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Death is the common denominator of all men. Rich and poor alike must some day walk through
the valley of the shadow. That truth is expressed in these lines from the classic poem,
Thanatopsis by William Cullen Bryant:
await alike th’inevitable hour the paths of glory lead but to the grave." Death is an appointment that every man, woman and child upon the earth shall keep. That is plainly stated by the Hebrew writer who said, "...it is appointed unto man once to die, but after this the judgment" (Hebrews 9:27). Death isn’t a pleasant thing to think about, so many people simply ignore it. And not only that, but they have some strange ideas about death that are not found in the Bible. For instance, many people think that death automatically makes a person a Christian and sends him to heaven. But that’s simply not true. As one dies, so he remains for all eternity. One who dies in sin is forever separated from God’s presence. Jesus demonstrated that fact in His account of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16:19 through 31. He said there is a great gulf fixed between the wicked and the righteous dead that can never be crossed after death. Neither is death extinction. The good and the bad continue to exist after death. Jesus said the righteous will exist in eternal bliss or rest and the wicked will go away into the everlasting punishment of hell fire. Of the wicked, He said, "And these shall go away into everlasting punishment," but "the righteous into life eternal" (Matthew 25:46). And the apostle Paul further said that God will recompense tribulation to the wicked and rest to the righteous when Christ returns in judgment (2 Thessalonians 1:6 through 9). Death is an appointment that is both certain and uncertain. According to Hebrews 9:27 it is certain in that all shall die, but it is uncertain in that no man knows when that hour shall come to him. According to Hebrews 11:13, we are only pilgrims upon the earth for a short time. Through the centuries, orthodox Jews have left portions of their houses unfinished, usually the cornice or some other conspicuous part, to remind them that nothing here is finished and, that like Abraham of old, they are strangers and pilgrims upon the earth. Death is certain for all mankind, but its time is always uncertain. James wrote, "For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away" (James 4:14). But there is hope of life after death for Christians. For them, death is the end of labors and trials which will be rewarded, according to Philippians 1:21, and the apostle John wrote, "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them" (Revelation 14:13). But the key to having that eternal rest is faithfulness in this life. One’s eternal destiny is sealed at death. There is no "second chance." Death does not save one who refuses to obey God in this life, but is a line of demarcation between this world and the next, from which there is no return and no appeal. Many people believe God will conduct a trial on judgment day, but the trial is being conducted now. This life is our trial and judgment day is a time of sentencing. Now — in this life — is the time to prepare for death by believing in Christ (John 8:24), repenting our of sins (Luke 13:3), confessing our faith in Christ (Acts 8:37), being baptized for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38) and living a life devoted to Christ. Death will come to all of us. Are you prepared to meet God? |