When a person dies often the phrase "Rest in Peace" is placed on their tombstone, but are they actually at peace? The answer to that question depends on what that person did with Jesus Christ while they were alive.

We have heard and seen many news stories lately about  several well known people who have died recently - Michael Jackson, Ted Kennedy, Farrah Fawcett, Dominick Dunne etc. Invaribly someone speaking of them places these people in Heaven and at rest, but are they? According to the testimony they left - probably not.  We can't know for sure about these souls but we can know for sure that if they died in their sin, trusting anything or anyone, but Jesus Christ alone as their Saviour, they are in the torments of hell.

Where would you be if you died today? After Ted Kennedy died they read part of a letter he sent to the pope and part of the reply he received from the vatican. It makes me angry to think of it. They were both so empty of anything of true spiritual value.

The man was dying and the catholic church had absolutely nothing to offer him. Jesus would have given him forgiveness and assurance of Heaven.  All the vatican could give was "Commending you and the members of your family to the loving intervention of the blessed Virgin Mary, the Holy Father cordially imparts his apostolic blessing as a pledge of wisdom, comfort and strength in the Lord." If Senator Kennedy died trusting that he is in Hell today and for eternity. He knows now too late there is no such thing as purgatory!

But you who are reading this are still alive - you have time right now to make sure you will rest in peace when you die and as an additional blessing - that you can live in peace with God right now.

God's Word makes it plain how we can know we are saved and at peace with God - It tells us :

All of us are sinners - Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God 

That sin separates us from God -Isaiah 59:2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

If we do not do something before we die about the sin that separates us from God, it will cause us to be eternally separated from God in eternity in the torments of the lake of fire.  Romans 6:23a says "the wages of sin is death" This refers to the second death, which is described in Revelation 20:14-15, "And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

There is good news though - We can be delivered, saved from this future. Instead of being at odds with God, we can have peace with God and instead of being separated from Him, we can be reconciled to Him. The same verse that gives us the bad news that "wages of sin is death" goes on to give us the best news ever Romans 6:23b, "but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

Jesus is God in the flesh. He is 100% God and 100% man! He lived and never sinned. He did not have to die. He died in our place to take our punishment for us. He suffered everything we would suffer in Hell on the cross and even knew separation from God the Father. He shed His blood to cleanse away that sin that separates us from God and died and rose again to reconcile us to God.

Carefully read these verses and see how we can be reconciled to God and have peace with Him -

Telling what Jesus would do for us Isaiah 53:4-6 says, "Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.  But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.  All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

2 Corinthians 5:21 says, "For he hath made him (Jesus) to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him (Jesus)."

Colossians 1:19-22 says, "For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.  And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled  In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight"

If you will believe what God is telling you in His Word and trust Jesus Christ to save you, He will reconcile you to God and give you peace -  Romans 5:1  Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ and later the chapter tells us : Romans 5:8-10 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life."

Hebrews 7:25, says "Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them."

Jesus is alive right now and wants to give you freely the gift of eternal life. He bought it with His blood and paid for it with His life. He has victory over sin, death, hell and the grave and wants to give it too you also in Himself - He asks you to believe and trust Him. Will you?

Ephesians 2:4  But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved
 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
 7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

John 5:24 Verily, verily, I (Jesus) say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

May you rest in peace now and eternally in Jesus Christ.