When I was in Bible College I worked two years at a local funeral home. To say the least is was a different experience – my job was a simple one, I was to greet the grieving family and friends when they came to the funeral home to pay their last respects.
My first week was one of training, I was taught how to greet, how to be sensitive to others needs and how to lock up the building at the end of the evening.
Everything went fine my first week, it was the second week which brought out the difficulty. My first night alone – there were two bodies lying in state. Around 9:00, the families went to their respective homes and I was there are to lock up – that is when it hit me – I was all alone in the funeral home. I have to admit I was a little nervous, maybe I had watched to many horror shows, maybe I was letting my imagination run away with me but whatever it was, I was getting a little nervous. Walking through the rooms I turned out all the lights and then I came into the rooms were the bodies laid in state.
I turned out the lights and began walking out of the room, when I the phone ring. I went in the office answered the phone and that is when I heard it… Ooohhh, Ooohhh
Get hold of yourself. There is nobody here but you!
That did not help… Ooohhh, Ooohhh
As quick as I could I set the alarm run to the back door, turned the key and went home.
The next day I discovered I had left the building unlocked all night and Ooohhh, Ooohhh – was simply the air conditioner cycling down for the evening.
For 7 thousand years, death has been a natural consequence of the human condition – yet it is the most frightening aspect of our life.
Job described death as “the king of terrors”
David said in the psalms, My heart is in anguish within me; the terrors of death assail me. Fear and trembling have beset me; horror has overwhelmed me. PSALM 55:4-5
While death is a fact of life, it is amazing the words we use to deny the reality of death
Euphemisms…
• Kicked the bucket
• Bought the farm
• Gone to the other side
Christians are not immune from Euphemisms…
• Crossing over to Jordan
• God took them home
• Sleeping in the arms of Jesus
How do you respond to death thins morning?
• Woody Allen – I am not afraid to die. I just do not want to be there when it happens.
• Vavasor Powell The fear of death is in grafted in the common nature of all men
As God’s people, we can face death with confidence
The Bible gives us an example of how to face death with confidence in the life of Stephen.
Having faced down the religious leaders of his day, he confronted them with their rejection of the Messiah as a result the religious leaders had him stoned to death, yet in the closing moments of his life note how he is remembered…
Acts 7:55-60
But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. "Look," he said, "I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God." At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." Then he fell on his knees and cried out, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he fell asleep.
Stephen stared death right in the face and saw victory, Stephen faced death with confidence and without fear. How could he be so confident, when he knew his life was about to end?
There are many in the world today who not only do not face death with confidence, but who are terribly afraid of death. Either they ignore thinking about death or they make fun of death. They will do anything they can to keep the thought of death at a safe distance, because they find the reality to be so crippling.
Many fear death, maybe even some here today. Yet there are still some, who like Stephen stare death in the face and see it as sweet victory -- FOR THEM ALL FEAR IS GONE AS THEY FACE DEATH WITH CONFIDENCE!
If we are in Christ, we too can face death with the confidence of a Stephen.
In 2 Corinthians 5:1-10 Paul gives us 3 principles that tell how we can face death with confidence.
1. WE CAN FACE DEATH WITH CONFIDENCE WHEN WE REALIZE THIS LIFE IS TEMPORARY
2 Corinthians 5:1-4, Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.
Paul refers to our body/physical earthly life as "living in a tent."
If you have ever been on a camping trip, you know a tent is a temporary shelter; a tent is not a permanent structure, a weekend maybe, but not a lifetime.
There are 2 qualities about tents that I want to apply to our lives. Both qualities underscore the message of living in a tent is meant to be temporary.
A. THE FIRST IS THAT TENTS ARE INSECURE
• A tent does not make a very good fortress. You cannot dead bolt the door against intruders. It is made of canvass and it is not good for keeping a wild animal out.
• A tent is not the place we would want to be seeking shelter in during the middle of a raging storm; at any moment, it could collapse or be blown away. Life in a tent is uncertain at best.
In the same manner, this life is uncertain. A life can be destroyed at any moment. One-moment life can be going pretty well and the next moment – disaster.
It does not matter how much insurance we buy, or how much money we save, security systems we install -- or how much of the worlds goods we accumulate -- all of this does not change the fact that this life is temporary.
Living in this earthly physical body, we are merely living in a tent that can be blown over rather easily and at any time.
David in I Samuel 20:3 summarized this truth when he wrote, "THERE IS ONLY ONE STEP BETWEEN ME AND DEATH."
B. THE SECOND QUALITY OF LIVING IN A TENT, TENTS ARE UNCOMFORTABLE
This is another reason that most people do not want to live in a tent a longtime; tents are not that comfortable. Many times, in a tent, it is hot and humid, the mosquitoes are biting, and the ground gets harder and harder the more you try to sleep.
