Friends Of God

[CoreyD]

The Bible directly refers to a human being like you and I, by name, as a friend of God.
Isaiah 41:8

“But you, Israel, My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, Descendant of Abraham My friend,​

James 2:23

This is what the Scriptures mean by saying, "Abraham had faith in God, and God accepted him." That's how Abraham became God's friend.​

Was Abraham the only human that was a friend of God?
Np. Though the Bible does not directly refer to persons, other than Abraham, as God's friend, we have scriptures that let us know that many humans were friends of God... and even today, persons can be God's friend.

The Bible says Enoch and Noah walked with God. Genesis 5:21-24; Genesis 6:9
David was a man "after [God's] own heart" 1 Samuel 13:14
There are others also.

The Bible says... friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God, James 4:4
So, we have a choice between friendship with the world, or friendship with God.

However, what I really want to zero in on, in this thread, is what the scriptures tell us about friendship with God of those in the past, after their death.
Obviously God remembers his friends, but unlike us, who can do nothing more than remember, the Bible tells us this...
“You will call, and I will answer You; You will long [kasaph: To long for, to yearn, to be eager] for the work of Your hands. Job 14:15

Look at that...
God longs for, with eagerness to see his friends alive again, and will see to it that this is a reality!
Is that not reassuring... comforting...

God's friends will be alive again, to continue their friendship with God, and with us!
No, doubt, like me, you look forward to seeing your friends and family that have been cut off in death.
However, what of ancient ones... where will these dear ancient friends of God be, when God calls them to life?

They will be right here on earth, where they began their friendship with God.
Is this true? Let's see.

 

[CoreyD]

Most people have been misinformed by religious leaders, for centuries, because of not understanding the will of God, as outlined in the scriptures.
This is of course, due to a number of factors.

1. many false prophets will rise up and mislead many people. - Matthew 24:11
2. the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. - 2 Corinthians 4:4
3. Satan's ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works. - 2 Corinthians 11:15
4. The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not accept the love of the truth so as to be saved. For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth. - 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12

So, according to the scriptures, many billions of people will not actually know the truth, even though they believe in God, and so, the truth concerning where ancient friends of God, will be upon their return, is hidden from these ones. Matthew 7:13-23; Matthew 13:100-16

Humility is required, if we are to gain the truth in this matter. Acts 8:26-40
So, let's consider what the scriptures teach, as opposed to what the ministers of these thousands of religions teach.

It is believed by most, that ancient people have gone to heaven when they died. Some even believe that some went to heaven without dying.
What the scriptures say...
Acts 2:29-35

29 “Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. ... 34 “For David did not ascend into the heavens...​

God's friend David, did not go to heaven when he died, and this is the case for all those living in ancient times.
No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. John 3:13

People go to the grave when they die, where their only hope is a resurrection.
Even Daniel, a man God took great pleasure in Daniel 9:23, was told...
And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, Some to everlasting life, Some to shame and everlasting contempt. But as for you, go on your way until the end. You will rest, and then you will arise to your inheritance at the end of the days.” Daniel 12:2, 13

This was the lot of all mankind, when Adam sinned. Death, and the grave.

By the sweat of your brow you will eat your bread, until you return to the ground - because out of it were you taken. For dust you are, and to dust you shall return.” Genesis 3:19​

​

All go to the same place. All came from the dust and all return to the dust. Ecclesiastes 3:20​

​

Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, And the spirit will return to God who gave it. Ecclesiastes 12:7​

Jesus referred to those who will get out of the dust, as being persons in God's memorial. John 5:28

So, indeed, many millions of person are at rest in the memory of God, when they return to the dust - their tomb - Derived from μνῆμα (mnēma), which means "a memorial" or "a remembrance."
HELPS Word-studies
3419 mnēmeíon (a neuter noun derived from 3451 /mousikós, "to remember, keep in memory") – a tomb (sepulchre).

How that warms our heart toward our God, knowing that he keeps his friends (and other unfortunate souls) in memory.
Can God forget anything? No. God know the number of hairs on each individual head. Matthew 10:30

So, we see, that God's ancient friends are all in God's memory, equivalent to being asleep in the dust, where they are not forgotten, and as Jesus said, will be returned to life. Where?
Consider just one scripture... Revelation 21:1-4

1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.​

2 I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.​

3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”​

God's will at that time, will be done on earth, as in heaven. Matthew 6:10; Ephesians 1:10
He will be reunited with his friends,,, and so will we.
What a blessed time that will be.