The Worst Place To Die
John 8:21-30
Death is not a subject that we enjoy thinking about. But, despite efforts by doctors, rescue workers and other medical professionals worldwide, the global death rate remains constant at 100 percent." The Bible tells us in - James 4:14 (that life is) a vapor, that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away.Hebrews 9:27 proclaims that "it is appointed unto man once to die"
Throughout history, men and women have died in some strange ways and in some strange places.
- Fagilyu Mukhametzyanov from Kazan, Russia had been wrongly declared deceased by doctors on June of 2012. The horrified 49-year-old began screaming when she realized they were getting ready to bury her. She was rushed back to the hospital, where doctors had declared her dead (again) from a suspected heart attack.
- Homer and Langley Collyer were brothers who were compulsive hoarders. They set up booby traps to protect their belongings from intruders. One day in 1947 Langley was crawling through a tunnel of trash and set off one of his own traps. He was crushed under tons of garbage. His brother was paralyzed and died of starvation because he was unable to feed himself.
- Canadian lawyer Garry Hoy died in a building while trying to prove that the glass in the windows of a 24th floor office was unbreakable, by throwing himself against it. It didn’t break - but it did pop out of its frame and he plunged to his death.
- In September 1998 Paul Stiller and his wife were inebriated and bored. They decided to cure their boredom by taking a midnight drive with a couple of sticks of dynamite. Their plan was to light the dynamite and throw it out of the window. But as a result of their drunken condition they forgot to roll down the window. Paul died and his wife was critically injured.
CBS News recently published an article entitled "The 5 worst places to die". The article begins by stating "There's no avoiding death—but some places are "better" places to die than others." The study ranked 80 countries for their "quality of death." Researchers looked at factors such as: the overall sedative care, healthcare environment, the availability of healthcare professionals, and the affordability and quality of care. The 5 worst places to die were: Iraq, Bangladesh, Philippines, Nigeria, Burma.
I would submit to you that these are not the worst places that one could die. Without a doubt the number 1 worst possible place that you can die is "in your sins". The reason that this is the worst possible place to die is because of the consequences of dying this way.
We are told in Luke 16 of a "rich man" who died in his sins. After he died "he lifted up his eyes in Hell". He found himself in the midst of eternal torments. He begged for just "one drop of water to cool his tongue." He was in a place of fire and was "tormented in the flames".
Jesus described hell as a place of "weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth". - Hell is a place of torments. It is a place of never ending fire and unquenchable thirst. It is a place of suffering, separation and sorrow! One of the worst aspects of Hell is the fact that those who are there, didn't have to go! There are some people under the sound of my voice who will one day draw their last breath and find themselves condemned and facing these eternal torments. Why? ...Because you chose to die in the worst place ever! You will face this damnation because you died "in your sins".
I have good news, you don't have to face this destiny. Jesus is offering you a great gift called salvation today. Through His Holy Word He warns of the consequences of rejecting Him. In our selected text He tried to warn the Pharisees, but they didn't listen. They died in their sins and as a result they are in Hell today! I hope you will learn for their error! Let's look at Jesus' warning to the Pharisees and examine "The Worst Place To Die".
- In verse 12 of this chapter, Jesus proclaimed that He was "the light of the world". He told the Pharisees that if they would follow Him, they would not walk in darkness, rather, they would have the light of life. - But, as usual... these Pharisees rejected Him. In verses 20-29 Jesus continues to reach out to these stubborn religious folk. in these same verses, He reveals the consequences of rejecting Him as Messiah. Those who rejected Him then, experienced spiritual death. Those who reject Him now, will experience the same!
Let's walk through these verses and see just who will die in their sins. We see in verses 21-22 that:
I. Those Who Are Deceived Will Die In Their Sins - v21 Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come. 22 Then said the Jews, Will he kill himself? because he saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come.
Jesus revealed that He was "going away". This speaks of His impending death, resurrection and ascension. These were all aspects of the promised Messiah that had been revealed in prophecy. The Pharisees were very religious people. These people were experts in all matters concerning the Law. They knew the prophecies concerning the Messiah. They had long been looking for the arrival of the Promised One.
The Messiah was right in front of them and they missed Him! Jesus says that they would "seek Him and that they would die in their sins" . - Because they rejected Him, they would continue to look for their Messiah. Because they rejected Him, they would die in their sins. Because they died in their sins, they are in Hell today!
