Five Facts About Death
Ron Graham
We
look at a single Bible verse -
"It is
appointed for men once to die, and after this the judgment" (Hebrews 9:27).
This text tells us five facts about death.
We break this text
up into five portions, each of which implies a certain fact about death.
Knowing these
facts helps us understand and prepare for death.
1 "It is appointed..." — Death is
Unavoidable
In the
phrase "It is appointed for
men once to die..." we find our first fact, that death is
unavoidable.
When Hebrews 9:27
says, that death "is
appointed", it might be stating the obvious, yet most people live
as if death is unlikely!
We
have birth control, but not death control.
It is inevitable
that "the silver cord is loosed
and we fly away" (Ecclesiastes
12:6 Psalms 90:9-10).
Such language as
that, is usually reserved for funerals, yet it expresses a fact of everyday
life: All of us, sooner
or later, must keep a personal, unavoidable, appointment with death.
2 "For men ..." — You Are
No Exception
In the
phrase "It is appointed for for men once to die..." we find our second
fact, that you are no exception.
When Hebrews 9:27
says "it is appointed for men once to die...", it
does so generically, with no sense of gender.
In other
words "men" here
stands for all humankind —man, whether male or female.
You could replace
the word "men" with
your own name, because the scripture applies to you individually as well as
to mankind in general.
Nevertheless, most
people live their lives as if they were exceptions to the rule of death!
Unless the second
coming of Jesus Christ occurs in your lifetime, you personally cannot be exempted
from death.
In all of human
history, the Bible tells of only two exceptions. One was Enoch (Genesis 5:23-24).
The other was
Elijah (2Kings
2:1,11). [Compare John 21:17-23]
Were
you to escape death only to face judgment, the stale cliche
might find fresh meaning: "out of
the frying pan into the fire".
3 "... once to die ..." — You Only
Die Once.
In the words "it
is appointed for men once to die..." we
have our third fact, that you only die once.
When Hebrews 9:27
says, "once" it
brings home the fact that you don't get a second chance at life and
death. It's a one-off.
When people say,
"You only die once!" they usually mean that you might as well be
reckless. But surely, since we live and die but once, we should make of our
life what we were meant to make of it.
Surely we should
not waste our one life, but live it as pilgrims in this world (1Peter 2:11-12, James 4:13-17).
The words "once to die" contradict
the theory of re-incarnation (that we live successive earthly lives).
The
statement, "You must be born
again" is no support for re-incarnation. Jesus made it clear that
the rebirth of which he spoke was spiritual not physical (John 3:1-21).
4 "... and after this ..." —
Death is Not the End
In the words "... and after this comes
judgment" we have our fourth fact, that death is
not the end.
When Hebrews 9:27
says, "after this" it
puts life and death into perspective, and supplies the wonderful hope in what
otherwise would be a fatalistic and depressing statement.
An old wireless
advertisement used to say, "Death is so permanent!" But in one sense
death is not permanent at all. There is something after death.
This is why
Christians speak of death as a "sleep" because it is a temporary
state (John 11:11;
1Thessalonians 4:13-18).
For those who seek
and follow Jesus, there lies beyond death "an inheritance imperishable... reserved in heaven" (1Peter 1:3-9).
5 "... the Judgment" — Death is
Your Destiny’s Door
In the words "and after this the Judgment" we
find our fifth fact, that death is your destiny’s door.
There is no second
chance after death.
Hebrews
9:27 is telling us precisely what there is after death -- "the judgment".
But those "in Christ" need not
fear. "There is no condemnation
to those who are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1).
How do you
get "into Christ"? By
faith. (Galatians
3:26-29).
Those who refuse
or neglect that are counted as ungodly, and unprepared. They have everything to
fear (John
5:28-29 Matthew 25:31-46).
Conclusion
It is appointed for men once to die and after this the
judgment.
Death is appointed, and you are no exception.
You only die once, and death is not the end; it is your destiny’s door.
Are you struggling with a big decision or
wondering how your eternal future will play out?
Why not talk to the God of the universe and let
Him work in your behalf?
He says, “I will instruct you and
teach you the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you" (Psalm 32:8).
Ask God to show you what to do. Pray the
following prayer:
“Heavenly Father,
I admit that I am a sinner and my sins have
separated me from You. I now want to turn away from my past sinful life and
begin a new life with You.
Please forgive me. I now receive your Son, Jesus
Christ as my Savior, my Master and my Lord. I believe and confess that Jesus
Christ died for my sins, was buried, and rose from the dead.
I want to receive all that Jesus Christ has
provided for me as my Savior. Your Word says, ‘Whosoever shall call on the name
of the Lord shall be saved’ (Romans
10:13).
I believe and confess that Jesus Christ is the
Way, the Truth, and the Life, and no man comes unto the Father, but by Him.
Lord Jesus, I pray and ask You, to come into my
heart and be Lord of my life. I thank You that you have given me eternal life,
and according to Your Word, I am born again.
Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of the
Holy Spirit Who is in me now. I surrender my life to You. I promise to study
Your Word – the Bible.
Use me for Your glory.
In Jesus’ Name. Amen.”
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The Great
White Throne
Judgment
“He Leadeth Me” Joseph H. Gilmore
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQLV5AnyeSUBestLovedHymns
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXeCQgOlx4QCiberTracker
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rrx1wqBD9GoDimitarDirmitrov
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pfn4I3gbirgParousiaChannel
lyrics
1 He leadeth
me: O blessed thought!O words with heavenly comfort fraught!
Whate'er I do, where'er I be,
still 'tis God's hand that leadeth me.
Refrain:
He leadeth me, he leadeth me;
by his own hand he leadeth me:
his faithful follower I would be,
for by his hand he leadeth me.
He leadeth me, he leadeth me;
by his own hand he leadeth me:
his faithful follower I would be,
for by his hand he leadeth me.
2 Sometimes mid
scenes of deepest gloom,
sometimes where Eden's flowers bloom,
by waters calm, o'er troubled sea,
still 'tis God's hand that leadeth me. Refrain
sometimes where Eden's flowers bloom,
by waters calm, o'er troubled sea,
still 'tis God's hand that leadeth me. Refrain
3 Lord, I would
clasp thy hand in mine,
nor ever murmur nor repine;
content, whatever lot I see,
since 'tis my God that leadeth me. Refrain
nor ever murmur nor repine;
content, whatever lot I see,
since 'tis my God that leadeth me. Refrain
4 And when my
task on earth is done,
when, by thy grace, the victory's won,
e'en death's cold wave I will not flee,
since God through Jordan leadeth me. Refrain
when, by thy grace, the victory's won,
e'en death's cold wave I will not flee,
since God through Jordan leadeth me. Refrain
http://www.simplybible.com/f162.htm
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