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Behold, I show you a
mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall 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.
1 Corinthians 15:51-52.
The events that lead up to
Christmas cause us to concentrate on celebrating the birth of Christ. But, as we
come to the end of the year we also recognize that it’s like coming to the death
of an old year. In just a few days we will enter into a brand new 2009 and the
old things of 2008 will have passed away. In thinking of this, my mind went to a
subject that makes many of us uncomfortable. We never get too excited thinking
about death. However, just as much as we are taught about life, we must be
taught about death. As I preach of the good things in this life, I must also
remind people there are my mysteries in the scripture.
I do not want to sound morbid
and steal someone's joy because you are still bubbling over from Christmas, but
let me remind you, "Jesus did not come to earth just to be born, He came to die
also, to be a sacrifice for our sins." I've been asked one question more than
anything else since I have been preaching, "Preacher, what happens when we die?"
People earnestly want to know and I have searched the Bible for the answer.
That is why I ask you not to close your Bible this morning. I want to walk you
through scripture to show you what the Bible says in answer to that question.
What happens when we die?
Some may say that is an easy
question to answer. We place our loved one in the cemetery and put up a marker
at their grave site. That is all we see taking place. Believe me! There is more.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-2. To
everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A
time to be born, and a time to die…
Just as there is the reality
of taxes, so is there a time to be born and a time to die. We are all familiar
with this passage of scripture, so let's go further into the Ecclesiastes
3:19: For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing
befalleth them; as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one
breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above the beast; for all is vanity.
Let me explain this verse --
Death is coming for man; death is coming for beast. Death is coming for the
stars and death is coming for all creation. Death is a reality! All things must
die.
Doctors can hook us up to a
machine and pump blood through our veins, then feed us through a tube; but, just
because they keep everything working, does not mean we are truly there. Verse
20: All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.
Remember in Genesis 2 God created man from dust. Dust is worthless. It is
something we sweep up and toss away. Why did God use dirt to make man? I think
it shows what we are really worth. Now, I think I look pretty good in my suit
and tie this morning and you all do, too, in your Sunday best, but we're nothing
to brag about.
Ecclesiastes 3:21:Who knoweth the
spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward
to the earth? You can see that the spirit of man goes upward and the
beast goes down. "Bro. JR., are you saying little Fluffy is
not going to heaven with me?" Well, I'll answer it this way, "I don't know."
In Ecclesiastes 12, Solomon
describes the dying process. Think with me now, Church. Verse 7 tells us
plainly where the body goes -- Then shall the dust return to the earth as
it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it. So, now you
can see when it said, “The body goes upward,” that means it returns to God. So
what happens at the point of death? The body is laid in the grave and the soul
is released back to God. Some of you are saying, "Hold on, Preacher, I was
taught that the body and soul were buried together and would rise at the
resurrection. So are you are saying that at the moment of death the spirit
departs the body and the body is laid back to dust? Why does the spirit return
back to God?" Well, that is a very good question; I am glad you asked it.
Hebrews 9:27 And it is appointed to men once to die, but after this the
judgment That is why the spirit returns to God -- for the judgment.
Paul writes in 1 Corinthians that we all must appear before
the judgment seat. There is a personal judgment that every person must face and
the world is living like there's no accountability. But the Bible plainly tells
us, we must all give an account to God. Oh, if only the world would understand
that.
There are two classes of people, the righteous dead and the
evil dead. Those who served Him will heard the words, "Well done, faithful
servant," while the evil dead are sent away. The righteous dead are the happy
ones; they are enjoying the rewards for a lifetime of serving Christ. I believe
they are now, as I speak, laughing with joy. I believe our daughter Ashley is
enjoying the presence of heaven, running and laughing and having a wonderful
time. (Note from Mary King. -- I can see her beautiful long hair blowing in the
breeze as she walks those golden streets, going from person to person and
telling them how much she loves them and how happy she is to see them there.)
I believe your loved ones are doing the same; but they are not complete yet.
"Bro. JR., you said our loved ones are with Christ, so why
should there be a resurrection?" I am so glad you are asking these “tough”
questions. Why does there need to be a resurrection? Go back to 1
Corinthians 15:51-52. Paul said, "Behold, I show you a mystery,
we shall not all sleep." Not everyone is going to be dead when the Lord
returns. We could be the generation that will see Him make His entrance. We
shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed. Key words... For in a
moment in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump, the trumpet shall sound;
and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. I
Thessalonians 5:16...For the Lord himself shall descend from Heaven with a
shout, with the voice of the arch-angel, and with trump of God: and the dead in
Christ shall rise first. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up
together with Him in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we
ever be with the Lord. The Bible talks about a new body. When the dead
shall rise from the grave, we will have a glorified body, one that is just like
Jesus.
Pastor JR Fields
December 28, 2008
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