February 2, 2025 • 25 mins
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:11):
Can I tell you a secret. There are lots of
Christians that love God, that know they are born again,
and they're facing death and are you ready? They're afraid
to die. This message is going to help you, really
help some other people. You don't want to miss it.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
Welcome to this edition of Living on the Edge with
Chip Ingram. We are a discipleship driven ministry on a
mission to encourage Christians everywhere to live like Christians. If
you were to ask one hundred people what's your biggest fear,
the overwhelming majority would probably say dying. So today Chip
picks up in our series be strong and courageous by
(00:53):
looking at why so many people are terrified of death
and a hopeful message that Jesus and the Gospel provide.
But before Chip gets going, if this is your first
time listening to our program, or you want to learn
more about Living on the Edge, visit Livingontheedge dot org.
You'll find resources on tons of topics and countless programs
(01:13):
to enjoy. Or if you prefer the Chip and gramap
is also a great way to get plugged in with
our ministry. Well, if you're ready, go to Psalm chapter
sixteen in your Bible as we settle in for chips talk.
I will live forever.
Speaker 1 (01:28):
I'll never forget. A conversation I had with my father
was shortly before he died. He was eighty four years old.
He was very athletic. I mean at seventy he did
a one hundred mile bike ride and at seventy two
and three he was playing softball with thirty year olds.
It was so tragic because he had a rare disease
that started with his feet and moved up where he
(01:49):
got to the point where he couldn't use his body,
and he was very, very frail. He knew he was
going to die and he said, Chip, I really, I
really want to talk to you. Would you can you come?
I said, well, shared absolutely, And you need a little
context for my father to get this conversation. A self
made man at sixteen and a half, went into World
(02:10):
War Two. He was a fifty caliber machine gunner who's
a big, strong, strapping guy, very athletic. So his mom
signed for him to go into the war and so
he was in Guam Ewojima. I've got his purple heart here.
While he was in Ewojima, rarely talked about it, and
they had dug a big ditch and the people were
(02:31):
coming over the hill, and he said it was just horrendous.
It was like cutting grass. I killed so many people,
lived with very overwhelming guilt, became a pretty functioning alcoholic
until it got to where it was really unmanageable. But
he was very damaged, and after he came out of
the war, he was that guy that everyone told me
(02:52):
when things were happening, don't mess with rev. That's what
he went by. He'll knock you out. And I was
afraid of my dad. I mean, he was a really strong,
not isolent toward us or anything, but sort of the
John Wayne kind of man. And the alcohol got to
a point where it was just ruining his life or family.
I'll never forget. I was a senior in high school
(03:14):
and it got where he drank right after he was
a school teacher from three till dinner time. Then he
missed dinner and then it was eleven o'clock at night,
and just had lots of issues that never got resolved.
As I look back, I remember my mom holding up
a bottle of beer and said, you can have this
or me and the kids, but you need to choose.
And you got forty eight hours and so without any help,
(03:36):
no rehab, no anything. He's a marine. He chose stopped drinking,
went through a lot of withdrawal of different things. But
I want you to get that picture of this. I
can handle it. I can do it. And he did,
and in fact, he'd stopped drinking for two weeks. He said,
you know, I smoked three and a half packs a day,
and I'm a science teacher. Probably not a good example.
(03:57):
I think I'll quit that too, So he did as
a moment of mild humor. All I can tell you
is when he quit both, I wanted to give him
a beer. He was so irritable and mean for a while,
but I didn't. A great thing happened in his mid fifties.
He saw the change in my life, my sister's life,
and I'll never forget. I came back from my first
(04:18):
year of college. I trusted christ right after high school.
And he said, I do not know what you have chip,
but I wanted and I said, well, Dad, I'm not
sure what you mean. He goes, there's a piece about
your life, and I have sought that. How do you
get that? And I would love to tell you the
longer story at another time trusted Christ, of course on
(04:40):
his own in the bedroom, and then he grew, he
got in the Bible, he started serving. His life dramatically changed.
And so now we're back. He's eighty four years old.
He's still having nightmares even after being a follower of Christ.
What he experienced in Guam and Iwo Jima, especially every
(05:01):
other guy in his unit was killed, and so he
lived with the guilt of that along with the injury
that he got. And here's what he says, Chip, I
know Jesus loves me. I know God so loved the
world that he gave his one and only son that
whoever believes in him shouldn't perish, but has everlasting life.
(05:23):
And I'm afraid to die. What do I do? I'm
really afraid to die. I'm a Christian. I shouldn't be
afraid to die. Why am I afraid to die? And
that started a really serious conversation. And I'll come back
at the end of this talk and tell you what
helped him the most, because I think it can help you.
(05:46):
But as I've done reading, I've heard from the experts
that two of the most common fears of all people
fear of death and the other is fear of public speaking.
Not to put those in the same category, but that's
just what the experts say. And here's what I know too.
My father was probably a lot more honest than most Christians.
