Somehow people have a remarkable way of ignoring the truth when it comes to matters related to life and death. Imagine this scene: Elderly parents invite their adult children to sit around the dining room table to discuss business matters related to their death. The parents know that it is important that their children know the specifics of their personal affairs, their wishes related to the funeral or cremation and other serious but necessary information. One of the children suddenly jumps up from the table and runs away screaming “No, I don’t want to talk about that”, fearing that a discussion about death will make it happen. Would you be the person that runs from the table, refusing to talk about dying and death-related matters? Well, here is a spoiler alert, dear hearts. Whether or not you plan for it, that death that you don’t want to face is going to happen. The Bible tells us in Hebrews 9:27 (KJV)
27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die…
That’s right, it is appointed, and this is one appointment that we all must keep. That individual who runs from the topic would rather be surprised than face the truth that he or his loved ones are going to die one day There are some people who actually refuse to buy life insurance or burial insurance because it forces them to realize that death is real and it is coming for every one of us. Even the ant understands that the events of tomorrow are coming and prepares for them.
Proverbs 6:6-9 (KJV)
6 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:
7 Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,
8 Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.
9 How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?
In Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 we are told
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
In this passage of Scriptures King Solomon made it clear that death is inevitable. Death completes the cycle of life. And dear hearts, if nobody has ever told you before, one day death is coming for you. This may be your wake-up call, but you are going to die. Every morning that you wake up and see new gray hairs in your head, that’s a reminder that death is on its way. Every day that you feel a new pain or stiffness in your body, death is on the way. When you lose a tooth, or discover that moving is not as easy as it used to be, remember, death is calling. As a matter of fact, death started in your life the minute you were born. Within a year of birth, infancy is over. Baby is getting longer and heavier as it rushes towards the end of life. Sounds terrible, but oh, so, true. King David in Ps. 90:12 said
12 So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.
David was saying, “Lord, teach us to be wise so that we realize that death is coming to us. And, since death is coming for us, please help us to prepare, just like that ant that we talked about.” If a tiny ant prepares for tomorrow, what about you?
So why is it that people want to stay in La-la Land and not think about the inevitable? Remember the scripture that we discussed earlier, Hebrews 9:27? It is the second half of that Scripture that reveals the truth. That half says, “after this the judgment.” Yes, there is a Judgment Day coming. Many people simply don’t want to think about what happens on the other side of death. Every individual who has not received the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior will be sent to Hell for their earthly sins. You will not be able to lie your way into Heaven because God knows everything that you have done. He knows every sin and every wrong that you have ever spoken, committed or thought. And if Jesus has not cleansed you from all unrighteousness that’s the end of the road for you. There are no good excuses. You’re going to Hell.
Remember, death is not the end of the matter for human beings. You are a spirit, that lives in a body and you have an eternal soul. That soul has one of two places to go after it dies. It will either go to Heaven or Hell. Heaven is a beautiful place where we will be able to live for eternity with Jesus. Hell, on the other hand, is a place of eternal torment. Only those who have accepted Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God, will go to Heaven. Hell is the place where all will go who have not received Jesus. Jesus hung, bled and died on a horrible cross for you so that you can go to Heaven. But there is something that you have to do. You have to realize that you are a sinner, that you’re on your way to Hell but you have to be wise enough to receive the escape route whose name is Jesus. Some of you will say, “I believe everything you have said. I know I need to be saved because I don’t want to go to Hell. I won’t do it today, though, but someday.” But the Bible says in Hebrews 3:7
Today if you hear my voice harden not your heart.
Prov. 27:1 Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.
In other words, we don’t have a right to think that tomorrow is promised to us. Many people woke up yesterday with plans for today but they were dead before this day arrived. They didn’t get a chance to repent of their sins. They didn’t have time to ask Jesus to be their Lord and Savior. They planned to do it but they never did it. They had good intentions. But, as the saying goes, “the road to Hell is paved with good intentions.” I am here today to let you know that the Lord loves you and He wants to save you. But the day that you realize that He is speaking to you is the day that you should act on His desires for you. Getting saved is a relatively simple matter. Jesus did the hard work of dying for you so that all you have to do is repent, accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, and your name is written down in the Lamb’s Book of Lamb. Following salvation, you must follow on to know the Lord. (Hosea 6:3). But to begin your new relationship with your Heavenly Father you should pray a simple prayer such as this: “Father, forgive me of all of my sins. If you will save me I will live for you. Take me to Heaven when I die.” Say this (or similar words) and mean it with all of your heart and you are saved. Then thank Him for saving you. Because we live in a sin-cursed world you need the power of the Holy Ghost to stay saved. The Bible tells us that we can ask for it. Say these words to Jesus: “Fill me with the Holy Ghost so that I can live the kind of life that you require”. Luke 11:9-13 says
And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?
Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?
If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
The Holy Ghost will come in and give you the power to live a clean and holy life. You will also be useful to God as a witness that others might be saved.
Acts 1:8(KJV)
But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
The Bible evidence that the Holy Ghost has arrived in you is found in Mark 16:17 (KJV)
And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
2Corinthians 5:17 says Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away, behold, all things are become new.
Repent and get right with God. Do it today, because all of our little hours are ticking away.
The time is really ticking. Building self consciousness is important.
Death is inevitable but the issue is that people think it is far off. We need to prepare every second for it.
Thanks.
Uncomfortable At Times But So Very, Very True. Something That We All Just Can’t By Pass. I’ve Learnt In My 42 Years On This Earth Preparation Is A Must. There’s No Way Around It.
On Point, Timing!
Thanks for your input Sis. Tomiko.