The longer we live in this world and in this tent (our body), the more uncomfortable it gets. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:4, "WHILE WE ARE IN THIS TENT WE GROAN AND ARE BURDENED."(NIV) Many things make this life uncomfortable; sickness, disease, and financial problems just to name a few.
QUESTION, Have you ever found physical life in your tent a bit uncomfortable?
I am sure you have, just by the nature of this world. Life is hard. Remember the word of our Lord – In this world you will have trouble, but take heart I have overcome the world.
WE WILL FACE DEATH WITH CONFIDENCE WHEN WE REALIZE THAT LIFE IN THIS TENT AT TIMES IT IS A STRUGGLE, IT IS NOT VERY SECURE AND IT GETS MORE UNCOMFORTABLE ALL THE TIME. THAT IS WHY REVELATION 14:13 – "HAPPY ARE THE DEAD WHO DIE IN THE LORD ...THEY WILL FIND REST FROM THEIR LABOR."
2. WE CAN ALSO FACE DEATH WITH CONFIDENCE WHEN WE UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE DIE
There are many different things that people fear, falling, closed spaces, spiders, heights, etc BUT one of the greatest fears OF ALL is the fear of the unknown.
There is an uncertainty when it comes to death – note how one mother tried to explain death to her children
VIDEO CLIP OF STEPMOM
A. PERHAPS THE BEST ANTIDOTE FOR THE "FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN” IS INFORMATION.
The Word of God in this text and in other places tells us what is going to take place when we die. Four things will happen.
Unless the Lord returns soon this is what will happen.
1. First there is a departure of the spirit from the body
The body we have is just an outer casing. Inside this body is a spirit that gives our body life. This spirit makes us who we are. Let me try to illustrate this. All of us have seen, or have ourselves put on, a glove. When we put our hand into a glove, the hand gives the glove its shape. When the hand is removed from a glove, the form of the hand remains in the limp glove but the object that gave it life is gone. In like manner when we die, the body maintains its form but the spirit that gave it life departs. WHEN WE DIE, OUR SPIRIT LEAVES OUR BODY.
2. After the departure from the body comes the immediate presence with the Lord
Paul said in verse 8 of our text: "WE ARE CONFIDENT I SAY AND WOULD PREFER TO BE AWAY FROM THE BODY AND AT HOME WITH THE LORD."
Jesus told the thief on the cross “today you will be with Me in Paradise.”
There is no intermediate state for the Christian, as some believe to purge one’s sins. Our sins were dealt with on the cross. When a Christian dies, they are immediately in the presence of the Lord.
3. Following this will be the receiving of our new body
2 Cor 5:2-4, Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Paul said, "we will not be found naked." {w/o a body}.
Note what Paul says about our new bodies at the glorious return of Christ, His second coming
1 Corinthians 15:50-57, I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed--in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory." "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
We are not going to spend eternity as some disembodied spirit floating on a cloud in the middle of nothingness; we are getting new bodies not subject to pain or sin, but glorified bodies fashioned for eternity!
4. After this comes the judgment, WE ALL MUST APPEAR BEFORE THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST, SO THAT EACH ONE MAY RECEIVE WHAT IS DUE HIM FOR THE THINGS DONE IN THE BODY WHETHER GOOD OR BAD." 2 Corinthians 5:10
• The Judgment for the non - Christians will be a judgment of sin. They will receive the sentence for their sins eternal death (ETERNAL separation for God and all that is good).
Revelation 20:11-15, Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
• The judgment of Christians is not for sins, our sins have been washed away by the blood of Jesus Christ... we are not accountable for them. Our judgment will be to determine our rewards.
• 1 Corinthians 3:13-15, Our work (the things we do for Christ) will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.
THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE DIE; OUR SPIRIT DEPARTS AND WE GO TO BE WITH THE LORD -- IMMEDIATELY. WE RECEIVE A NEW (GLORIFIED) A NEW BODY, WE’LL STAND BEFORE CHRIST TO RECEIVE OUR REWARDS AND THEN COMES PERFECT EXISTENCE IN ETERNITY WITH JESUS.
3. THE THIRD PRINCIPLE THAT HELPS US FACE DEATH WITH CONFIDENCE IS WHEN WE EAGERLY ANTICIPATE ETERNAL LIFE.
When we realize that we are now only living in a tent, when we understand what happens when we die, we should eagerly anticipate eternal life. The longer we live the more attractive heaven should BE TO us.
Paul in our text says, "WE GROAN, LONGING TO BE CLOTHED WITH OUR HEAVENLY DWELLING", (V.4) Listen to this anonymous poem describing the eagerness of going to heaven:
The view of heaven that I sing is not of angles on the wing.
White robed with hearts and golden crowns.
I vision rather little towns with smog less skies and rivers clear. And not an airplane you can hear.
No dust, no rust, no rats, no rot; no raucous rock,
No growing old and weakened sight, no dentures slipping when you bite.
