Title: “How to Die as a Christian”
Text: 1 Kings 1 - 2:10
Introduction:
Well, as we consider this final message in the series of David’s life, which is about his death, how does one die as a Christian? When you die what do you want people to remember about you? What do you want people to write on your tombstone? I told you I was sick? With all joking aside, what do you think King David is going to be remembered for? Turn in your bibles to 1 Kings 1:1-4. David is not going to die at this stage in his life, he’s not to die until we get to 1 Kings 2:10, but right now in these verses, I see something of significance as to how David is going to be remembered? Here is what it says, “Now King David was very old, and no matter how many blankets covered him, he could not keep warm. (2) So his advisers told him, “We will find a young virgin who will wait on you and be your nurse. She will lie in your arms and keep you warm.” (3) So they searched throughout the country for a beautiful girl, and they found Abishag the Shunemite and brought her to the king. (4) The girl was very beautiful, and she waited on the king and took care of him, but the king had no sexual relations with her.” David is approximately 70 years of age and he’s on his deathbed. Why is it necessary to say that David had no sexual relations with this young girl? Let me read to you from Max Lucado’s book, Facing Your Giants.” (Read page 157) David is hours from the grave. A death chill has set in that blankets cannot remove. His servants decide he needs a warm body to warm him, someone to hold tight as he takes his final breaths. Do they turn to one of David’s wives? No! Do they call on one of his children? No! They seek a lovely young woman throughout all the territory of Israel and she cared for the king and served him, but the king did not know her.” Now folks, when the bible says that King David did not know her, that doesn’t mean because of age he’s slow to recalling her name. To know is to know! Enough said! We have young ears listening in this morning. Our TV world wants to point out to us that Hugh Hefner is the greatest lover of our day and age. NOT! Max Lucado finishes with these insightful words, “I suspect that David would have traded all his conquered crowns for the tender arms of a wife, but David made strangers out of his own family.” So, true!
Well, what can we learn from David’s death that will enable us to love our families better? I would say when we die; make sure we’re remembered for the right things. Spiritual death! You remember several years ago how we use to talk about how a person could become a Christian by teaching the five-finger exercise? (Believe, Accept, Repent, be baptized, and continue in the ways of salvation? In other words, be faithful unto death and I will give you a crown of life? Revelation 2:10?)
Transition:
I’m so glad we don’t use that five-finger exercise anymore. Why? Because there is nothing in the five-finger exercise that points us to being saved by God’s grace, but what about a five-finger exercise type teaching as to how to die as a Christian? This is something I came up with, I don’t have to agree with me, but here it goes. We’re working our way all the way over to the little finger. (Show you hand)
THE THUMB - GOD’S SUCCESS IN HIS LIFE
Interpretation
On most hands the thumb is the biggest, so it deserves the most attention. And I was thinking there are a lot of things you can’t do unless you have a good thumb. Folks, I want the thumb to represent God’s catalog of successes in our lives. You know what I mean? When a person dies and you’re preparing the funeral, you want to look back upon that person’s life history and recall their many accomplishments. So, looking back upon your life recall the many things that God accomplished in my life.
Application
And a good verse of scripture to help get you started might be Philippians 2:13, “For God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey him and the power to do what pleases him.” Another translation says, “For God is at work within you, both to will and work his good pleasure.” I think in order to make my death a happy memory experience if I’m given the time to recall matters from my deathbed like David, I want to recall God pleasure at work within me.
Death doesn’t have to be a frightening, sad, lonely, angry experience if you put yourself in the right frame of mind. You realize at one time death was a welcome visitor in people’s homes? The children would help mom and dad care for grandma and grandpa. There was no point in moving them to a care facility or a swing bed program at a hospital because those whom the elderly wanted to die amongst was there own family. Today, death has become a remote and no longer integral part of life, but a fearsome and unwelcome visitor. And so unlike earlier generations we don’t know how to deal with death when it comes knocking on our door. I think the way to deal with death’s visit is to first of all recall the wonderful things that God’s marvelous grace has accomplished in your life. Today I say, “Prove and show to others that you’re walking faithfully before your God. “Be faithful unto death and the Lord will give you a crown of life” – Revelation 2:10
Transition:
The second finger represents those last minute decisions and our total dependence upon God.
SECOND FINGER – LAST MINUTE DECISIONS
Interpretation
David wasn’t even in the ground, yet and his sons continually argued over who would be the next king of Israel? Would it be Adonijah or would it be Solomon? In our text, Adonijah had high hopes it was going to be him because he was the oldest living son, but he seemed have no idea that his father had already promised the kingdom to the youngest, that being Solomon. And so he’s walking around and boasting that he would become the next King of Israel. (V.5) And guess what? 2000 years later, Jesus is heading towards the cross to die and his disciples, the sons of he father, continually argued over who would be the greatest in Jesus kingdom. David and Jesus! David is somewhat of a precursor to the life of Christ, but Jesus example is perfect and complete. David leaves us wanting something more perfect from, what I can see. One of those last minute decisions from the cross for Jesus was “Father, forgive them for they know not what they’ve done.” In other words, I understand their sinful ways, but I still love them.
