I am resending The Dash. I think I sent the wrong copy before, because this version has no quotation marks, bullets, or apostrophes. I retyped this one from notepad or an old Works program. If it still doesn't work, let me know.
THE DASH
I. Almost every human being has one. Some have decayed, been vandalized, etc.
Some information can be found on tombstones, but one item is exactly the same on every marker: the dash between the dates. Chiseled out a couple inches long.
II. What is it? It¡¦s the DASH between the dates.
A. The Length of Life.
1. What is life?
a. a vapor James 4:13 ¡V 15 Go to now, ye that say, To day or tomorrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: 14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. 15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.
b. a shadow I Chron 29:15 For we are strangers before thee, and sojourners, as were all our fathers: our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding.
Psalms 102:11 My days are like a shadow that declineth; and I am
withered like grass.
A shadow only lasts one day. At night it is ended. Work while it is day. The night cometh when no man can work.
c. a few days Job 14:1 Man that is born of a woman is of few days,
and full of trouble.
d. a flower Job 14:2 He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down:
he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.
e. a handbreath Psalms 39:5 Behold, thou hast made my days as an
handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every
man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah.
f. as grass 1 Peter 1:24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of
man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower
thereof falleth away:
g. a wind Psalms 78:39 For he remembered that they were but flesh;
a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.
2. It Varies
a. Very Short Existence „³ Not even born, or not born alive.
b. Short „³ There is no respect of person with death.
Psalms 89:47 -48 Remember how short my time is: wherefore hast thou made all men in vain? 48 What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death? shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave? Selah.
Even the young and the innocent die.
c. Mid
d. Long „³ Threescore and ten Psalms 90:10 & 12 The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. 12 So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.
3. Average
a. Male 76.7 years
b. Female 81.5 years
III. It Begins
A. With Joy „³ A man is born. John 16:21 A woman when she is in travail hath
sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child,
she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the
world.
B. Celebration & Gifts „³ Baby Shower
IV. It Ends
II Samuel 14:14 For we must needs die, and are as water spilt on the ground, which
cannot be gathered up again; neither doth God respect any person: yet doth he
devise means, that his banished be not expelled from him.
A. Various Ways
B. It¡¦s An Appointment
Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the
judgment:
Job 7:1 Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? are not his days
also like the days of an hireling?
Job 14:5 Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months are with
thee, thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass;
Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death
by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
C. Emotions by those facing the end
1. Denial Psalms 89:48 What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death?
Shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave?
2. Disbelief
3. Fear
4. Desire to Extend Life Job 2:4 And Satan answered the LORD, and said,
Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.
5. Uncertainty
6. Acceptance Important so you can continue to live a normal life.
Job 30:23 For I know that thou wilt bring me to death, and to the
House appointed for all living.
7. Evaluation „³ Discuss Later
D. Emotions of those remaining
1. Denial
2. Disbelief
3. Weakness „³ Inability to prevent losing a loved one
Eccl 8:8 There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the
spirit; neither hath he power in the day of death: and there is no discharge in that war; neither shall wickedness deliver those that are given to it.
4. Grief and Sadness
5. Anger
a. At the deceased
b. At ourselves
c. At God
6. Acceptance
V. Your Evaluation of the Dash
A. It will come if you live long enough (Mid-life crisis?)
B. You will decide
1. What did I do right? Have I always made the right decisions?
2. What did I do wrong?
3. If I could, what would I do differently?
C. Results of Evaluation
1. Job 21:23 ¡V 26 One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and
quiet. 24 His breasts are full of milk, and his bones are moistened with marrow. 25 And another dieth in the bitterness of his soul, and never eateth with pleasure. 26 They shall lie down alike in the dust, and the worms shall cover them.
2. Solomon¡¦s Evaluation ( A rich kid. David¡¦s son grew up in wealth and
luxury.)
Eccl. 2:17 Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought
under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
VI. Others Evaluations
A. What did he/she contribute?
B. The loss of a friend or a foe
C. Lasting work/effect?
It is important what people think; it is more important what God thinks.
VII. God¡¦s Evaluation
A. Saints At the Judgement Seat of Christ
2 Cor 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ;
that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
1. Good in this body?
2. Bad in this body?
3. Opportunity and ability
4. Crowns?
5. Soul Winner? He that winneth souls is wise.
B. Sinners At the Great White Throne Rev. 20:11 ¡V 15
And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
1. Depart from me Matt 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never
knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
2. Woe is unto you Matt 23:14 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees,
hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.
VIII. Working on the Dash
A. If you can hear my voice, you are working on the dash.
There is time to repent and avoid the Great White Throne Judgment.
There is time to work and avoid embarrassment.
B. The dash is horizontal „³ representing our dealing with our fellow man.
IX. What will your ¡§dash¡¨ say about you?
A. Will it say he/she lived for others or for himself?
B. The Pursuit
1. Isn¡¦t it a mad dash?
a. To find happiness
b. To find Self-fulfillment
c. To find life.
2. Happiness is not found in the pursuit of happiness. Life is not found in
the pursuit of life. Both are found in the pursuit of God and His righteousness.
*Matt 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things
shall be added unto you.
Poem „³ ¡§The Dash¡¨ by Linda Ellis (Easily found on internet.)
