The Journey: A Christian Perspective on LifeaEUR(tm)s Journey from Earth to Glory

By Rev. Nelson Brenner

PrefaceThe Journey is a Christian perspective on life's journey from earth to glory. In The Journey, Reverend Brenner describes the Christian life in three aspects--past, present, and future or beginning, continuing, and finishing the journey of faith.He shows that the Christian life is analogous to the history of Israel in the Old Testament. Broadly speaking, Israel's history could be summed up in three stages--deliverance from Egypt, the wilderness sojourn, and possessing Canaan, the promised land.The author shows how the Christian's life similarly may be viewed in three stages--redemption from sin's bondage, living for Christ in a sinful world, and reaching our goal, which is heaven, the hope of all believers.His main emphasis is on the second stage, appropriately entitled the pilgrimage, which is obviously the present time of our journey--of living our Christian life now in this present evil world.Reflecting again on Israel's history, he shows how happy they were to escape Egypt but how discouraged and defeated they became during their wilderness journey because of hardships and trials and failed to reach their goal.So the author reminds readers who are on this journey of faith that it's not how you start but how you finish--and finish depending on what you do and how you do after your start and going forward. "So run, that ye may obtain," as 1 Corinthians 9:27 says.So many other words of admonition are given to remind the Christian that he must remain dedicated and determined throughout his journey to reach the goal. Again, listen to the apostle Paul in Philippians 3:12-14: "I follow after; this one thing I do, reaching forth, I press toward the mark for the prize." He is focused.Making the journey is a collaborative effort between the believers and God, our faith and his faithfulness.The author's aim for this book is to encourage you as you continue on in your journey toward heaven.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Covenant Books, Inc.
• Release date: Oct 14, 2022
• ISBN: 9781685265526

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The Journey

A Christian Perspective on LifeaEUR(tm)s Journey from Earth to Glory

Rev. Nelson Brenner

ISBN 978-1-68526-553-3 (Hardcover)

ISBN 978-1-68526-552-6 (Digital)

Copyright © 2022 Rev. Nelson Brenner

All rights reserved

First Edition

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Covenant Books

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Murrells Inlet, SC 29576

www.covenantbooks.com

Table of Contents

Preface

Acknowledgments

Introduction

The Passover

The Pilgrimage

The Promised Land

About the Author

Preface

The Journey is a Christian perspective on life's journey from earth to glory. In The Journey, Reverend Brenner describes the Christian life in three aspects—past, present, and future or beginning, continuing, and finishing the journey of faith.

He shows that the Christian life is analogous to the history of Israel in the Old Testament. Broadly speaking, Israel's history could be summed up in three stages—deliverance from Egypt, the wilderness sojourn, and possessing Canaan, the promised land.

The author shows how the Christian's life similarly may be viewed in three stages—redemption from sin's bondage, living for Christ in a sinful world, and reaching our goal, which is heaven, the hope of all believers.

His main emphasis is on the second stage, appropriately entitled the pilgrimage, which is obviously the present time of our journey—of living our Christian life now in this present evil world.

Reflecting again on Israel's history, he shows how happy they were to escape Egypt but how discouraged and defeated they became during their wilderness journey because of hardships and trials and failure to reach their goal.

So the author reminds readers who are on this journey of faith that it's not how you start but how you finish—and finish depending on what you do and how you do after your start and going forward. So run, that ye may obtain, as 1 Corinthians 9:24 says.

So many other words of admonition are given to remind the Christian that he must remain dedicated and determined throughout his journey to reach the goal. Again, listen to the apostle Paul in Philippians 3:12–14: I follow after; this one thing I do, reaching forth, I press toward the mark for the prize. He is focused.

Making the journey is a collaborative effort between the believers and God, our faith and his faithfulness.

The author's aim for this book is to encourage you as you continue in your journey toward heaven.

Acknowledgments

I'd like to extend my thanks to the following people:

Darlene Orley, for the collaboration,

Fran Tatum, for typing the manuscript,

Dale Rohl, from the library, for sketches and copy reproduction, and

Bill Bloxom, my e-mail provider.

Introduction

Webster defines journey as going from one place to another, like going from home to work, school, or Grandma's house. Some journeys are short; some are long. Some are for business; some are for pleasure.

Here's the thing: the Bible says everybody's on a journey—that's what life is. Jesus said that all travel one of two roads:

Enter ye in at the straight gate for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction and many there be which go in thereat: because straight is the gate and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life and few there be that find it. (Matt. 7:13–14)

The roads are different, and so are those who travel on them. Many travel the broad road, but few travel the narrow road. The broad road leads to destruction or hell. The narrow road leads to life or heaven. The Bible calls those who travel the broad road the children of the devil. Those who travel the narrow road are the children of God. First John 3:10 says, In this the children of God are manifest and the children of the devil.

