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In our day to day lives, there are many things which we fortunately have the option of doing or not doing. We can think we wish to do something and then at the last moment change our minds and not do it at all, or think we don't want to do a thing and then decide that we do want to do that very thing. Many of us have appointments at times with the doctor, the dentist, to meet a person for lunch or maybe some other type of appointment. If for some reason we decide that we do not wish to keep the appointment, or perhaps we want to postpone it until another time we are liberty to do so. There is however, one appointment that each of us must keep. We can not postpone it, we can not cancel it. We will have to keep it ready or not, and that is our appointment with death and the judgment. There is an old saying that the only things that are certain are death and taxes. I would change that slightly and say that the only thing that we must absolutely do in this life is to leave it, or to die. The scriptures make this fact abundantly clear, and over and over warns us of its coming to us and urges us to be ready for that time. We find in the Book of Hebrews the following words; "For Christ has entered, not into a sanctuary made with hands, a copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the Holy Place yearly with blood not his own; for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the age to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And just as it is appointed for men to die once and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him." Heb. 9:24-28 What wonderful passages from the Word and what a wealth of facts they contain for us today. Notice the following:
What then does the Bible teach us about this time in our lives that is called "death"? The basic meaning to the word used in the scriptures for our word "death" is the idea of "separation". The word first occurs in the first book of the bible and in the 3rd chapter of that book. There God told his creatures that the day they ate of a certain tree "they would surely die". Surely die they did, but not in the sense of leaving this earthly scene. They were separated that day from the fellowship and blessings of God that had been theirs prior to their disobedience. In another sense, at that same time, they began the process of physically being separated from their bodies. In the book of Ecclesiastes, we find a chapter that is so beautifully and skillfully descriptive of the aging process. It is the 12th chapter, and after the description, in verse seven it tells us the final outcome of the body that it has described, "the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it". In the New Testament brother James tells us that a "body without the spirit is dead". 2:26 - In other words the body is separated from the thing that gives it life. How then should we as Christians handle death and the grief that goes along with it? When a loved one or friend dies, it creates a terrible, indescribable hurt and pain as we all know who have gone through that experience. It can be compared to a wound that is made in the flesh, say with a sharp knife or maybe an axe. Although the wound that is made by the death of a loved one is not seen, for it is in the heart, it is still a real wound nonetheless. Like any other wound, it will take time for that wound to heal, although the wound will never be forgotten. No one can tell me or you just how long that period of healing will take. We are all different. I can't tell you how you hurt. To say; "I know what you are going through, or I know just how you feel" is false, for really and truly you can't; you are not me and I am not you. In this situation though we can find solace and peace in knowing that Jesus knows just what we are feeling. We can get some relief by taking it to him in prayer and pouring out our hurt and grief to him. We are told
in the Hebrew letter as Christians that we "have a great high priest who
can sympathize "with us and that we can know that we "with confidence can
draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace
to help in time of need". 4:14-16 We sing one of the old favorites at times and it certainly contains a truthful and inspiring message; Living below in this old sinful world Where could I
go, O where could I go The Christian hurts just like others. The difference is we have someone to help us bear the burden and the pain of loss. His name is Jesus!! Should Christians cry and weep and show grief outwardly? What does the Bible teach? Weeping is a natural thing that is programmed into the human mind and provisions are made within the human body to provide tears when the emotions are in a certain state of being. It is natural to weep. I personally don't want too much to do with a person that is incapable of weeping. When Jesus came to the place where his friend Lazarus lay, the word tells us; "Jesus wept". He did not weep for Lazarus, but for the family of his friend who were there under the heavy hand of hurt. The word at another place tells us to "weep with those who weep". There is nothing wrong with weeping. It is wrong to weep if your weeping is like the weeping of the world, if we are weeping because we are convinced that this is the last time we will ever see this brother or sister in Jesus. The Christians at Thessalonika were having some problems with this very question. That is, what happens after death, is this the end? Paul in his 1st letter to them gives them some clarification that reads like this; "But we would not have you ignorant brethren, concerning those who are asleep, that you do not grieve as others do who have no hope". If you notice, he does not censure them for grieving but tells them their grief is not to be like those who have no hope!! One of the lines from the Old Testament states a fact that should be ever present before us as we grapple with hurt and grief. What a joyful thought; "Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning". Ps. 30:5 When we contemplate the scene that awaits the faithful saints of God, it is a thing of beauty beyond our full comprehension. We are inevitably moving towards the day of our appointment. Yesterday is history, tomorrow may never be, all that we have friend is today. When the time comes for us to go the way of all flesh, it is not the end for the faithful child of God, it is only the beginning. As I am writing this article, I am thinking of many friends and loved ones who have already kept their appointment with death. I am praying that you are ready to keep yours and that you have committed your life to the service of Jesus the King of the universe. If you say that you believe he is what he claimed to be, then according to Gods word, the Bible, you must "Repent and be baptized, for the forgiveness of your sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit". Acts 2:38 Turn away
from that old lifestyle and live for him until that appointment is kept.
It is then that you also will hear the words; "Well done good and faithful
servant, enter into the joys of the Lord". |
