Divine Protection and Long Life
(week 50/05)
Olubi Johnson
Hebrews 11:32-37 NKJV: And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: 33 who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. 35 Women received their dead raised to life again. And others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. 36 Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword.
Here, we have an account of two categories of Old Testament saints: those who were divinely protected from physical death and those who died from satanic attack against their faith rather than compromise their faith so they could obtain a better resurrection.
A better resurrection?
This presupposes some resurrections will be better than others: in other words there will be a good resurrection, a better resurrection and a best resurrection. Of course there is a bad resurrection: a resurrection of condemnation in which the person does not go to heaven but goes to hell.
John 5:28-29 NKJV: Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice 29 and come forth–those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.
1 Corinthians 15:41-42 NKJV: There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory. 42 So also is the resurrection of the dead.
Those who die and just make it to heaven: saved so as by fire, without reward because they did not take spiritual things seriously and so suffer loss (1 Cor. 3.15) have a good resurrection because they go to heaven.
Those who die from satanic attack because of their faith, but were not supernaturally protected from physical death will have a better resurrection and some reward (1 Cor. 3.14).
Those who were divinely protected by God from premature physical death and so live long to fulfill their destiny will have the best resurrection and receive a full reward (2 John 1.8).
What then determines the kind of resurrection you will have?
The quality of your Christian life.
1 Corinthians 3:11-15 NIV: For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work. 14 If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. 15 If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.
Wood, hay, stubble quality or 30 fold (Mk. 4.20) Christianity will give you a good resurrection in that you will go to heaven, but you will suffer loss and have no reward.
Silver or 60 fold quality Christianity will give you a better resurrection with some reward.
Gold or 100 fold quality Christianity will give you the best resurrection with a full reward.
How then do you get gold quality Christianity?
Jude 20-21 NKJV: praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God,
1 John 5:18 NKJV: We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him.
We see this same truth in Psalm 91 where the main condition for protection and long life is dwelling in God, who is love and loving God:
1 John 4:16 NKJV: God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.
Psalms 91 NKJV: He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.” 3 Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence. 4 He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler. 5 You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, 6 Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday. 7 A thousand may fall at your side, And ten thousand at your right hand; But it shall not come near you. 8 Only with your eyes shall you look, and see the reward of the wicked. 9 Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge, Even the Most High, your dwelling place, 10 No evil shall befall you, Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; 11 For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways. 12 In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone. 13 You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, the young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot. 14 “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. 15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. 16 with long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation.”
By doing this, you will be guaranteed divine protection and long life to be able to fulfill the fulness of your destiny.