(06:10):
When we look at the behavior of Christians and sometimes
the lack of risk, and I mean all the supplements
and all the anti aging, and you would think the
number one goal of all of life is whatever you do,
don't die. And yet it's a terminal disease. So far,
there's one hundred percent of the people that have lived,
with a couple of exceptions that God took home. We're
(06:33):
going to die. And it can be like a shadow
in the back of your mind, and you can intellectually,
I have trusted Jesus. I know Jesus, this is what
he's done. I believe in him, and that can be
very real, and yet still have a fear of death.
And so I want to give you a declaration. I
want to talk and help you and help me to
(06:54):
be bold and courageous. And we're going to look at
Psalm sixteen because in some say Sen David gives us,
I mean the greatest evidence and the greatest perspective about
how to face death. How to look at death. I mean,
David came close to death multiple times, and he reminds
us that we can declare with absolute confidence if you've
(07:18):
received Christ, if you're a follower of Jesus, you can
say I will live forever. It's true, you can overcome
the fear of death. My observation, as people get older
and older, it actually gets bigger and bigger and bigger.
And my years as a pastor tells me there's a
lot of people that are getting older and older and
(07:39):
older that they don't say anything because, I mean, talk
about politically incorrect in a church, especially if you've served
and you've loved God for ten or twenty or thirty
or forty years and say I'm afraid to die. I mean,
who are you going to tell that to? But what
I know, there's a lot of people that love Jesus
that are truly born again, and for a number of reasons,
(08:01):
they're afraid to die. And Psalm sixteen is going to
be just an incredible help to you. It's been an
incredible help to me. It was a great help to
my father. And in Psalm sixteen David he didn't have
the proof of the resurrection but he had a conviction
from God. In fact, it was so powerful that God
(08:22):
speaks through David in this Psalm. And when Peter in
acts chapter two, when he's making the case for the
resurrection and that Jesus was truly God and that he
rose from the dead, Peter reaches back into Psalm sixteen
and he pulls out a verse and he says, see,
God promised he wouldn't let his body see decay. It's messianic,
(08:44):
it's prophecy, and that was the proof. And David believed
that no matter what happened to him, that he would
in fact be resurrected, that there was life after death,
that he would be face to face with Yahweh, his
God and his King.
Speaker 2 (09:01):
You're listening to Living on the Edge with Chip. Ingram
will return you to Chip's message in just a minute,
But let me quickly share with you God has called
us to do incredible ministry work all around the world,
and when you regularly give to Living on the Edge,
you're a part of what we do. So consider becoming
a monthly partner today. Then visit Livingontheedge dot org. We
(09:23):
appreciate your generous support. Well with that, here's Chip.
Speaker 1 (09:28):
So what he does in Psalm sixteen is very much
like Jesus said in John chapter five, where he says,
I want you to look above. I want you to
look around. I want you to look within, and then
I want you to look beyond. And before I go on,
can I clear something up? I think a lot of Christians,
(09:48):
well meaning Christians, think that eternal life begins the day
after you die and you're with Jesus, right, eternal life,
because it sounds like a long time. I love Jesus,
He's forgiven my sins. I believe in him. So when
I died, then I get eternal life. Can I tell
you that is absolutely theologically, completely incorrect. Eternal life is
(10:13):
a quality of life. It's the presence of Jesus. It's
the very life of Christ that lives in you. And
so it begins the moment you trust him, and it
goes on forever and ever and ever and ever. If
you're a follower of Jesus, you will live forever. And
notice what he said when he was teaching in John
five twenty four, he says, truly, truly, he wanted to
(10:36):
make a point, he would repeat something or the old
version is verily verily. I mean, in other words, get
this down. I say to you he that hears my
word and believes on him who sent me. Notice the
verb has eternal life. What are the implications and does
not come into judgment. But notice the tents of the
(10:56):
verb has passed out of death into life. When you
repented of your sin and you receive the free gift
of God in Christ, he says you have eternal life.
The spirit entered your life, sealed you, He deposited spiritual gifts.
(11:19):
You presently have an inheritance. You have all the power
that you need, and you can know this for sure.
Let me read one other passage from the same author.
In First John, he was speaking to a group of
people that were struggling, and he wanted them to understand
that you know when you have a genuine relationship with Jesus.
The whole theme of First John is what you've experienced
(11:41):
in your new life with Jesus plays out in your
relationship horizontally with others. And then he wanted them to
know that you don't have to guess. I hope someday,
I hope someway I'll make it to heaven. In One John,
five verses eleven through thirteen. He says, this is the record,
these are the facts, or this is the witness. And
(12:02):
here it is that God has given us eternal life,
and this life is in his son. So he says,
first of all, it's a gift. It's in his son,
and God has given us his son. Then verse twelve,
it's very simple. He who has the Son has life.
He who does not have the Son does not have life.
(12:26):
He doesn't say, he who goes to church doesn't say.