There are many people who will die in their sins because they are deceived. They think they have it all figured out! They are extremely religious people. They have "checked all of the boxes" so to speak. They have joined a church. They have gone through the baptismal waters. They attend services on a regular basis. They pay their tithes. They say their prayers and read their Bibles. These folks aren't trying to deceive anyone, the problem is they have been deceived themselves.
They have had an emotional experience that has bread a false sense of security. They possess religion. The follow tradition. They observe the rituals. They go through the motions. But they have never truly met the Savior. Like the Pharisees they are trusting in their works and their own self righteousness to get them to Heaven. They are deceived and when they die they will die in the worst place ever!!! IN THEIR SINS!
Jesus describes what will happen to these deceived religious people in - Matthew 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Can you imagine what happened when the Pharisees died and realized that Jesus really was Who He said He was? I can just hear one of them talking to the other and saying "He really is the Promised One." He was right there in front of us and we missed Him"!!! My friend if you continue to allow Satan to deceive you, one day you may find yourself in eternity saying "OH NO! THAT OL PREACHER WAS RIGHT! .....I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SURRENDER AND I REFUSED! THE SAVIOR WAS RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME AND I MISSED OUT!!
Satan will tell you that if you will say the right things and do the right things you will be OK. Satan will tell you that if you that if you avoid the bad things that you will be OK. He would have you to believe that if you just life a good moral life that God will allow you to enter in to Heaven when you die! But Jesus says "... I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me". (John 14:6) - There is no other way! And if you die deceived YOU WILL DIE IN YOUR SINS!!!! If you die in your sins YOU WILL FIND YOURSELF IN HELL!!
In verse 23 we find another group of people who will die in their sins. Notice:
II. Those Who Are Distracted Will Die In Their Sins - v23 And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world.
Jesus descended from Heaven and would eventually return there. The Pharisees were of this world and focused on it. Though they were very self righteous people, the Pharisees were very lax in their morals.They indulged in the wickedness of this world. We are not to be focused on the temptations and pleasures of this life. God's people are to "set our affection on things above, not on things on the earth". (Colossians 3:2) ----- John said - Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. (1 John 2:15)
Unfortunately since the beginning, this has been a problem for many. Jesus gives us an example of this in Luke 14:16-24. He shares a parable of a man who prepared a great feast and invited many people to come. Initially they accepted the invitation but when the meal was ready they began to make excuses. One bought some land and had to go see it. One bought 5 yoke of Oxen and to try them out. One got married and used his wife as an excuse. There were 3 excuses used in this parable: Work, Possessions and Family. These are the same 3 excuses people use today. These same 3 excuses are going to cause people to miss the Marriage Supper of The Lamb. These same 3 excuses are going to cause people to die in their sins. These same 3 excuses are going to cause people to miss out on Heaven. These same 3 excuses are going to cause people to spend eternity in the Lake of Fire!
Some of you here today spend your lives focused on work, material goods and your family. You never consider eternity. You live your life building YOUR KINGDOM...trust me ONE DAY IT WILL FALL!! Some of you are trying to climb the corporate ladder. Some are trying to find the right woman or the right man. You are trying to build the biggest house. You want to buy the nicest car. You are focused on attaining material goods. You have to have that
Bass boat, the best hunting gear more fishing supplies. You seek to attain extravagant jewelry, nicer furniture, 4 wheelers. You want to buy that big RV. Your family has to have the finest clothes.
None of these things are evil in themselves. But if your priorities aren't in order they could cost you eternally! Consider the question Jesus posed in - Matthew 16:26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
Is your work, your STUFF or your family so important that you are willing to risk enduring eternal damnation? Apparently it is for some of you!! You are distracted by the things of this world and you are going to die in your sins! There are some here today who are going to die in their sins and go to hell and they are going to take their children with them! Perhaps worse than that... some of you are going to die and go to Heaven and send your kids to Hell! You have truly been saved but you have lost sight of what really matters! And the example you are setting for your children is pathetic!
They are looking to you to see what is really important and you are pointing them in the wrong direction. You will take them all over the country to ball games and other scholastic events. You force them to go to school and to study hard. You encourage them in their extra curricular activities. You spend hours helping them understand algebra, chemistry and world history. But do you pray with them? Do you teach them the ways of the Lord? Do you live a godly Christian life in front of them? Do they know that worshipping and serving the Savior is important? If these things are not important to you, it will not be important to them!
