed Muslim youth as well as vulnerable rural Muslim women.
The representatives of the Islamic Community on the Muslim Youth in Agriculture, aquaponics projects are Sheikh Mustapha Ibrahim, the founder and chairman of the Islamic Council for Development and Humanitarian Services in Ghana (ICODEHS) and Special Advisor to the National Chief Imam, Imam Mohammed Awal Alhassan, the Metropolitan Chief Imam of Takoradi and Greater Accra Chief Imam of the Dagomba Community, Sheikh Yusuf Farouk Alhassan Umar Yussifiya, the Imam of Yussifiya Mosque in Kumasi and Acting Chairman of the National Hilal Committee of Ghana and Alhaji Khuzaima Mohammed Osman, Eminent Member and Chairman of the Greater Accra Regional Peace Council of the National Peace Council of Ghana and Executive Secretary of the Tijjaniya
By Spectator Reporter