He who's a moral person doesn't say. He who's sincere
and tries hard. It says, he who has the Son
has life. He who doesn't have the Son does not
have life. Then notice verse thirteen. These things I've written
to you who believe you've put your faith in Christ,
(12:49):
in the name of the Son of God, in order
that you may know that you have eternal life. Eternal
life isn't something you have to guess about. Christ died
in our place on the cross. His death paid once
and for all for the sins of all people of
all time. In that moment, as he hung on the cross,
(13:10):
the just wrath of God took your sin, my sin,
and sins of all people. And he became our sin bearer,
and the word is atonement. He covered our sin. So
God has forgiven. So the gospel is good news, is
that God loves you despite your sin, and if you'll turn,
he'll guide and direct you, and he'll give you his word.
(13:31):
He'll put you in a community of believers, and he
wants to use your life like you can never dream.
That's eternal life. When we die, we just move from
experiencing that in a fleshly body to what a new world.
And what we know is there's going to be a
new heaven and a new earth, and we get new
bodies to be absent from the body. The Bible says
(13:55):
is to be at home with the Lord. So let's
walk through perspective. David's going to look. First place he looks,
He looks above and he prays. He says in Psalm sixteen,
keep me safe, Oh God, for in you I take refuge.
I said to the Lord, you are my Lord. Apart
from you, I have no good thing. It's interesting in
(14:17):
this one little verse he uses three different words for God.
Where he says keep me safe, Oh God, it is
just l It's the most common word for God, and
all the old Testament when he goes on and says,
I said to the Lord all capitals, that's Yahweh, that's
God's personal name. That's the picture of God as Creator,
(14:38):
as sovereign, the one who shapes the world and all
that there is. And then he goes on to say,
you are my lord Adami. And the inference of Adenai
has to do a lot with who's your master? Who
do you report to? Who are you responsible to? Who
do you take orders from? He says, I take refuge
in God, this personal God, and you are my master.
(15:02):
Or in the words of Paul, for those of us
that are followers of Christ, we would say it like
this Romans chapter twelve, verse one. Therefore, in view of
God's great mercy and forgiveness, offer your body as a
living sacrifice, wholly and acceptable to God. This is your
spiritual service of worship. And what he's basically saying is
(15:23):
I'm all yours, and I'm all in, and apart from you,
I have no good. You are my life. And he
prays first about keep me safe because there's danger, and
then second it's a prayer of dedication, and he says,
in a world with chaos and a world with struggle
in a world with danger, in a world of uncertainty. Lord,
(15:44):
First would you keep me safe? And then second, I
want you to know I'm all yours. And so after
he looks above and prays, he looks around and he
loves notice his perspective because of this position, this intimacy
with God, his Master, and his creator. He says, as
for the saints who are in the land, they are
(16:06):
the glorious ones in whom is all my delight. And
he's saying, God, you know, even in the midst of
a fallen world, you have given me these incredible relationships.
Think about you, Think about the people that God has
brought in your life. A certainly family, but I'm talking
about people who walk with God, people who've discipled you,
(16:27):
people that you do life with, people that you've laughed with,
people that you've wept with, people that have encouraged you.
Just you know, multiple people just come to my mind,
and I think, what a delight, what a joy? And
what is it that holds us together? It's our common
beond in Jesus Christ. Just recently I had a privilege
of going to Korea where about five thousand or so
(16:50):
leaders from all around the world two hundred in some countries,
and we gathered and we worshiped together, and we prayed
and we heard messages from God's word. And then they
put us in one room, if you can believe, five
thousand people around tables. And then they mixed us up.
And so I'm with a guy from India over here,
in Africa over here, and a woman from Siberia. And
(17:11):
I never met any of them. And I mean within
two or three three days we were talking and sharing
and praying. Do you realize how rare that is? And
then I had a conversation with a guy from South
Africa I never met. He was just over there drinking coffee.
And I remember writing in my journal, Lord, I have
no idea. I have no idea why I met that guy.
(17:32):
But I'll tell you what sure was fine. I liked him.
And it's kind of like this, the saints in the land,
the glorious ones in whom is all my delight.
Speaker 2 (17:48):
This is living on the Edge with Chip Ingram. And
you've been listening to part one of Chip's message, I
will live forever overcoming the fear of death from our series,
Be strong and courageous. Chip will be back shortly to
share some helpful application for us to think about. Life
is full of intense challenges that can shake our faith
and leave us feeling lost. So how can we spiritually
(18:10):
ground ourselves and persevere no matter what comes our way?
Well through this new study in the Book of Psalms,
Chip digs into eight core chapters that will help us
overcome the most harmful emotions and feelings we'll face. Don't
miss how to handle cynicism, discouragement, injustice, fear, and more.
To catch up on this entire series, listen through the
(18:31):
chip Ingram map or at Livingontheedge dot org. Well, Chip
still with me in studio and chip all throughout this series.
You're identifying the prevalent fears Christians are dealing with and
revealing how to fight back. Take a minute if you want,
and talk about a resource that we have that helps
believers call out these emotions and circumstances they're struggling with
(18:52):
and bring them to God.
Speaker 1 (18:54):
Well, Dave, you really hit the nail on the head.
