Facing Death Courageously Series

You have an appointment. Your life is moving step by step, day by day toward that appointment. Every New Year’s holiday is a reminder that the appointment is coming up. Every birthday is a reminder of the appointment. So is every funeral. “. . . it is appointed unto man once to die, but after this the judgment” (Heb. 9:27, KJV).i You’re not going get a second chance at life. “It is appointed unto man once to die.” Purgatory is a concoction of man to ease any alarm about the judgment that follows. I worked with a Catholic man who lived an ungodly life. When I confronted him about his relationship with Christ, his answer was, “I’m not worried about it; I’ll work it out in purgatory.” But what if purgatory is a lie? What if what follows death is the judgment, not a second chance. Reincarnation is a diabolical lie designed to counter this biblical truth. “. . . it is appointed unto man once to die, but after this the judgment” (KJV).

Solomon concludes the book of Ecclesiastes with these words:

“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole [duty] of man. 14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil” (12:13-14).

Is there anything more arresting than that truth? Is there anything more significant? People fill their minds with other thoughts because they don’t want to think about that. But God tells us to think about it. The word amusement is an interesting word. Amuse is the combination of the word muse (which means to ponder or think about something) and the negative prefix “a.”ii So amuse is to distract or entertain so the person does not have to think about these weightier matters. Preachers are not called to amuse and entertain. They are called to confront people with truth that addresses the course of their eternity. “Here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments . . . 14 For God will bring every deed into judgment.”

Look with me at our text in Philippians 1:19-26. In the previous verses Paul has talked about his current imprisonment in Rome. He has put that in proper perspective. Now he turns his attention to the immediate future, his upcoming trial. I’m going to read verse 18 so you can see his transition from the present tense to the future tense. “But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is [present tense] preached. And because of this I rejoice [present tense]. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice [future tense].iii

Now Paul addresses his future (verses 19-26).

“For I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. 20 I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; 24 but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me.”

We will consider:

(1) Paul’s Attitude toward Death

(2) Paul’s Attitude toward Life and

(3) Paul’s Conclusion about What is about to Happen.

Once again, attitudes are prominent in this epistle. Having the right attitudes toward life and death affects everything. The peace and joy Paul enjoys in the text flows out of the way he views life and death and the events that are occurring in his life. As we study this passage ask yourself whether you have the same attitude toward these weighty matters as Paul had.

I. Paul's ATTITUDE TOWAD DEATH.

He saw it as an inevitable transition. “It is appointed unto man once to die.” That is a fact you can accept or fight. You can face the reality and prepare for it, or you can live in denial and be shocked when it happens.iv Frankly, I’m amazed at how shocked people are when someone dies. This has been happening for a very long time. It seems to happen to about 100% of the population. Two people went straight to heaven without passing through death: Enoch and Elijah. Christians who are raptured will not go through death. However, even that experience is very similar. In the rapture we are “caught up . . . to meet the Lord in the air” (1 Thess. 4:17). Those who die are immediately “present with the Lord” (2 Cor. 5:8, KJV). In both cases the Christian is immediately out of this mortal body and present with the Lord.