Application
On other hand, David’s last minute decision was to avoid making a decision. Pick it up at (Vs.11- 21). Last minute decisions! We all have to make them. Not always are those last minute decisions for your own comfort, or a painkiller or and shot. As I’ve been reading from the book I received from Hospice, sometimes the reason people choose to hold on to this life is because something is wrong in the family and without their help the problem is not going to become solved. May I say the most important decision you can ever make is to have a savior? Last minute decisions! Some will wait until that last minute, but they truly don’t have to. The longer they wait, the less will be their heavenly rewards.
Transition:
The middle finger, which is the longest finger on our hand what should this finger represent within the death experience?
MIDDLE FINGER
Interpretation
That finger should recall to you your highest priorities within life. And in many a funeral I’ve talked about many a person’s highest priorities in life. You know what I think should be a high priority in our life and become a comfort to us upon our deathbed? God’s reputation! This is what I like about David. David jealously guarded God’s reputation and this pleased God so much.
Application
What do you do my Christian friends when your friends are in that casual setting and they are taking God’s name in vain in your presence? Do you say, “People, will be people,” or are you one to defend God’s reputation? David has these moments to remember – nobody was going to defame his Lord from the time that he fought with Goliath. Nobody was going to defame his Lord when he bought the Ark of the Covenant into the city of Jerusalem where it was to be worship by all the nations people. Think about it! You’re on your deathbed, but your cancer could be used as an opportunity for God to flex his healing muscles. However, we say, “Oh no, not cancer – nobody can beat cancer.” God can beat cancer! Your sins can become a showcase for God’s grace, and your struggling marriage can become a billboard for God’s power. So, I repeat to you, allow that middle finger remind you of God’s work in you as you defend His reputation.
Transition:
We’re almost done for we only have two more fingers to complete this five-finger exercise.
RING FINGER
Interpretation
As you know, that ring finger represents a whole lot of love and commitment to the marriage relationship. This finger within the death experience represents your passion for life. All we’ve learned from David is what we don’t want to have happen in our families. Can you imagine the types of problems David must have faced trying to blend 8 families into one? Even God himself only tackled three, the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Application
Can you imagine David having a conversation with his eighth wife Bethsheba, and she says to him, “David? How come Michal your first wife has so much hated towards you? Is it because she’s childless and a woman as a wife without children in Israel is considered to be a disgrace? David why didn’t you ever have a child through your wife Michal? It seems after the death of her father Saul and brother Jonathan, love towards David turned sour. Well, unrelated to marriage in the death experience that ring finger is to remind you of your greatest passion and I pray that passion will be to know God better.
Transition:
And finally, the little finger says, “Don’t give up.”
LITTLE FINGER
Interpretation
Fight the good fight of faith! When God calls you home remember Paul’s attitude in those closing moments of his life when his head was to be placed upon a chopping block. 1 Timothy 6:12, Paul says to Timothy, “Timothy, fight the good fight for what we believe. Take hold of the eternal life that God has given you, which you confessed before many witnesses.” Paul’s own personal words to Timothy were – “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. (8) Henceforth, (meaning what remains for me) - there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day— and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.”
Application
According to Paul, if we fought the good fight of faith all our lives we have a lot to look forward too. So, this little finger represents that we’ll never give up. One prayer might not be enough! Daniel struggled to get prayer to God. One apology might not be enough. One day a month of resolving the situation might not be enough. You might get knocked down a time or two, but get back up and go at it again. In other words, you are to keep loading the rocks and swinging the sling. Never give into our enemy Satan.
Conclusion:
So, isn’t it neat how this sermon series ends today? David took five stones to a kill a giant and nobody thought he could do it, but God’s strength was proven through his weakest moments, and now five decisions to comfort him during his dying moments of life. 1 Kings 2:10 tells remainder of the story, “Then David slept with his fathers and was buried in the city of David.” In other words, he died as his ancestors died. He died according to what the Jews said on the day of Pentecost. Jesus was born in the city of David, and King David was buried in the city of David, in a sepulchre of his father Jessie, a very private man. These are the kind of thoughts that I would share at the end of someone’s funeral of David’s stature and search to find God. His was a noble, wondrous, and humbling history. He was a good man, yet his life was deformed by various crimes of a gross character. He was a divine lover of the Word of God. He’s to be held in honor as Israel’s greatest king, prior to Christ.
Five decisions and five fingers! (1) He recalls God’s success in his life. (2) He recalls how God helped him through all those tough last minute decisions. (3) He recalls how he guarded God’s reputation with his life and how this pleased God. (4) He recalls his passion for God, until that one year he got off track and Nathan brought him to his senses. (5) He calls his determination to follow God and now he’s ready to go home to be with the Lord. He’s fought the good fight and so henceforth God has a reward laid up in heaven for him. You see what mean? There you are upon your own deathbed. All you have to do is look at your hand and recall these five things and you’re home.
Prayer:
