1. Jonah and Professor
You probably heard about the lady who was riding on a crowded bus. She was quietly reading her Bible when a rather distinguished looking man took the seat beside her. After a while he noticed her reading material. He introduced himself. “Hello, I am Professor Smith. I teach philosophy at the university. Don’t tell me you actually believe that stuff you are reading?”
“I certainly do,” the elderly lady replied. “Every word of it.” “Even that story about the Jonah and the whale?” challenged the professor with a smirk. “Of course,” was the quick reply. “Can you prove to me that the story is true?” he asked next.
Knowing what she believed but also knowing she wasn’t about to win any arguments with the professor, she simply said, “Well, when I get to Heaven, I’ll ask Jonah.” The professor smiled, “Well, what if Jonah’s not in Heaven?” The little lady laid her Bible down, looked the professor square in the eye and sternly declared, “Then you can ask him!”
2. The Bible makes many claims that may seem beyond our wildest dreams
13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15 For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4.13-18
3. Last week I mentioned the hints or reinforcements of nature to teachings in the bible – today I want to mention the idea of our actions through the day; sleep at night; waking to a new day are demonstrations of life-death-and resurrection for us.
4. Consider the following biblical “Facts of Life”:
I. The Fact of Life
A. Life is a Gift from God – Genesis 1-2
1. Unalienable rights come from GOD
2. Not from Governments
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence
B. Life is a Journey with God
26 And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, 27 that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, 28 for “‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said, “‘For we are indeed his offspring.’ Acts 17.26-28 (addressing the Areopagus regarding Unknown god)
1. The Journey is Brief (James 4.14)
2. The Journey is Challenging – “Man who is born of a woman
is few of days and full of trouble. Job 14.1
3. The Journey is fulfilling – John 10.10
After the "Cold War" was over, a squadron of Russian pilots was invited to participate in tactical war games at a U.S. Air Force base. A gala dinner was planned by the Base Commander. Thinking to relax the guests, he offered a WW II toast to open the meal. Smiling, he lifted his glass and said, in Russian, "Eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow you may die."
The Russian pilots became very quiet and they hardly ate; most left quite early. Thinking they didn't care for the food, the Commander asked a Russian pilot what went wrong.
"Well, comrade commander," he said, "I thought it was going well until your toast. I don't know what you were meaning to say, but what came out was 'Feast, drink and make happy, for tomorrow we will kill you'."
No matter how you translate it, it doesn't make for good advice to live by, though it certainly fits in with our culture's view of the purpose of life. "Live it up! We're all going to die soon, and you can't enjoy anything beyond the grave, so just focus on bringing yourself pleasure without regard to what is right or wrong."
It sounds very modern, but it's been around a long, long time. In fact, Paul said it was a philosophy that might make sense if there was no hope of a resurrection for us.
"If the dead do not rise, 'Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!'" (I Cor. 15:32b)
But knowing that there will be a resurrection and a judgment and an eternity to follow, we know that there has to be more to guide our lives than just the satisfaction of personal pleasure.
4. The journey is not a “dress rehearsal” – this is it!
II. The Fact of Death (Hebrews 9.27-28)
Three friends were discussing death and one asked the group, “What would you like people to say about you at your funeral?” The first one responded, "I’d like them to say ‘He was a great humanitarian, who cared about his community.’” The friend who started the conversation replied, "I’d like them to say ‘He was a great husband and father, who was an example for many to follow.’" They nodded in agreement and looked to the third friend who had been silent. Without hesitation he concluded, "I’d like them to say ‘Look, he’s moving!!’”
A. We Know It is Coming – Ecclesiastes 9.5
1. Observation
2. Revelation (Genesis 5 – “and he died”)
B. We Fear It – Unknown to us
Actor and director Woody Allen voiced the same feelings when he said, “I am not afraid to die. I just don’t want to be there when it happens.”
1. Resurrections by Yeshua (Jesus) – Lazarus; son of Widow of Nain; Jairus’ Daughter
2. We aren’t told what it was like to die
An Arab chief tells a story of a spy who was captured and then sentenced to death by a General in the Persian army. This General had the strange custom of giving condemned criminals a choice between the firing squad and the big, black door. As the moment for execution drew near, the spy was brought to the Persian general, who asked the question, "What will it be: the firing squad or the big, black door?"
The spy hesitated for a long time. It was a difficult decision. He chose the firing squad.
Moments later shots rang out confirming his execution. The General turned to his aide and said, "They always prefer the known way to the unknown. It is characteristic of people to be afraid of the undefined. Yet, we gave him a choice."
The aide said, "What lies beyond the big door?"
"Freedom," replied the General. "I’ve known only a few brave enough to take it."
C. We Describe It
1. “Sleep”
13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, 1 Thessalonians 4.13
51 Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 1 Corinthians 15.51
11 After saying these things, he said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him.” John 11.11
2. Must be similar to translation – Enoch; Elijah
3. Mount of Transfiguration – Moses (died); Elijah (changed) and Yeshua (Jesus) (eternal)
III. The Fact of Resurrection
Three soldiers participating in army war games were hit with paint pellets, which were fired at them by their opponents. According to the rules of the war games they were legally dead and no longer permitted to participate.
The General’s Jeep got stuck and he insisted that they push it out of the mud for him.
They said, "We can’t. We’re dead."
The General told his driver, "Go get some of those dead bodies over there and put them under these tires so we can get some traction."
An immediate resurrection occurred: They got up and helped the General get his jeep out of the mud.
Yeshua (Jesus) conquered death:
A. For Himself – His own resurrection – We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. Romans 6.9
1. Evidence of Scripture – For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 1 Corinthians 15.3-4
2. Empty Tomb
3. Eyewitnesses – 1 Corinthians 15.5-8 – Peter; 12; 500; James; all Apostles; Paul
4. Expression of Disciples – from fear to fortitude
B. For Others in his time – Lazarus; son of Widow of Nain; Jairus’ daughter plus those resurrected at his crucifixion
C. For US
Benjamin Franklin captured this idea of hope when he wrote his epitaph before he died. Here is what Ben Franklin wanted on his tombstone:
“The body of B. Franklin, Printer (Like the Cover of an Old Book, Its Contents torn Out And Stript of its Lettering and Gilding) Lies Here, Food for Worms. But the Work shall not be Lost; For it will (as he Believ’d) Appear once More In a New and More Elegant Edition Revised and Corrected By the Author.”
Conclusion
1. Daily Reminders
a. Activities – Life
b. Sleeping = Death (not a cessation of being)
c. Awaking (Resurrection)
2. Biblical Reminders – 1 Corinthians 15.20-22; 51-56
20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.
51 Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 53 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 54 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:
Death is swallowed up in victory.”
55 “O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?”
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
3. Bumblebee story
A family was driving on vacation and a bumblebee flew into the car. One of the children was deathly allergic to bee stings, in fact he had nearly died from one. The allergist warned the family that another such sting could be fatal. When that bee flew into the car the boy became hysterical. But his quick-thinking father pulled off of the road and caught the bee in his hand, and the boy relaxed.
After a moment, the dad let the bee go. Once again the boy became upset and frantically tried to get away from the bee. But his dad, calmed him saying, "Don’t worry, son. You don’t have to be afraid." And the father showed his son the palm of his hand that was beginning to swell, and revealed the stinger. The dad said, “It’s okay. All he can do is buzz. This is what could have killed you, but I took the sting away.” Our Heavenly Father sent Jesus so He could take the sting of death away from us as well.
4. Ten Virgins – Matthew 25.1-10 – “Watch”