When this life is over: Will it matter if your son was the best ball player? Will it matter if your daughter was the most popular kid in school? Will it matter is she was the valedictorian? Will it matter if he was the class president? Will it matter if they got a full scholarship to the University of Alabama? Will it matter is she was a cheerleader at Auburn? There is nothing wrong with any of these things, but WHERE IS JESUS ON YOUR LIST OF PRIORITIES???
I imagine that there are people in hell today crying out to their parents asking them WHY? Perhaps they are asking: Why didn't you teach me about Jesus? Why didn't you take me to church? Why didn't you tell me about Hell? WHY DID YOU ALLOW ME TO END UP IN THIS AWFUL PLACE!!!
Hell is full of people who were focused on the things of this world. They spent their time on the temporal rather than the eternal! There is no profession, possession or person that is worth suffering the consequences of rejecting Jesus!
Are you distracted by the things of this world? If you are, you will die in your sins! Moving on, in verse 24 we see that:
III. Those Who Are Disbelieving Will Die In Their Sins - v24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.
Jesus said that if they did not believe they would die in their sins. These Pharisees did not believe, as a result they did not inherit eternal life. If they had believed... they would have been delivered! Salvation is very simple... BELIEVE. The thief on the cross was not saved because he said "Lord, remember me!" He said "Lord, remember me" because he "believed" that Jesus was Lord and he was saved as a result!
Many people today believe that Jesus is just one of many ways to Heaven. Some don't believe in Him at all. Some are trusting in themselves and their morality. Some have put their trust in Joseph Smith, Buddha or Muhammad. Some are still looking for the Messiah to arrive. But one day all will see that JESUS IS LORD! - Romans 14:11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
Jesus is telling you the same thing He told the Pharisees... "If you do not believe in Him, you will die in your sins!" -- Consider what He told Nicodemus in - John 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
If you die in your sins and find yourself in Hell it will not be because of the bad things you have done. It will not be because of the good things that you failed to do. You will find yourself condemned because you rejected the invitation of the Savior. If you will accept His invitation to salvation your sins can be washed in His precious blood. If you refuse Him...YOU WILL DIE IN YOUR SINS!!!
There are some who doubt Jesus, some profess that they don't believe but there are some who are simply rebellious. Consider that:
IV. Those Who Are Defiant Will Die In Their Sins - v25 Then said they unto him, Who art thou? And Jesus saith unto them, Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning. 26 I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him. 27 They understood not that he spake to them of the Father. 28 Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. 29 And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.
In chapters 1-8 we have record from multiple witnesses concerning Jesus' identity. His Words, actions and miracles testified that He indeed was the Messiah. Even with all of this, the Pharisees were defiant! They continued to reject Him as the Promised One. Here He tells them that after they crucified Him, they would realize that the One they rejected is actually the One they should have worshipped! Though they are some who deny Christ altogether, there are some who blatantly reject Him. They believe everything the Bible says about Him... they believe that He is the Son of God and the Savior of the World. They believe that He has the power to forgive sin and secure salvation. They believe that He is the only Way to Heaven. They believe all of this but they reject Him! They believe all of this but they are defiant and they will die in their sins.
In Matthew 19 there was a man who came to Jesus and asked Him what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus told him to keep the commandments. He said that he had kept them since his youth. Jesus then instructed him to sell his possessions and give the money to the poor. This man decided that his possessions were more important that the eternal life that he sought.
There are many people who believe in Jesus, but they refuse to surrender to Him. I have witnessed to people in the past who believe every word in the Bible, but they reject Jesus' and His offer of salvation. Their defiant rejection will be rewarded with rejection.
In Matthew 22 Jesus tells of a King who prepared a wedding feast for his son. When the banquet was ready he sent for those who had been invited and they all refused to come. The King was furious at the actions of those who had rejected him. He sent his servants out to invite others to attend the feast. When the king came in to meet the guests, he noticed a man who wasn’t wearing a wedding garment. This man suffered greatly for his actions. The King said to His servants "...Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
If you blatantly reject Jesus'' offer of salvation you will die in your sins and that is the worst place to die!! Even worse, you will be cast into outer darkness; where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth!