No bombs, no guns, no courts, no jails, where all succeed and no one fails.
No strikes, no layoffs, full employment, and everyone with job enjoyment.
All tell the truth, state only facts, no wars, no debts, no income tax.
According to this dream of mine, in heaven no one stands in line, and there are only smiling faces and lots and lots of parking spaces.
I look forward to going to heaven; I eagerly anticipate getting my new body. I look forward to seeing those loved ones who have gone before me and of meeting and talking to Paul and Peter and millions of others. I long to live in a world with out sin, sorrow and pain. I look forward to praising Jesus and God as we stand before their throne in heaven.
Can you just imagine standing next to millions of believers and singing Amazing Grace, I stand in Awe of You, How great thou Art, Or Holy, Holy, Holy, When Jesus is standing right in front of us.
WHAT DOES THE SONG SAY? WHEN WE ALL GET TO HEAVEN WHAT A DAY OF REJOICING THAT WILL BE WHEN WE ALL SEE JESUS WE’LL SING AND SHOUT THE VICTORY.
• WHEN: WE REALIZE THAT WE ARE NOW LIVING IN A TENT (AN INSECURE, UNCOMFORTABLE TEMPORARY HOME)
• WE UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE DIE(LEAVE BODY; HOME WITH LORD; NEW BODY ; REWARDS)
• WE EAGERLY ANTICIPATE ETERNAL LIFE (LONG, GROAN, PREFER TO BE THERE)
CONCLUSION
WE CAN FACE DEATH WITH CONFIDENCE
DERRICK JOHNSON IS A GOSPEL SINGER WITH THE GROUP, REGENERATION. HE OFTEN TELLS THE STORY OF WHEN HIS FOUR-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER WAS LOST IN A CROWED SUPERMARKET. AFTER AN ANXIOUS SEARCH, SHE WAS FOUND ONLY ONE AISLE OVER FROM HER MOTHER, BUT SHE WAS PETRIFIED. FOR A LONG TIME SHE WAS AFRAID OF CROWDS.
SHORTLY AFTER THAT THE INCIDENT, DERRICK WAS SHARING A DEVOTIONAL ABOUT HEAVEN, HIS DAUGHTER ASKED, "DADDY, WILL THERE BE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN HEAVEN?"
"YES, THERE WILL BE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN HEAVEN,” HE ANSWERED. “SO MANY WE WILL BE UNABLE TO COUNT ALL OF THEM"
"HOW WILL I EVER FIND YOU AND MOMMY WHEN I GET TO HEAVEN?" SHE ASKED.
HE KNEW THAT WAS A CHILDISH QUESTION, BUT HE WANTED TO GIVE HER A REASSURING ANSWER.
"I’LL TELL YOU WHAT -- WHEN YOU GET TO HEAVEN YOU JUST WAIT FOR US RIGHT INSIDE THE GATE, AND WE’LL ALL MEET THERE AS A FAMILY."
"DADDY" SHE SAID, "IS THERE MORE THAN ONE GATE IN HEAVEN?"
HE REMEMBERED THE BOOK OF REVELATION MENTIONED THERE ARE 4 WALLS AND THERE ARE 3 GATES IN EVERY WALL. HE SAID, "YES, THERE ARE 12."
SHE SAID, "THEN WHICH GATE DO I MEET YOU"
HE SAID, "I’LL TELL YOU WHAT. WHEN YOU GET TO HEAVEN, YOU ASK SOMEONE WHICH WAY IS EAST. THEN JUST WALK AND WALK UNTIL YOU COME TO THE EASTERN WALL, AND THEN YOU FIND THE MIDDLE GATE IN THE EASTERN WALL. WE’LL ALL MEET AS A FAMILY JUST INSIDE THE MIDDLE EASTERN GATE."
THE ANSWER SEEMED TO SATISFY HER AND HE KISSED HER GOOD NIGHT. THEN HE SAID, "NOW REMEMBER, WE’RE GOING TO MEET INSIDE--""THE MIDDLE EASTERN GATE"-- SHE INTERRUPTED.
EVER SINCE THAT TIME HE AND HIS DAUGHTER WHO IS NOW GROWN HAVE HARDLY EVER SAID GOOD BYE WITH OUT ONE SAYING "MEET YOU JUST INSIDE", AND THE OTHER SAYING "THE MIDDLE EASTERN GATE."
SOMEDAY WE TOO WILL MEET OUR LOVED ONES JUST INSIDE THE GATE. WE KNOW THAT TO BE ABSENT FROM THE BODY IS TO BE HOME WITH THE LORD. WHAT A DAY THAT WILL BE, DON’T MISS IT FOR THE WORLD.
ARE YOU GOING TO BE THERE -- IF YOU HAVEN’T MADE RESERVATIONS NOW WOULD BE A GOOD TIME
PRAYER
