The thing about life is that it comes and goes way too fast. Many of us have watched TV Shows, movies and followed sports over the years and even had our favorite actors, actresses and athletes over time, just to see them pass on in our later years. The same can be said for the people we listened to on the radio. The music artists meant a lot to us because of the music they sang. Now, we look back and wonder who is still alive now and so many of them have also passed away. It is all so sad. The sports stars we grew up watching were so good and it is hard to believe that they are gone. This news may hit each one of us differently, but one thing will always cause tears to start flowing down our cheeks for everyone. That is when a person that we know and love suddenly passes because of some freak accident or dies because of a continual fight with cancer or something else. How terrible is this? To everyone effected by these awful circumstances, all we can do and say is comfort them and ask, can we pray for you? So prayers go out to everyone involved. Our prayers go out to everyone . If this person was close, we can say that we’ve loved them from the very start. They gave us hope just being around them, and now it is over. In a blink of an eye it seems, our best times with them are over. And for our spouse that passes on, our second best half and soulmate is gone. We always wished that they would never die and always be with us, but the sad news is that we all have our expiration dates. Some people just die older and some die younger. This includes us. We can’t prolong life, but only live it to the best of our God given ability.
Please understand that life is not guaranteed to last for anyone for anyone. Nothing we can do can guarantee that we will end up living in our late eighties. So what should people be doing to prepare for there’s and others deaths? The answer is to get our house in order. I am not talking about life insurance, although it is good to cover funeral costs and such. Instead, we should make sure that we are saved. And how might we do this? It happens when our lives are given over to Christ. In our confessions, the Lord hears our prayers and responds by forgiving us and cleansing us from all unrighteousness. And in our response to Him, we walk in His light. In this fashion, we fight for His cause and against sin. Only by doing this can we find any joy in death. A person that dies having known and loved Jesus, will be welcomed into paradise when they die. Where those that died without the Lord, will wake up in hell fire when they open their eyes once again. This is why it is so important to not only have faith in Christ, but to also warn our neighbor. Imagine how much better It would be to know that the person that died believed in Jesus for salvation and is in a better place now, then knowing the opposite. There ought to be tears of joy when a faithful follower of Christ dies, but tears or sorrow for those having denied that chance. Please know that this life is volatile. So don’t waste your precious time, but repent and come to Jesus before it is too late. How great would it be for people to feel uplifted at your funeral, knowing about your life for Christ. Please think about this and God bless you.
In conclusion, I wish to share with you what Jesus said about seeking Him first in this life. He talked about people that live for tomorrow, when really, they should be living for today. It is because our souls are not guaranteed to be alive on earth tomorrow, but only now. Jesus said, 1“and he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” (Luke 12:16-21) 1“And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Luke 12:29-31) He also spoke of a rich man that died and said that 2“in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.” (Luke 16:23) Learn from what Jesus said and get your life right with Him, starting today. There is so much joy in heaven for every person that looks to Christ while in this life.
Let us pray:
Oh Lord, I pray that we will all get our lives in order, before our time expires. Truly, our lives go by way to fast and then it is over in an instant. It has been so hard, God, to see those I’ve loved pass on. Some of them have been saved by Your grace, but many others have not. This saddens my soul to think that people I’ve known and loved could be suffering in hell right now. For this reason do I not only live my life for You, but also warn my neighbor and especially those I love to find You, Jesus, for salvation. Your path is straight and narrow and leads to heaven. Every person needs to be on it and become born again in the Spirit, or else there is nothing left for them but pain and sorrow in hell. Your ways are secure and leads us from death and into heaven, where there is eternal joy. These other paths don’t interest me anymore. I don’t need temporary pleasure that is attached with guilt and shame. Your ways are higher and always lead me to joy without any compromises. And Lord, I give You the thanks for leading me. I would be lost forever, if You had not come into my life and rescued me. I needed a Savior and You responded to my prayers. Thank You for hearing me and having mercy upon me. My confessions were many, but Your compassion has no end. For this reason, I do not fear death, but only others that die outside the faith. My life is secure in Your blood, but others do not have this same security. Therefore, I wish that people would be awakened to follow You before it is too late. I do not wish to go to anymore funerals where I am weeping because of their bad choices. Instead, I’d rather weep for joy, because they are with You, Lord, in heaven. I love You God. My trust is in You. With all my heart do I praise You and worship You. Amen.
Let us read the Bible:
Note: Any Numbered References, found above, are listed below.
1Luke 12:16-31 (KJV)
16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.
19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
22 And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.
23 The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.
24 Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?
25 And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?
26 If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?
27 Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
28 If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?
29 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.
30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.
31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.
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.