There is something to getting our years and our anxieties
and negative emotions out of our head. If you don't
get them out of your head, they just start doing
laps right I mean, they just keep going round and round.
And the picture I have is, you know, sometimes there's
(19:14):
bacteria and it's hidden and it's causing a problem. And
if you take that bacteria and you put it into
the sunlight, it literally evaporates. There's something about getting them
out in the open where you can look at them objectively,
and sometimes that's talking with another person. That can be
a very good way to do it. But especially as
you're starting your day or as you can't sleep at night.
(19:36):
One of the greatest tools that I think we've produced
is a prayer journal. I do this two to three
or four times a week, and sometimes when I'm struggling,
I do it every day. But I don't use a
journal like I've got to record all my days. What
I want to do with a journal is say what's
going on inside of me? You know. I often start
it with I feel and then dot dot dot, you know,
(19:58):
I feel happy about, or I feel concerned about, or
I feel anxious about, or I feel very afraid that
this might happen. And I write that out in my journal,
and then what is very helpful for me is right
underneath that. Then I make a tiny little box and
then I put a dash and I turn that fear
into a prayer request. Lord, I'm very concerned about one
(20:20):
of my grandchildren, and I put that little box. Father,
I right now commit that to you. I ask you
to direct my path to know what you want me
to do with regard to dot dot dot. Let me
encourage you. Don't let those negative emotions and fears and
concerns and anxieties keep doing laps inside your brain. Write
(20:42):
them down, get them out, and then the joy is
being able to look back and see God's faithfulness at
what you are so concerned about just a month ago,
and what it really does is build your faith. I
highly recommend using a journal to help you grow.
Speaker 2 (20:57):
To learn more about our prayer journals, visit Living on
the Edge dot org or call us at triple eight
three three three six zero zero three. These beautiful compact
notebooks have plenty of space for your prayers and personal journaling,
along with scripture verses, hymn lyrics, and quotes to encourage you.
If you want a more intentional and enriching time with God,
(21:19):
this tool will help. For more details about our prayer journals,
visit Living on the Edge dot org or call triple
eight three three three six zero zero three. App Listener's
tap special offers, well, here again is Chip to share
some application for what we heard today.
Speaker 1 (21:36):
Thanks so much, Dave. There are certain Psalms that when
I start feeling discouraged, I just go to and in
Psalm sixteen we get this fantastic picture of David, despite
his struggles, despite his failures, his things that he's done
terribly wrong. He kind of has this rear view mirror
(21:57):
experience and he looks backward and and then he starts
plugging in all the benefits, all the beauty, all the grace,
all the love, all the people. And what I want
to say to you today is by the time he
gets to the end, what he realizes is that he's
going to be with the Father forever. I mean, this
(22:18):
is one of the clearest Old Testament teachings on the
resurrection that there is in all of the Bible. And
so I've got two applications for you. Number one is
get a sheet of paper out, especially if you're a
bit discouraged, and just start writing the names of people
that have blessed you, the names of anything good that's
ever happened in your life. You will fill a page
(22:40):
faster than you can believe, and your emotions and your
perspective will change radically, because for every ten great things
that happened to us, one or two bad ones. That's
where our mind goes and we start looking at life
that way. The second thing is some of you are
saying chip you have no idea what I've been through. Well,
here's what I can tell you as a follower of Christ,
(23:01):
and I don't minimize any of your pain. You are
going to be with Jesus, and this thing called time
is very very very short, and eternity is very very
very long. And so the word I have for you
is the anchor of your life, and your hope is
eternal life and heaven. That's real. If you do not
(23:21):
know with all your heart that if you would die
at this moment, that you would spend ettorney with Jesus,
knowing his death and resurrection has paid for your sin,
and he offered you eternal life if you would turn
from your sin and put your faith in him. I
plead with you right now, get alone with God. Tell
him you're sorry for where you've sinned, Ask him to
(23:44):
forgive you. Put your trust in Christ and Christ alone
and his resurrection. Do that today and then tell the
greatest Christian that you know I pray to prayer. I
need some help. I want to have eternal life and
I want it with you jes Go to our website
or give us a call and we can give you
(24:04):
some help.
Speaker 2 (24:05):
Thanks Jim. Well, if you prayed to receive Christ, we
do have a free resource we'd like to put in
your hands that was created specifically for new believers. This
tool will help you understand what it means to trust
in Jesus and what to do next. Request this free
resource by calling Triple eight three three three six zero
zero three or visiting Living Ontheedge dot org then clicking
(24:28):
the new believer's button that's Living on the Edge dot
org or call Triple eight three three three six zero
zero three. Let us help you get started in your
faith journey. We'll listen and next time as Chip picks
up in a series, be strong and courageous. Until then,
this is Dave Druey saying thanks for joining us for
this edition of Living on the Edge.
