HoHum:
Fred was in the hospital, near death, so the family sent for the preacher. As the preacher stood beside the bed, Fred’s frail condition grew worse, and he motioned frantically for something to write on. The preacher lovingly handed him a pen and piece of paper, and Fred used his last ounce of strength to scribble a note. Then he died. The preacher thought it best not to look at the note just then, so he slipped it into his jacket pocket. Several days later, at the funeral, the preacher delivered the eulogy. He realized that he was wearing the same jacket that he’d worn the day Fred died. “You know,” he said, “Fred handed me a note just before he died. I haven’t read it, but knowing Fred, I’m sure there’s a word of inspiration there for us all.” He unfolded the note and read aloud, “You’re standing on my oxygen tube!”
WBTU:
I am a hospice chaplain and I have come to talk about death. Would expect a talk on death from a hospice chaplain. Give you what you expect. Let’s face this head on.
C.S. Lewis wrote, “100 percent of us die, and the percentage cannot be increased.” Billy Graham said, “Death is the most democratic experience in life, for we all participate in it.”
“It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of every man; the living should take this to heart.” Ecclesiastes 7:2, NIV. As long as the Lord tarries, all of us will die, that is our destiny. However, how is it that it is better to go to a house of mourning than to a house of feasting? Madame DeStael said, “We understand death for the first time when he puts his hand upon one whom we love.” A big reason I find the work of ministering among the dying fulfilling is that people are more open to the gospel when they are faced with the death of their loved one. #1 best time to reach people is when they are young; 2nd best time to reach people is when they are facing a tragedy like the death of a loved one.
People fear what they don’t understand and who can say they understand death? Believing they protect their children, some parents, often shield their children from death and funeral homes. Others choose to bring their children to a funeral home. No matter what we decide about our children, all of us will face the death of our loved ones and the death of ourselves. Our society as a whole does not want to deal with or talk about death.
“Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death--that is, the devil-- and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants.” Hebrews 2:14-16, NIV. That is us! Jesus helps us with death.
Thesis: 3 kinds of death: physical, spiritual and eternal
For instances:
Physical
“And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.”” Genesis 2:16, 17, NIV.
“And the LORD God said, “The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live for ever.” So the LORD God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.” Genesis 3:22-24, NIV.
Imagine if the Lord just let humans eat from the tree of life, we would be living here forever in a sin corrupted world. Don’t misunderstand me, death is our enemy and we should want to live as long as God allows us to live. We should treat our body as a temple of the Holy Spirit and try to maintain this body as long as possible to do God’s work for God’s glory. However, think about living life forever in this dreadful world. Some TV shows and movies depict those who are immortal, they are living forever on this earth, in this world. Most of the time Hollywood depicts this as a dreadful condition. Why? Because this world is not as it should be.
Physical death is the separation of the body from the soul. “and the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.” Ecclesiastes 12:7, NIV.
Hospice is for those who have been diagnosed with 6 months or less to live. With the medical advances of today, we can keep a body alive a long time. People sacrifice a great deal to keep this body alive. How should a Christian view this? Not advocating euthanasia, but in many cases the family wants aggressive treatments but the one suffering does not.
When Paul thought about physical death, here is part of what he said; “If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labour for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart ... which is better by far;” Philippians 1:22, 23, NIV. How could Paul say that is better? Leave this old world behind. But isn’t this world getting better and better. No, “while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.” 2 Timothy 3:13, NIV. “First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.” 2 Peter 3:3, NIV.
Spiritual
“but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.” James 1:14, 15, NIV. Adam and Eve in the Garden. All have sinned.
When sin came into this world, God had to separate himself. Before God was often walking in the Garden with the man and woman (Genesis 3:8). After sin, God did not do this.
“But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.” Isaiah 59:2, NIV.
“So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.” Ephesians 4:17-19, NIV.
In a sense dead to spiritual things, they say spiritual things are bad, or at least not important. Separated from God, the giver of true life.
Reminds me of life on the farm. An animal (usually a dog) would find something dead and just wallow in it. This is often what we do. Find something sinful and just indulge in it.
Sin is fun for a short time according to Hebrews 11:25, but in the end it leads to death. “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” Ephesians 4:22-24, NIV.
How do we put on the new self? “for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.” Galatians 3:27, NIV.
Eternal
There are many depictions of hell. Where the worm does not die and the fire is never quenched- darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. By for me the worst description of hell is of eternal separation from God. “They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power” 2 Thessalonians 1:9, NIV. Shut out from the presence of the Lord
Earlier I said that our sins have separated us from God. However, God is here in a certain sense, he is not absent from his creation. “Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.”” Acts 14:17, NIV.
Imagine a place where God is completely absent, forever shut out, separated from God, hell.
“I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far;” Philippians 1:23, NIV.
“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”” Revelation 21:1-4, NIV.
So what?
Mullins- Death is just a door to the joy that is awaiting, death is just a shadow into everlasting life; death is often thought of as a very sad occasion, but for the child of God it’s just a door to brand new life. “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.” Psalms 116:15.
In Christ alone- No guilt in life, no fear in death, This is the power of Christ in me, From life’s first cry to final breath, Jesus commands my destiny.
“I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.” Revelation 1:18, NIV.
David said to Jonathan- “there is only a step between me and death.”” 1 Samuel 20:3, NIV.
