Message for Memorial Day –
Theme: DEATH in Christian Perspective
Text: 1 Corinthians 15:56
The Diagnosis
A woman accompanied her husband to visit a doctor. After his check-up, the doctor called the wife into his chamber. He said, "If you don't do the following, your husband will surely die:
1. Each morning, fix him a healthy breakfast.
2. Be pleasant and make sure he is in a good mood.
3. For lunch, make him a nutritious meal.
4. For dinner, prepare him a nice meal.
5. Don't burden him with chores.
6. Don't discuss your problems with him.
On the way home, the husband asked his wife what the doctor told her.
She replied, "You're going to die.” (Adopted)
Explanation to the Word Death:
The Hebrew word for death is “maweth” - which means the final cessation of life on earth.
Death pictured as:
• Death is referred to as penalty clues for the transgressions of the first parent (Genesis 3:19,22).
• Wages of sin - Romans 6:23.
• It has Cords of death - Psalm 18:4
• There is a reaper of death - 2 Samuel 22:6
Death leads to a Walled city ( Job 38:17) from where no one can come out, it’s like a
Chambers of death (Proverbs 7:27), finally death makes into A Dust of dust (Psalm 22:15).
So it’s bitter, terror and empties everything. Though, Death is a common state of all creatures (Psalm 49:10-12). Man always live with the fear of death (Hebrews 2:14). When death approached even Jesus was distressed and troubled for the (Mark 14:33). Some deaths people treat as a “tragic end”, but for some deaths, people say “well-earned rest”. Our judgments are not true because those are based on outward known deeds (Genesis 15:15, Numbers 23:10, 1 Kings 2:6).
So then, what happened to the man after death:
1. Physical status is Non-existent (2 Samuel 14:14, Job 7:21)
Non-existent of might, non-existent of wisdom, intelligent, non-existent of political power, all significant references. Might is lost, popularity is lost, beauty becomes non-existent. Strength is lost, the soul escapes from the mortals and bodies emptied and become void ( Genesis 35:18, 1 kings 17:21, Isaiah 14:10).
2. The status of the spirit and soul are existent but invisible
The dead spirits are in a condition of considerable activity and consciousness (Leviticus 19:31, 20:6, Isaiah 8:19, 19:3, 1 Samuel 28:13). Therefore, there was a worship of the ancestors known as necromancy (Exodus 22:18, Deuteronomy 18:10). At the same time, we come to know through further readings of the scriptures to understand that the state of death was one of the unconsciousness, forgetfulness and silence of the mind (Psalm 88:12, 94:17, 115:17). Jesus tasted death and saw the death (Mark 9:1, John 8:51
(Adopted) Illustration: Dying wish of the old man:
An old man was on the death bed counting the day to kick the bucket.
Doctors fixed the date.
His wife was excellent at baking cakes and cookies
She started to bake cookies,
The old man smelled the aroma and slowly walked to the kitchen and took a biscuit
The old lady shouted and said, “don’t take anything,” they are for your memorial service.
But for believers
Death is sleep
Death is gain
Death is a waiting period
1. Death is asleep for believers
Jesus promised that we “never die” (John 11:26).
Jesus spoke of death as sleeping (John 11:11-13). Every night We go to bed without fear, without terror
with the hope of fulfilling the unfinished tasks for the days to come.
So Paul says our death is a period of sleep with the hope to awake - 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.
“But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this, we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”
2. Death is gain for believers ( Philippians 1:23)
Death is the transition from one state to the other.
we have passed out of death into life-(1 John 3:14). Passed out from sin to righteousness (Romans 6:2).
3. Death is a waiting period
• Waiting for judgment - (Revelation 20:11-15)
“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.
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.
And the sea gave up the dead which was in it, and death and hell delivered up the dead which was in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”
• Waiting for the second coming of Christ.
The result of sin is death and waiting for the final enemy is the sting of death is death (1 Corinthians 15:56).
1 Corinthians 15:54-55
“So when this corruptible shall have put on noncorrupting, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
Conclusion:
Jesus said:
I am the way, the truth and the life
Paul said:
O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?”
