Are you prepared? Listen to this video again and again until you know for sure that you are prepared to meet death. Also read Acts 16:31 and John 3:16.
Death
All posts tagged Death
Octavius Winslow (1808-1878) was a non-conformist minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He wrote;
“THERE is approaching a period—ah, how it speeds!—that will be the most solemn and severe, yet the sweetest and truest test of the sustaining, soothing power of Christ’s preciousness in the experience of His saints: the last sickness and the closing scene of life.
Imagine that moment to have arrived. All of earth’s attraction ceases, all of creature-succor fails.
Everything is failing— heart and strength failing, mental power failing, medical skill failing, human affection and sympathy failing. The film of death is on the eye, and the invisible realities of the spirit-world are unveiling to the mental view.
Bending over you, the loved one who has accompanied you to the margin of the cold river asks a sign. You are too weak to conceive a thought, too low to breathe a word, too absorbed to bestow a responsive glance. You cannot now [declare] your faith in an elaborate creed, and you have no profound experience, ecstatic emotions, or heavenly visions to describe.
One brief, but all-emphatic, all-expressive sentence embodies the amount of all that you now know, believe, and feel. It is the profession of your faith, the sum of your experience, the ground of your hope—“Christ is precious to my soul!”
Enough! The dying Christian can give and the inquiring friend can wish no more. Dearest Saviour, be Thou close to me in that solemn moment! Tread the valley by my side, pillow my [faint, weary] head upon Thy bosom, speak these words of heart-cheer to my struggling, panting, departing soul, “Fear thou not; for I am with thee” (Isa 41:10)—then, it will be happiness for me to die. Death will have no venom, the grave no gloom, eternity no dread. And, from the measured experience of Thy preciousness on earth, I shall pass in triumph through the shadowy portal into the full sunshine and perfect realization and eternal enjoyment of all that faith believed and love desired and hope expected of Thy full orbed glory and preciousness in heaven. “In thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore” (Psalm 16:11).”
You know the old saying “You know you are getting old when you look in the obituaries each day to see if your name is there”? Well, I am at that age. Even though I have not lived in my home town for over forty five years I still get online to read the obituaries in the online local rag. In the last few weeks there have been several people that have passed from this life to the next that my wife and I knew way back then.
Then there is the high school I graduated from over fifty years ago. It now has a web site where my graduating class has a page and those who register can update details on themselves. Wow, have those fifty years gone fast and the fact that we can keep up on where and what others from that class are doing is something that would have been unimaginable fifty years ago! However, also classmates who know of those who have recently passed from this life into the next list their names. . Looking at those names certainly makes me realize my own mortality. It also brings afresh the reality of what James said “For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.” Moses put it this way “The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away” Psalm 90:10.
In viewing the class web page I get a feeling of nostalgia and when I view the names of those who have passed away from this life into the next I wonder if they were prepared. Then I also begin thinking about those who are still alive; are they prepared for that day which comes to all of us?
Now, some who visit this blog will not agree with what I will am saying while others will agree and others may be simply indifferent. I don’t know where you fit into this but allow me to share just a few thoughts. The first thing is that no matter what you believe about life and death, you know one will end and the other will occur. No matter how well you take care of the body it will die! Life may end in various ways. It could happen as the result of an accident, a heart attack or as unconventional as ebola. We do not know when or in what way our life will end but when that time does come, the question is, will you be prepared for it?
Now some people think when your dead you are just dead. But what if they are not correct? Or, you might think you are reincarnated, but what if that isn’t correct as well. The reality is, your life is over and your after-life (eternity) has begun and there is no second chance!
Now, allow me to back up just a little. Why does life as we know end? The answer goes all the way back to the beginning of time. The Bible puts it this way in Romans 5:12 “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned”. That man spoken of was Adam. He disobeyed God and the result was death. There is no escape from physical death, Hebrew 9:27 “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment”.
A full discussion of what the Scriptures say concerning man’s need for a Saviour will not be dealt with right now as I am probably preaching to the converted but just in case some reader has continued this far let me tell you about two preachers who were put in jail for preaching the Gospel. So much for free speech! As these preachers waited in their cell they also sang hymns and prayed loud enough for all, including the jailer, to hear. Then an unusual event occurred. An earthquake shook the jail so much that all the cell doors were opened. The jailer of course was afraid the prisoners had escaped but at the same time he was also convicted of his personal sin and need for forgiveness through the singing and praying of the two preachers. Because he believed all the prisoners were escaped he was going to do himself harm. However, the two preachers seeing what he was about to do loudly told him that all the prisoners were still there. Upon hearing that he came into the preachers’ cell and asked them what he had to do to be saved or put another way, made right with God. These two preachers did not tell the jailer to go to church or to be baptized but to simply “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved”. This the jailer did and his life was changed. You may read this account in Acts 16 of the Bible.
Now what that jailer did not only changed his life here on earth but changed where he would spend eternity when this life ceased. This is the same thing that can take place in your life if you will simply turn from your sins and receive Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour.
As I read the obituaries in the local online town rag and the names of my former classmates who are now deceased I am hopeful most of these people have had a jail house experience and even though they are “absent from the body” they are “present with the Lord.” Dear reader I pray the same is true of you.
