“And He Died.”
“So all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years; and he died.” Genesis 5:5
“So all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred and sixty-nine years; and he died.” Genesis 5:27
“So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD.” Deuteronomy 34:5
“And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.” Hebrews 9:27
Death is no respecter of persons. When God condemned Adam, He said “By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for dust you are, and to dust you shall return.” (Genesis 3:19 NKJV)
Regardless of how long God allowed people to live, their end was always the same…death and dust. The certainty of death is ever present. We should be reminded of that every time that we pass a cemetery. Whenever someone close to us dies, we are forced to confront the cold hand of death and to catch a glimpse of our own future. One day, we will join those already interred in the cemeteries that we prefer to ignore.
Birth control is possible, but death control is not. We begin to die on the day that we are born so that inevitably “the silver cord is loosed and we fly away.” (Ecclesiastes 12:6) Most people live as if they were exceptions to that rule!
If our Lord returns during our lifetime, we will be changed (1 Corinthians 15:51, 52). Our bodies transformed and immortal will rise to meet him in the air. (I Thess 4:17). But those whose lives end in death do not go out of existence. Our spirits live on and will one day share in the resurrection at Christ’s return. We will be raised imperishable and go to be with the Lord. This temporary state of the dead is why Christians refer to death as a “sleep”. (John 11:11, 1Thessalonians 4:13-18). Knowing that death is as certain as life, we must prepare.
To do so, the scriptures remind us that:
• “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17
• “Without faith it is impossible to please God, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6
• “I tell you no, but except you repent, you shall perish.” Luke 13:3
• “With the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Romans 10:10
• “He that believes and is baptized will be saved.” Mark 16:16
Death is an appointment that we will all keep on our way to the judgment seat of God. If we have died to sin with our Lord and been raised to walk in newness of life, we will only die once more. The second death is only for those who remain dead in sin when they pass from this life. In this way and for these reasons, I know how my story ends…and I look forward to it!
“And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this down: Blessed are those who die in the Lord from now on. Yes, says the Spirit, they are blessed indeed, for they will rest from their hard work; for their good deeds follow them!” (Revelation 14:13 NLT)
Port Colborne