Can I tell you a secret. There are lots of
Christians that love God, that know they are born again,
and they're facing death and are you ready? They're afraid
to die. This message is going to help you, really
help some other people. You don't want to miss it.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
Welcome to this edition of Living on the Edge with
Chip Ingram. We are a discipleship driven ministry on a
mission to encourage Christians everywhere to live like Christians. If
you were to ask one hundred people what's your biggest fear,
the overwhelming majority would probably say dying. So today Chip
picks up in our series be strong and courageous by
(00:53):
looking at why so many people are terrified of death
and a hopeful message that Jesus and the Gospel provide.
But before Chip gets going, if this is your first
time listening to our program, or you want to learn
more about Living on the Edge, visit Livingontheedge dot org.
You'll find resources on tons of topics and countless programs
(01:13):
to enjoy. Or if you prefer the Chip and gramap
is also a great way to get plugged in with
our ministry. Well, if you're ready, go to Psalm chapter
sixteen in your Bible as we settle in for chips talk.
I will live forever.
Speaker 1 (01:28):
I'll never forget. A conversation I had with my father
was shortly before he died. He was eighty four years old.
He was very athletic. I mean at seventy he did
a one hundred mile bike ride and at seventy two
and three he was playing softball with thirty year olds.
It was so tragic because he had a rare disease
that started with his feet and moved up where he
(01:49):
got to the point where he couldn't use his body,
and he was very, very frail. He knew he was
going to die and he said, Chip, I really, I
really want to talk to you. Would you can you come?
I said, well, shared absolutely, And you need a little
context for my father to get this conversation. A self
made man at sixteen and a half, went into World
(02:10):
War Two. He was a fifty caliber machine gunner who's
a big, strong, strapping guy, very athletic. So his mom
signed for him to go into the war and so
he was in Guam Ewojima. I've got his purple heart here.
While he was in Ewojima, rarely talked about it, and
they had dug a big ditch and the people were
(02:31):
coming over the hill, and he said it was just horrendous.
It was like cutting grass. I killed so many people,
lived with very overwhelming guilt, became a pretty functioning alcoholic
until it got to where it was really unmanageable. But
he was very damaged, and after he came out of
the war, he was that guy that everyone told me
(02:52):
when things were happening, don't mess with rev. That's what
he went by. He'll knock you out. And I was
afraid of my dad. I mean, he was a really strong,
not isolent toward us or anything, but sort of the
John Wayne kind of man. And the alcohol got to
a point where it was just ruining his life or family.
I'll never forget. I was a senior in high school
(03:14):
and it got where he drank right after he was
a school teacher from three till dinner time. Then he
missed dinner and then it was eleven o'clock at night,
and just had lots of issues that never got resolved.
As I look back, I remember my mom holding up
a bottle of beer and said, you can have this
or me and the kids, but you need to choose.
And you got forty eight hours and so without any help,
(03:36):
no rehab, no anything. He's a marine. He chose stopped drinking,
went through a lot of withdrawal of different things. But
I want you to get that picture of this. I
can handle it. I can do it. And he did,
and in fact, he'd stopped drinking for two weeks. He said,
you know, I smoked three and a half packs a day,
and I'm a science teacher. Probably not a good example.
(03:57):
I think I'll quit that too, So he did as
a moment of mild humor. All I can tell you
is when he quit both, I wanted to give him
a beer. He was so irritable and mean for a while,
but I didn't. A great thing happened in his mid fifties.
He saw the change in my life, my sister's life,
and I'll never forget. I came back from my first
(04:18):
year of college. I trusted christ right after high school.
And he said, I do not know what you have chip,
but I wanted and I said, well, Dad, I'm not
sure what you mean. He goes, there's a piece about
your life, and I have sought that. How do you
get that? And I would love to tell you the
longer story at another time trusted Christ, of course on
(04:40):
his own in the bedroom, and then he grew, he
got in the Bible, he started serving. His life dramatically changed.
And so now we're back. He's eighty four years old.
He's still having nightmares even after being a follower of Christ.
What he experienced in Guam and Iwo Jima, especially every
(05:01):
other guy in his unit was killed, and so he
lived with the guilt of that along with the injury
that he got. And here's what he says, Chip, I
know Jesus loves me. I know God so loved the
world that he gave his one and only son that
whoever believes in him shouldn't perish, but has everlasting life.
(05:23):
And I'm afraid to die. What do I do? I'm
really afraid to die. I'm a Christian. I shouldn't be
afraid to die. Why am I afraid to die? And
that started a really serious conversation. And I'll come back
at the end of this talk and tell you what
helped him the most, because I think it can help you.
(05:46):
But as I've done reading, I've heard from the experts
that two of the most common fears of all people
fear of death and the other is fear of public speaking.
Not to put those in the same category, but that's
just what the experts say. And here's what I know too.
My father was probably a lot more honest than most Christians.
(06:10):
When we look at the behavior of Christians and sometimes
the lack of risk, and I mean all the supplements
and all the anti aging, and you would think the
number one goal of all of life is whatever you do,
don't die. And yet it's a terminal disease. So far,
there's one hundred percent of the people that have lived,
with a couple of exceptions that God took home. We're
(06:33):
going to die. And it can be like a shadow
in the back of your mind, and you can intellectually,
I have trusted Jesus. I know Jesus, this is what
he's done. I believe in him, and that can be
very real, and yet still have a fear of death.