Over three thousand years ago a man by the name of Solomon wrote a book that is very relevant to us today. This Book shows forth two choices people, young and old, are confronted with. Here is a man, Solomon, that is characterized by wisdom and wickedness. Here is a man who knew Deity in a very personal way but lived his later life in debauchery and idolatry. Here is a man that knew the true and living God and built a house for His worship but at the same time through wrong and worldly marriages built houses of worship for idols. In old age this man, Solomon, who had been so privileged by God went the way of the world. 1Kings 11:4 – 7 “For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father. 5 For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. 6 And Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and went not fully after the LORD, as did David his father. 7 Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon.” We can learn much from Solomon, good and bad.
The Proverb before us presents two choices men have to make whether they be young or old. However, I believe it is much more sorrowful to see the old men making the wrong choice for they, one would think, should be wiser by the very breadth of days they have lived! There is no fool like an old fool!
Proverbs 9:1 – 18 “Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars: 2 She hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table. 3 She hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the highest places of the city, 4 Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him, 5 Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled. 6 Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding. 7 He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot. 8 Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee. 9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning. 10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. 11 For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased. 12 If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself: but if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it. 13 ¶ A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing. 14 For she sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city, 15 To call passengers who go right on their ways: 16 Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him, 17 Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant. 18 But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.”
Proverbs chapter nine is centered around two houses; the house of Wisdom and the house of Fools. The noun “house” appears in 28 verses here in Proverbs. The Bible principle of first mention may be of interest here. The word house appears first in Proverbs 2:18 “For her house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead.” This is the house of the fool and this “house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death” Proverbs 7:27.
Just as in all ages past, people were faced with two life changing decisions, so today people have the same two choices; which house will I enter. One choice is the house that Wisdom built and the second is the house the foolish built.
First, the house of Wisdom is for those who will but “turn from his way and live” by entering the house of wisdom. The other choice is to enter the fool’s house “that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat”.
THE HOUSE OF WISDOM
The first house is the house of Wisdom, 9: 1 “Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars”. The wisdom found in this house “…is from above (and) is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.”
The fulfillment and personification of this Wisdom in Scripture is the Lord Jesus Christ; 1Corinthians 1:30 “But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom…” Solomon tells the reader in Proverbs 8:35 that “whoso findeth me (Wisdom) findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.” Solomon also tells the reader that “In the house of the righteous (which is the house of wisdom) is much treasure” Proverbs 15:6. The house of wisdom we are told in Proverbs 9 offers a furnished banquet table full of food and drinkand Psalmist knew this for he wrote “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies.” Also there in the house of wisdom is taught truth and how to live a long and prosperous life.
Entrance into the house of wisdom is a choice made by each individual person. Wisdom calls and says“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” Matthew 11:28. Wisdom also cries out saying “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture” John 10:9. It is worth noting that “the wisdom of this world” is not even under consideration in Wisdom’s house!
THE FOOL’S HOUSE
Proverbs 9: 13 – 15 “A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing. 14 For she sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city, 15 To call passengers who go right on their ways”. See those passing by doing no harm, on their way to work perhaps or just doing their shopping or daily chores and the Fool calls them to come in. A choice is to be made and will be made!
The one who enters this house learns the ways of the world. This is worldly wisdom and “the world by wisdom knew not God”. In fact the house of the fool says there is no God! In the house of fools dwells the dead and the depths and demons of hell itself. Here in the fool’s house one is taught deception, thievery and lies. The head teacher in this fool’s house is none other than he who “…was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” This teacher in the fool’s house is the devil himself who is described “as a roaring lion” who “walketh about, seeking whom he may devour”. Oh, what a wretched teacher! What a horrible house to be in! There is no truth there, just lies. In this house of fools “evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived”. What a picture of the world with its intellect and wisdom, all opposed to God!
CONCLUSION
Each person will make a choice to either enter the house that wisdom has built or the house of the fool. Each person is individually responsible for their own choice as to which house they enter. The house of fools is often thought of as the place of liberation, freedom to be ME. However, in reality “the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell”.
There is no blame shifting at the end of the game of life. Each person is walking the path of life thinking all is well but often without warning “and in a moment go down to the grave”. One wakes up in the morning thinking about what they will do after work or on the week-end but neither happens for life as they know it ceases via death.
The path trod to the grave is “the way of all the earth”. None of us are immune from the cold reach of death. The choice we make today will determine where we spend eternity. Remember, death has no age barrier and that is why Solomon said to “Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth”.
The world’s sirens are appealing but they are “the ways of death”. The fool’s “… house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead” Proverbs 2:18. Yes, there are “the pleasures of sin for a season” but as stated earlier “the end thereof are the ways of death”.
Wisdom calls out and says “I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life”. God the Son said “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you …I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
The house of fools tells people that there is more than one way and the fool seeks to reinterpret the truth to fit their purpose of deceit. In the end however the choice is yours! May you if you haven’t already, make the right choice for in making the right choice “Death is swallowed up in victory”. The wise choice is to “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”
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