This life is short. And to some, shorter than most. As you may know, death comes when we don’t even expect it. Especially when it happens to be someone in our family, it really hits us to the core. What it does is cause us to re-think our own lives. You may wish that you had more time with that person before they passed on. However, what time you had with them is now over and cherished with the memories you made, along with their photographs and videos. However, what is often not talked about, while the person was living and now dead, is their salvation. Did the person believe and follow Jesus, in order to be saved? If you are a Christian, this will mean something to you. As only through Christ can a person go to heaven. Once a person passes on, their righteous or wicked life will go with them in death. And that cannot be reversed. Solomon said, 1“the righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God.” He knows them and will rightfully sort them out. Solomon continued, 1“all things come alike to all: there is one event to the righteous, and to the wicked.” 2As both types of people will awake from death, to the wicked, hell, and the righteous, paradise. Then, they will wait for the day of judgement. 3Where the righteous will be granted entrance to heaven, while the wicked are thrown into the lake of fire, where they will experience a second death.
I truly hope this topic of death has gotten you thinking about your own life, your family and others you love. It is not worth wasting your time doing frivolous things that will not help you but only deter you when it comes to your salvation. And if you or a family member is in sin, an unbeliever, or once a follower of Christ but have since left, then time is now to make a change. Why delay your day of repentance or shy away from helping another person you love that is in sin, when time a ticking by? Please know that God sees every person that is made righteous through the blood of Jesus and wicked, at the time of death. Solomon said, 1“the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead.” So if this is you or someone you know, then come and do something about it today. Even if God see’s you as evil now, this does not have to be the case. All can be changed through confession and reliance on Christ. A life of shame and guilt is no more as the forgiveness of the Lord is upon everyone that confesses their sins openly to Him. As Christ lives, abide with Him. Come and be joined with Him in His presence. It is for salvation, when our lives are for Him. In this, there is hope for tomorrow. Our time and the people we love is coming to an end but we will help them and be ready, as we are children of God. Blessed by God above.
Let us pray:
Lord God, please help people see the importance of repenting and discovering You today, before it is too late. I have seen way to many people, I know and love, die and I am always saddened to think that they may have lost their chance at salvation. So many people are living for the things of this world and don’t even know it. The lusts of the flesh rule their thoughts and intents. Evil things and wickedness fills their lives. And what saddens me the most is not only the wickedness of this world but also that I have family and friends that are among them. Some are living a worldly life and making many mistakes along the way. Others are striving to live a good life, while living apart from Your true gospel. And so my heart breaks for them. I do not wish anyone to experience hell. I wish everyone I knew and loved would leave the world behind and follow You, Jesus. So God, please awake these people to Your love. Move them off the path of destruction and onto Your path that to heaven. May they be convicted of their wrongs and repent today. I pray that more of the people I love and care for on earth will also go to heaven. I say these things Lord, in thy Holy Name. Amen.
Let us read the Bible:
Note: Any Numbered References, found above, are listed below.
1Ecclesiastes 9:1-6 (KJV)
1 For all this I considered in my heart even to declare all this, that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God: no man knoweth either love or hatred by all that is before them.
2 All things come alike to all: there is one event to the righteous, and to the wicked; to the good and to the clean, and to the unclean; to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not: as is the good, so is the sinner; and he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath.
3 This is an evil among all things that are done under the sun, that there is one event unto all: yea, also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead.
4 For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion.
5 For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.
6 Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun.
2Luke 16:19-31 (KJV)
19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:
20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,
21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house:
28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.
31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
3Revelation 20:11-15 (KJV)
11 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.