And so I want to give you a declaration. I
want to talk and help you and help me to
(06:54):
be bold and courageous. And we're going to look at
Psalm sixteen because in some say Sen David gives us,
I mean the greatest evidence and the greatest perspective about
how to face death. How to look at death. I mean,
David came close to death multiple times, and he reminds
us that we can declare with absolute confidence if you've
(07:18):
received Christ, if you're a follower of Jesus, you can
say I will live forever. It's true, you can overcome
the fear of death. My observation, as people get older
and older, it actually gets bigger and bigger and bigger.
And my years as a pastor tells me there's a
lot of people that are getting older and older and
(07:39):
older that they don't say anything because, I mean, talk
about politically incorrect in a church, especially if you've served
and you've loved God for ten or twenty or thirty
or forty years and say I'm afraid to die. I mean,
who are you going to tell that to? But what
I know, there's a lot of people that love Jesus
that are truly born again, and for a number of reasons,
(08:01):
they're afraid to die. And Psalm sixteen is going to
be just an incredible help to you. It's been an
incredible help to me. It was a great help to
my father. And in Psalm sixteen David he didn't have
the proof of the resurrection but he had a conviction
from God. In fact, it was so powerful that God
(08:22):
speaks through David in this Psalm. And when Peter in
acts chapter two, when he's making the case for the
resurrection and that Jesus was truly God and that he
rose from the dead, Peter reaches back into Psalm sixteen
and he pulls out a verse and he says, see,
God promised he wouldn't let his body see decay. It's messianic,
(08:44):
it's prophecy, and that was the proof. And David believed
that no matter what happened to him, that he would
in fact be resurrected, that there was life after death,
that he would be face to face with Yahweh, his
God and his King.
Speaker 2 (09:01):
You're listening to Living on the Edge with Chip. Ingram
will return you to Chip's message in just a minute,
But let me quickly share with you God has called
us to do incredible ministry work all around the world,
and when you regularly give to Living on the Edge,
you're a part of what we do. So consider becoming
a monthly partner today. Then visit Livingontheedge dot org. We
(09:23):
appreciate your generous support. Well with that, here's Chip.
Speaker 1 (09:28):
So what he does in Psalm sixteen is very much
like Jesus said in John chapter five, where he says,
I want you to look above. I want you to
look around. I want you to look within, and then
I want you to look beyond. And before I go on,
can I clear something up? I think a lot of Christians,
(09:48):
well meaning Christians, think that eternal life begins the day
after you die and you're with Jesus, right, eternal life,
because it sounds like a long time. I love Jesus,
He's forgiven my sins. I believe in him. So when
I died, then I get eternal life. Can I tell
you that is absolutely theologically, completely incorrect. Eternal life is
(10:13):
a quality of life. It's the presence of Jesus. It's
the very life of Christ that lives in you. And
so it begins the moment you trust him, and it
goes on forever and ever and ever and ever. If
you're a follower of Jesus, you will live forever. And
notice what he said when he was teaching in John
five twenty four, he says, truly, truly, he wanted to
(10:36):
make a point, he would repeat something or the old
version is verily verily. I mean, in other words, get
this down. I say to you he that hears my
word and believes on him who sent me. Notice the
verb has eternal life. What are the implications and does
not come into judgment. But notice the tents of the
(10:56):
verb has passed out of death into life. When you
repented of your sin and you receive the free gift
of God in Christ, he says you have eternal life.
The spirit entered your life, sealed you, He deposited spiritual gifts.
(11:19):
You presently have an inheritance. You have all the power
that you need, and you can know this for sure.
Let me read one other passage from the same author.
In First John, he was speaking to a group of
people that were struggling, and he wanted them to understand
that you know when you have a genuine relationship with Jesus.
The whole theme of First John is what you've experienced
(11:41):
in your new life with Jesus plays out in your
relationship horizontally with others. And then he wanted them to
know that you don't have to guess. I hope someday,
I hope someway I'll make it to heaven. In One John,
five verses eleven through thirteen. He says, this is the record,
these are the facts, or this is the witness. And
(12:02):
here it is that God has given us eternal life,
and this life is in his son. So he says,
first of all, it's a gift. It's in his son,
and God has given us his son. Then verse twelve,
it's very simple. He who has the Son has life.
He who does not have the Son does not have life.
(12:26):
He doesn't say, he who goes to church doesn't say.
He who's a moral person doesn't say. He who's sincere
and tries hard. It says, he who has the Son
has life. He who doesn't have the Son does not
have life. Then notice verse thirteen. These things I've written
to you who believe you've put your faith in Christ,
(12:49):
in the name of the Son of God, in order
that you may know that you have eternal life. Eternal
life isn't something you have to guess about. Christ died
in our place on the cross. His death paid once
and for all for the sins of all people of
all time. In that moment, as he hung on the cross,
(13:10):
the just wrath of God took your sin, my sin,
and sins of all people. And he became our sin bearer,
and the word is atonement. He covered our sin. So
God has forgiven. So the gospel is good news, is
that God loves you despite your sin, and if you'll turn,
he'll guide and direct you, and he'll give you his word.
