Looking Death In The Eye

ƒ²ƒâƒßƒßƒÛƒØƒÙƒÜƒÜƒnƒ²ƒÑƒàƒäƒÙƒãƒäƒnƒ³ƒØƒåƒâƒÓƒØ

¡§Looking Death in the Eye¡¨

Hebrew 9:27

Billy T. Short, Pastor ¡V October 9, 2005

Christopher Short was 2 months old when it happened to him. Kevin Lott was 7 years old, riding a bike with his sister in the yard when it happened to him. Mike Black, 16 years old, was riding his motorcycle to see his girlfriend when it happened to him. Mark Stephens was 18 years old and on the way home from the prom when it happened to him. Mike Golden was in his early twenties, one morning while taking a shower, it happened to him. Chris Cygan, a man in his forties with a wife and two children, a promising career, and yet it happened to him. Dale Earnhardt, famous, rich, race car driver faced it in turn four of the Daytona Speedway, Princess Diana, rich, beautiful, influential, faced it and lost. Rachel Scott, Cassie Bernall, had it happen on what should have been just a normal day of school. President Ronald Reagan, Alexander the Great. Powerful men also lost the battle to it. Our own dear Earlene Flesher, went through it. Moses, David, Peter, Paul, John, they all faced it. Unless the Lord comes back to take us to be with Him, we will all become entangled it the cold, icy grip of death. Death does not care who you are, what age you are, how much you have, who you know, or what you know. The facts are in, the conclusion is unmistakable. All will die. 1 out of every 1, will die. You can get plastic surgery to hide your age. You can take vitamins until you rattle when you walk. You can exercise, run marathons, but you will never be fit enough to avoid death. We don¡¦t like to talk about it. We try to put it far from us. But with every breath we take it draws nearer. If it is sure, if it is certain, if we are constantly growing closer to that event, what must we do? This morning I want you to understand some realities about death, judgement, and the afterlife, and what you must do in light of death.

But man dies and is laid away; Indeed he breathes his last and where is he?

Job 14:10 NKJV

I. We will all face the REALITY of death.

To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, And a time to die;

Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 NKJV

A. It is a SETTLED issue.

¡§Behold, all souls are Mine; The soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is Mine; The soul who sins shall die.

Ezekial 18:4 NKJV

Since Adam and Eve fell in the garden death has been a settled issue. There is no escape. While on his death bed, someone entered the room and found WC Fields thumbing through a Bible. When asked what he was doing, he responded that he was looking for loopholes. Some say the only thing that is certain is death and taxes. I say that there are loopholes that you can find that will exempt you from taxes. There are no loopholes when it comes to death.

B. It is a SET time.

You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.

Psalm 139:16 NLT

The writer of Hebrews says that it is an appointment. It is one that you will keep. The Bible tells us that God has determined the number of your days. One day it will show up on your calendar. It will be on your to do list.

C. It is a SINGLE event.

A recent study has shown that 1 out of 5 Christians believe in reincarnation. This verse sweeps that idea away. There is no reincarnation, there is no second chance to get your karma right. It is a one time only deal. A once in a lifetime or should I say eternity offer.

II. We will all face the certainty of JUDGEMENT.

¡§God shall judge the righteous and the wicked, For there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.¡¨

Ecclesiastes 3:17 NKJV

What happens after we die. That is the question. This verse has the answer. We will face judgement. The Bible tells us plainly that we will not hang around in limbo as the psychics tell us. We will not wait for our toll to be paid in purgatory. We will face judgement. The saved will be ushered into the presence of the Lord. To be absent from the body is to be present with Him. The lost will open there eyes is a place of torment. ¡§And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. Luke 16:23