Matthew 13:24–30 is the parable of the wheat and the tares growing together in the field. They both represent the good and the bad, the righteous and the wicked living and working together. Jesus said the good seed are the children of God, and the tares are the children of the devil. The truth is that in this world, we are all good and bad mixed together. But we are different—our priorities, the road we travel, and our final destination will be different.

The truth of this parable is illustrated in Luke 16:19–29. There are two individuals: a beggar, the other a rich man. Their status in life is inconsequential. What is important is the road they traveled and their final destination.

The beggar traveled on the narrow road of faith in God, while the rich man traveled the broad road of worldly pleasure. The poor man died and was carried by an angel to heaven, and the rich man died and went to hell. The poor man was comforted, and the rich man was tormented. Please don't make the assumption that poor people go to heaven while rich people go to hell. What was the real difference? The answer is found in one word—choice. Each man made his choice, a choice that decided which path they would travel that would in the end result in a life of eternal bliss or eternal damnation.

A life of sinful pleasure may seem attractive, but it is not worth losing your soul to the devil, forfeiting heaven and spending eternity in a place God prepared for the devil and his angels.

It is heartbreaking to realize that most people in this world are traveling that broad road and are doomed to hell unless they come to Jesus and let him turn their life around. They are not forced to go that way against their will, but they choose that way and sadly are unaware of the consequences of that choice.

Fact is, we all started life on that broad road as sinners:

For there is not a just man upon earth that doeth good and sinneth not. (Eccles. 7:20)

For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. (Rom. 3:23)

We were doomed, without hope. But God sent Jesus to save us. We read in Matthew 1:21, Thou shalt call his name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins.

The good news of the gospel is that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16).

God gave us his Son, Jesus, and Jesus gave his life for us. Jesus was neither killed no did he die a martyr, but he gave his life to his executioners only after he had finished his mission at the cross. We read this in Romans 5:8: But God commended His love towards us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

When we accept Christ as our Savior, we are changed; we become a new person—old things pass away, and all things become new. A new life is begun, a new direction is taken, and our journey to heaven is started.

As Israel was delivered from the bondage of Egypt and was led by God through the wilderness to Canaan, their Promised Land, so we Christians have been delivered from sin's bondage and are now journeying through the wilderness of this world on our way to our Promised Land, heaven. Colossians 1:13 says, Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son.

This book is an analogy between Israel's journey from Egypt to Canaan and the Christians' journey from sin to salvation. Now all these things happened to them for ensamples; and they are written for our admonition, we read in 1 Corinthians 10:11.

This book's contents are divided into three major themes:

Passover—Deliverance from Egypt ___

Pilgrimage—Dedication: Journey ___ the ___

Promised Land—Destination: Possession of Canaan

The Passover

Stage 1

The Passover

Called Out

The Bible in 1 Corinthians 10:11 says the things that happened to those in the Old Testament, also called, the church in the wilderness, are written for our admonition. Their experiences were recorded so we could learn from them. In The Journey, we will observe Israel in their journey from Egypt to Canaan, see their successes and their failures, and learn how they compare with our Christian journey today.

Israel's place of origin is Ur of the Chaldeans, now Iraq, where a man named Abram lived whom God called to leave his native country and go to a land that I will show thee (Gen. 12:1). God said in Isaiah 51:2, I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him. Abram obeyed the Lord and began the life of a pilgrim, and all he ever had was a tent and an altar. Genesis 12:9 says, And Abram journeyed.

God made a covenant with Abram in Genesis 12:2–3, I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing. Later, God promised to give Abram the land of Canaan, to him and his descendants (Ps. 105:8–11). Blessing always follows obedience.

Later, after Lot separated from Abram and set sail for Sodom, God gave reassurance to Abram:

Look north, south, east, and west. All the land you see I will give to you and your seed forever… Arise, walk through the land, for I will give it unto thee. (Gen. 13:14–17)

Abram's faith journey began with God's blessing and God's promise.

A journey always begins with the first step, and in Abram's case, it was a step of faith: By faith Abraham when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went (Heb. 11:8). Now that takes faith! James 2:20 says, Faith without works is dead.

People must act upon faith. That's why we read in Hebrews 11 about Old Testament saints who did exploits because of their faith in God. Despite unthinkable situations, their faith in God inspired them to stay the course, be confident, and overcome. Faith is what pleases God.

The first steps are significant and meaningful. Think of how parents celebrate their baby's first steps, cheering and clapping in approval. Likewise, the Christian's first steps in the faith are cheered by other Christians, and even the angels in heaven rejoice. Those first steps in the Christian's life begin his