(13:31):
He'll put you in a community of believers, and he
wants to use your life like you can never dream.
That's eternal life. When we die, we just move from
experiencing that in a fleshly body to what a new world.
And what we know is there's going to be a
new heaven and a new earth, and we get new
bodies to be absent from the body. The Bible says
(13:55):
is to be at home with the Lord. So let's
walk through perspective. David's going to look. First place he looks,
He looks above and he prays. He says in Psalm sixteen,
keep me safe, Oh God, for in you I take refuge.
I said to the Lord, you are my Lord. Apart
from you, I have no good thing. It's interesting in
(14:17):
this one little verse he uses three different words for God.
Where he says keep me safe, Oh God, it is
just l It's the most common word for God, and
all the old Testament when he goes on and says,
I said to the Lord all capitals, that's Yahweh, that's
God's personal name. That's the picture of God as Creator,
(14:38):
as sovereign, the one who shapes the world and all
that there is. And then he goes on to say,
you are my lord Adami. And the inference of Adenai
has to do a lot with who's your master? Who
do you report to? Who are you responsible to? Who
do you take orders from? He says, I take refuge
in God, this personal God, and you are my master.
(15:02):
Or in the words of Paul, for those of us
that are followers of Christ, we would say it like
this Romans chapter twelve, verse one. Therefore, in view of
God's great mercy and forgiveness, offer your body as a
living sacrifice, wholly and acceptable to God. This is your
spiritual service of worship. And what he's basically saying is
(15:23):
I'm all yours, and I'm all in, and apart from you,
I have no good. You are my life. And he
prays first about keep me safe because there's danger, and
then second it's a prayer of dedication, and he says,
in a world with chaos and a world with struggle
in a world with danger, in a world of uncertainty. Lord,
(15:44):
First would you keep me safe? And then second, I
want you to know I'm all yours. And so after
he looks above and prays, he looks around and he
loves notice his perspective because of this position, this intimacy
with God, his Master, and his creator. He says, as
for the saints who are in the land, they are
(16:06):
the glorious ones in whom is all my delight. And
he's saying, God, you know, even in the midst of
a fallen world, you have given me these incredible relationships.
Think about you, Think about the people that God has
brought in your life. A certainly family, but I'm talking
about people who walk with God, people who've discipled you,
(16:27):
people that you do life with, people that you've laughed with,
people that you've wept with, people that have encouraged you.
Just you know, multiple people just come to my mind,
and I think, what a delight, what a joy? And
what is it that holds us together? It's our common
beond in Jesus Christ. Just recently I had a privilege
of going to Korea where about five thousand or so
(16:50):
leaders from all around the world two hundred in some countries,
and we gathered and we worshiped together, and we prayed
and we heard messages from God's word. And then they
put us in one room, if you can believe, five
thousand people around tables. And then they mixed us up.
And so I'm with a guy from India over here,
in Africa over here, and a woman from Siberia. And
(17:11):
I never met any of them. And I mean within
two or three three days we were talking and sharing
and praying. Do you realize how rare that is? And
then I had a conversation with a guy from South
Africa I never met. He was just over there drinking coffee.
And I remember writing in my journal, Lord, I have
no idea. I have no idea why I met that guy.
(17:32):
But I'll tell you what sure was fine. I liked him.
And it's kind of like this, the saints in the land,
the glorious ones in whom is all my delight.
Speaker 2 (17:48):
This is living on the Edge with Chip Ingram. And
you've been listening to part one of Chip's message, I
will live forever overcoming the fear of death from our series,
Be strong and courageous. Chip will be back shortly to
share some helpful application for us to think about. Life
is full of intense challenges that can shake our faith
and leave us feeling lost. So how can we spiritually
(18:10):
ground ourselves and persevere no matter what comes our way?
Well through this new study in the Book of Psalms,
Chip digs into eight core chapters that will help us
overcome the most harmful emotions and feelings we'll face. Don't
miss how to handle cynicism, discouragement, injustice, fear, and more.
To catch up on this entire series, listen through the
(18:31):
chip Ingram map or at Livingontheedge dot org. Well, Chip
still with me in studio and chip all throughout this series.
You're identifying the prevalent fears Christians are dealing with and
revealing how to fight back. Take a minute if you want,
and talk about a resource that we have that helps
believers call out these emotions and circumstances they're struggling with
(18:52):
and bring them to God.
Speaker 1 (18:54):
Well, Dave, you really hit the nail on the head.
There is something to getting our years and our anxieties
and negative emotions out of our head. If you don't
get them out of your head, they just start doing
laps right I mean, they just keep going round and round.