Thus far we have seen that Those Who Are Deceived, Distracted, Disbelieving and Defiant will die in their sins. There is one more group of people that I would like to consider today. Notice that:
V. Those Who Are Delaying May Die In Their Sins - v30 As he spake these words, many believed on him.
There were several different responses in the crowd that Jesus addressed that day. We know that many of the Pharisees heard His warning and continued to reject Him. But we are told in verse 30 that as he spoke "many believed on Him". I believe that it is very possible that there were some present that day who heard Jesus and believed Him. But they refused to respond immediately to Him call to salvation. It seems that there are always some procrastinators in the crowd. Maybe there were some who said... "I think He really is the Messiah". "I will follow Him...TOMORROW!" "I will follow Him... after I take care of a few things." Maybe one said "I will follow Him after I sow some wild oats." Maybe another said "I will follow Him after I clean up my act."
Perhaps you are here today and time and time again you have heard the Word of the Lord. You have felt the conviction of the Holy Spirit. You have realized you need a Savior. You know that Hell is real. You know that Jesus is the Only hope of eternal life. You know that you need to turn to Him. Yet, you procrastinate. Week after week you put Him off. Let me urge you to surrender to Him while there is still time. The Bible says - "Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near." Isaiah 55:6.
The Lord also says that "His spirit will not always strive with man". He may be calling you now and if you reject Him, He may never call you again! He may be calling you now and your say I am going to wait until next Sunday and you could die before Sunday rolls around. If you continue to delay, it is very possible that you could die in your sins.
Noah preached for 120 years. Most people laughed at him as he built the ark. But I think there may have been some who actually believed him. Maybe one said I am going to go help him after I find a wife. I will help him after I get that next promotion. I am going to help him after I accomplish some of my own hopes and dreams. I will go join him after I finish raising my kids. I wonder how many had planned to join Noah...ONE DAY! Just picture that day as the rain began to fall. Countless people were screaming as death came for them! All of those people running to the ark banging on the door crying let me in! The consequence of their delay was that they could not find their way into the Ark.
The consequence of your delay will be that you cannot find your way out of Hell! The is no exit door in Hell! If you find yourself there it will be forever. It will be too late to pray! There will be nowhere to run... now where to hide and no way of escape! You will have died in the worst place possible. You will have died in your sins! All because you decided to delay responding to Jesus' great offer of salvation!
As of right now it is not too late! But 1 o'clock this afternoon it may be. If Jesus is calling you right now ...surrender right now! - "Behold, NOW is the accepted time; behold, NOW is the day of salvation."
The greatest news found in our selected text is verse 30 - As he spake these words, many believed on him. --- There were some people who were delivered from their sins that day. The same thing can happen to you right here...right now! Are you willing to chance dying in your sins?
D.L Moody tells of a man who felt the conviction of the Holy Spirit and desired to be saved. But he was afraid that his friends would laugh at him. The spirit was striving with this man. Each night he came back to the revival meetings...for weeks he came. It was as if the man would step to the very threshold of Heaven but then he would hesitate to take the next step. There came a day when the Spirit of God left him... the conviction was gone. Months later Moody went to witness once again to this man. Here is his reply: "Mr. Moody," said he, "I have made up my mind to become a Christian. My mind is fully made up to that, but I won't be one just now. I am going to Michigan to buy a farm and settle down, and then I will become a Christian." Moody pleaded with him to get saved while he had the opportunity. He simply said "not yet, I will risk it". One Thursday, about noon, his wife called for Mr. Moody to come quickly to their home. He was sick and the doctors said there was no hope of a recovery. Moody went in to the man's room and he heard these words - "Mr. Moody, you need not talk to me any more. It is too late. my heart is as hard as the iron in that stove there. My damnation is sealed, and I shall be in hell in a little while." Moody tried to tell him of Jesus' love and God's forgiveness, but he said, "Mr. Moody, I tell you there is no hope for me." The man lingered until the sun went down. From noon until he died all he was heard to say was, "The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and I am not saved." Hour after hour he would say again those awful words, just before he drew his last breath his wife heard him mutter, "The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and I am not saved." Moody concluded the story this way: He lived a Christless life, he died a Christless death, we wrapped him in a Christless shroud and took him away to a Christless grave.
The man died in his sins and ever since has been in a Christless eternity! The same will happen to you if you continue to reject the offer of salvation. Do not delay!! Turn to Jesus today! Do not risk dying in your sins!
