The Reality Of Death

For example, many who have too much time on their hands are interested in watching-

- THE “SOAPS.”

- The people who are interested in the “soap” operas can sit around in a circle and talk about those programs as if what was going on had something to do with real personal friends of theirs. They know those characters on a first-name basis.

Have you ever wondered why they call those programs “soap” operas? One reason could be because as one watches that filth he feels so grimy by the time it is over that he feels as if he has to get some soap and take a shower.

Many Christians, who are spiritually mature, know it is not good to fill their mind with those “trash shows,” so they do not care about talking about them. They have no interest in the low-life of those characters.

Like it or not, many people are interested in those “trash shows.” And those who are interested love to talk about them.

For other people, the thing that grabs their attention is-

- THE SPORTS.

In 1994, professional baseball players struck. You would have thought the world had come to an end! Why? Because the millions of baseball fans had no baseball to watch!

Well, for those of us who are not interested in professional baseball, it gave us a chance to say a big, “Hoo-Ray! And may the strike last a long time!”

Those who love the game will perk up any time the word is mentioned because they are interested in it.

There are MANY things we could talk about that some people are interested in and others are not.

However, there is ONE THING that concerns every person alive, whether he will admit it or not. This thing is DEATH! DEATH concerns every person. I would like us to think about TWO things.

I. OUR DEATH.

We often talk about death. We talk about the death of:

- Family members.

- Friends.

- Bible characters

- Politicians.

- Entertainers.

- Athletes.

Every week that goes by it seems, especially as we grow older, we speak of death. It is something that concerns us.

Today I would like us to think about our death.

Illus: If we go to a doctor and he tells us we have a terminal disease and we will die, we would be shocked. We would hate to hear such news. In fact, many will not go to the doctor because they are afraid they might hear such news.

Well, the fact is; a doctor can say you are the picture of health, but still the Word of God tells us each of us will die. Let us look at OUR DEATH and see TWO THINGS.

A.The certainty of death.

Hebrews 9:27 reminds us, “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.”

God’s Word says there is no discussion about it. Everyone here is going to die. We all have an appointment with death. We do not know when that appointment will come, but when it comes we will not be one second late.

There is an old saying, “There are two things a person must do, pay taxes and die.” That is true for most people, but that is not true for everyone. Every year when it comes time to pay taxes many folks cheat Uncle Sam out of that portion that belongs to him.

There is only one thing we really have to do; we all have to DIE!

There are some who will cheat the grave, but they will not cheat death. You ask, “Preacher, what do you mean, ‘Some will cheat the grave, but will not cheat death.’”

Illus: When Christ returns, the Bible says all the living will be changed in the “twinkling of an eye!” The bodies of the saints will be exchanged for glorified bodies. Before those old bodies can hit the ground, the saints will have been fitted with their glorified bodies. They may cheat the grave, but they will not cheat death.

THERE IS NO WAY TO GET OUT OF THIS LIFE ALIVE IN THE BODIES IN WHICH WE LIVE! Why? Because we can not enter heaven clothed in these mortal bodies.

Look at I Cor. 15:50-55. We read, “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, 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. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?”