And the picture I have is, you know, sometimes there's
(19:14):
bacteria and it's hidden and it's causing a problem. And
if you take that bacteria and you put it into
the sunlight, it literally evaporates. There's something about getting them
out in the open where you can look at them objectively,
and sometimes that's talking with another person. That can be
a very good way to do it. But especially as
you're starting your day or as you can't sleep at night.
(19:36):
One of the greatest tools that I think we've produced
is a prayer journal. I do this two to three
or four times a week, and sometimes when I'm struggling,
I do it every day. But I don't use a
journal like I've got to record all my days. What
I want to do with a journal is say what's
going on inside of me? You know. I often start
it with I feel and then dot dot dot, you know,
(19:58):
I feel happy about, or I feel concerned about, or
I feel anxious about, or I feel very afraid that
this might happen. And I write that out in my journal,
and then what is very helpful for me is right
underneath that. Then I make a tiny little box and
then I put a dash and I turn that fear
into a prayer request. Lord, I'm very concerned about one
(20:20):
of my grandchildren, and I put that little box. Father,
I right now commit that to you. I ask you
to direct my path to know what you want me
to do with regard to dot dot dot. Let me
encourage you. Don't let those negative emotions and fears and
concerns and anxieties keep doing laps inside your brain. Write
(20:42):
them down, get them out, and then the joy is
being able to look back and see God's faithfulness at
what you are so concerned about just a month ago,
and what it really does is build your faith. I
highly recommend using a journal to help you grow.
Speaker 2 (20:57):
To learn more about our prayer journals, visit Living on
the Edge dot org or call us at triple eight
three three three six zero zero three. These beautiful compact
notebooks have plenty of space for your prayers and personal journaling,
along with scripture verses, hymn lyrics, and quotes to encourage you.
If you want a more intentional and enriching time with God,
(21:19):
this tool will help. For more details about our prayer journals,
visit Living on the Edge dot org or call triple
eight three three three six zero zero three. App Listener's
tap special offers, well, here again is Chip to share
some application for what we heard today.
Speaker 1 (21:36):
Thanks so much, Dave. There are certain Psalms that when
I start feeling discouraged, I just go to and in
Psalm sixteen we get this fantastic picture of David, despite
his struggles, despite his failures, his things that he's done
terribly wrong. He kind of has this rear view mirror
(21:57):
experience and he looks backward and and then he starts
plugging in all the benefits, all the beauty, all the grace,
all the love, all the people. And what I want
to say to you today is by the time he
gets to the end, what he realizes is that he's
going to be with the Father forever. I mean, this
(22:18):
is one of the clearest Old Testament teachings on the
resurrection that there is in all of the Bible. And
so I've got two applications for you. Number one is
get a sheet of paper out, especially if you're a
bit discouraged, and just start writing the names of people
that have blessed you, the names of anything good that's
ever happened in your life. You will fill a page
(22:40):
faster than you can believe, and your emotions and your
perspective will change radically, because for every ten great things
that happened to us, one or two bad ones. That's
where our mind goes and we start looking at life
that way. The second thing is some of you are
saying chip you have no idea what I've been through. Well,
here's what I can tell you as a follower of Christ,
(23:01):
and I don't minimize any of your pain. You are
going to be with Jesus, and this thing called time
is very very very short, and eternity is very very
very long. And so the word I have for you
is the anchor of your life, and your hope is
eternal life and heaven. That's real. If you do not
(23:21):
know with all your heart that if you would die
at this moment, that you would spend ettorney with Jesus,
knowing his death and resurrection has paid for your sin,
and he offered you eternal life if you would turn
from your sin and put your faith in him. I
plead with you right now, get alone with God. Tell
him you're sorry for where you've sinned, Ask him to
(23:44):
forgive you. Put your trust in Christ and Christ alone
and his resurrection. Do that today and then tell the
greatest Christian that you know I pray to prayer. I
need some help. I want to have eternal life and
I want it with you jes Go to our website
or give us a call and we can give you
(24:04):
some help.
Speaker 2 (24:05):
Thanks Jim. Well, if you prayed to receive Christ, we
do have a free resource we'd like to put in
your hands that was created specifically for new believers. This
tool will help you understand what it means to trust
in Jesus and what to do next. Request this free
resource by calling Triple eight three three three six zero
zero three or visiting Living Ontheedge dot org then clicking
(24:28):
the new believer's button that's Living on the Edge dot
org or call Triple eight three three three six zero
zero three. Let us help you get started in your
faith journey. We'll listen and next time as Chip picks
up in a series, be strong and courageous. Until then,
this is Dave Druey saying thanks for joining us for
this edition of Living on the Edge.
Popular Podcasts
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Intentionally Disturbing
Join me on this podcast as I navigate the murky waters of human behavior, current events, and personal anecdotes through in-depth interviews with incredible people—all served with a generous helping of sarcasm and satire. After years as a forensic and clinical psychologist, I offer a unique interview style and a low tolerance for bullshit, quickly steering conversations toward depth and darkness. I honor the seriousness while also appreciating wit. I’m your guide through the twisted labyrinth of the human psyche, armed with dark humor and biting wit.