Destination Preparation

The amount paid by Nicodemus represents a very costly burial and we should be willing to help bury our loved ones. (Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., … Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (Jn 19:39). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.) The Biblical text written by the beloved John indicates there was little time for Nicodemus or Joseph of Arimathea to go a purchase the spices or the linens. Therefore, everything was purchased before Jesus death on the Cross.

Let the Holy Spirit touch your heart with these questions: Are you prepared for your physical death? Are the proper arrangements in order?

Mankind Will Only Die Once

The Book of Hebrews says, “people are destined to die once.” Once (?pa? hápax) and no more. The appointment of God is, mankind must die once. All relationships on this earth severed, no longer to be a wife or husband. The influential role of parent, friendship and all acquaintances on this earth will be stopped. The high road is to put your best foot forward now, once your gone, there will be nothing you can add. Death is leaving this world to enter the world of eternal blessings or eternal anguish. There is no changing your destination once you enter the realm of the physically dead. It is either a huge comfort for those who die in Christ or a matter of eternal terror for the wicked, those who die with their sins still holding them in bondage. Henry, M. (1994). Matthew Henry’s commentary on the whole Bible: complete and unabridged in one volume (pp. 2394–2395). Peabody: Hendrickson. The Bible says, “The righteousness of the righteous man will be credited to him, and the wickedness of the wicked will be charged against him.” (Ezekiel 18:20b)

The “righteous” (??????? ?addiyq) here are the people of God who in conduct and character hunger to be conformed to God’s Holy standards. (Baker, W., & Carpenter, E. E. (2003). The complete word study dictionary: Old Testament (p. 937). Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers.; Brown, F., Driver, S. R., & Briggs, C. A. (1977). Enhanced Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon (p. 843). Oxford: Clarendon Press.) The “wicked” (?????? raša?) here are people who pursue their own evil desires although they live among righteous people. (Baker, W., & Carpenter, E. E. (2003). The complete word study dictionary: Old Testament (p. 1080). Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers.; Swanson, J. (1997). Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains : Hebrew (Old Testament) (electronic ed.). Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc.)

The final authority of God’s written Word over-rides the writings of Plato about reincarnation. Any teaching that gives mankind a second chance or the opportunity to be interceded for by any other means other than turning to and trusting in Christ before physical death is false teaching.

Mankind Will Face Judgement

After physical death, “then the judgement.” “Judgement” (???s?? krísis). Meaning to face the verdict of guilt. (Swanson, J. (1997). Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Greek (New Testament) (electronic ed.). Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc.) At the White Throne Judgement seat of God there will be no slick lawyer to defend their case. Unlike most courts today, God will hand out eternal judgement. Just as DNA can prove who a person is and prove rather or not someone was at a crime scene. God will call up the wicked person’s body from the grave and pronounce him or she guilty, one who is an enemy of God, one who stands against the righteous laws and precepts of the Lord. The Bible says, “it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” (Hebrews 10:31)