Life and Death

Life and Death
A Man’s Uncertainty Verse A Certainty.
James 4:14

I know that there are many people, including me, that were upset, to some extent, at the untimely death of Steve (the Crocodile Hunter) Irwin. As I heard about this death, I could not think of anything, but his wife and kids, and his soul. You watch someone who had the glow about himself towards wildlife and family and you automatically assume that that person is right with God. However, this assumption is not always true. I’m not going to take the step to say that this man was or wasn’t saved, because truly, I do not know. Only he and God knew for sure. I pray that he was, but I recently heard that he was a Buddhist. If this is so, then his destination was horrible. There have been many people who have died, what we consider early deaths, but my question is, were they really early?

I have often said, “Time waits for no man,” and it’s true. Have you ever wanted to continue doing something you enjoy and then find that time flies faster than before? Of course you have! Jesus taught us that we are not guaranteed another breath of life. Truth is we may not make it through the day, before our destination after life is finalized with our last breath.

James said, in chapter 4:14, “Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.” I admire people who take opportunities serious. I’ll talk about my pastor, for one, he has had some health issues, which the doctors are trying to get under control. Even though he has been in the hospital twice, then told to rest, he sees the importance of serving God with everything he has. He also said, “That until God calls me home, I desire to serve HIM.” I admire him for his dedication. Even though he hasn’t felt the best in the world, he has not allowed Satan to stop him from serving God. This should be every child of God’s purpose upon this earth, and we should all be dedicated to Christ too. We are saved to serve and not just sit and wait.

DEATH IS ALWAYS UNTIMELY TO MAN. God knows every breath you take and exactly when you are going to die. The writer of Hebrews, whom I think is Paul, said, “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment,” (Heb. 9:26). We all have our appointed day, and it will never be when we want it. Paul said, “Let us eat and drink; for tomorrow we die, (1 Cor. 15:32). Death from this earthly body is certain. However, there is a chance for eternal life.

JESUS MADE A WAY TO LIVE FOREVER, John 3:16. He said, “For God so loved the world that HE have HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, that whosoever beleiveth in HIM should not perish, but have everlasting life.” How much clearer can it get for anyone? We can gain eternal life by placing our faith and trust in Jesus Christ. We, however, must do our part. We are in a world that thinks that if we live a good life, and do good things that we will somehow end up in heaven. This is not true! God’s Word tells us, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

MAN’S PART STARTS WITH CONFESSION. Paul said, in Romans 10:10, “For with the heart man beleiveth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” You must confess that God is right and you are wrong. We need to quit thinking that we are good. A man’s definition of good is; “I’m not a murderer, or adulterer, or a drunkard, etc. We try, like Adam did, to make ourselves look better than we are. Adam, in Genesis, tried to blame God and Eve for his downfall. We need to confess that we are in that group, which every person is in. We are in the group that is called, “NO GOOD.” Romans 3:10 says, “There is none righteous, no not one:” Verse 12 says, “There is none that doeth good, no, not one.” The Psalmist says, “We are all as filthy rags,” in Psalms 14:3 and 53:3. So, if the Bible tells us that we are not good, then the conclusion must be we aren’t good. This group is called sinners also. “For we all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” So we now know that we need to confess. However, it doesn’t stop there.

MAN’S PART INCLUDES REPENTANCE. In Luke 13:3 and 5, Jesus said, “Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” Repentance means simply, ‘to change one’s mind.’ God will not enter an unrepentant heart. We cannot expect God to save someone who thinks that there is nothing wrong in their life. Grant it, repentance usually happens before confession at times, but it has to happen. Paul said, in 2 Corinthians 5:17 that we become a new creature in Christ. Actually creature means creation in Christ. Remember where Nicodemus asked Jesus, “How can a man be born again when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?” Jesus and Nicodemus were talking about two different births. One was the fleshly birth and the other the spiritual birth. Jesus explained unto him that he needed the spiritual birth. Everyone alive needs the spiritual birth, but you must change your mind about yourself before you can receive the free gift of salvation.

SALVATION IS THERE FOR THE ASKING, AND IT’S FREE. With a repentant heart and the confession with your mouth that you are wrong and God is right, you have the opportunity to ask for the free gift of salvation. “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved,” Romans 10:13. Don’t be one of the people who everyone thought was the greatest person and find yourself in hell with the rich man, who was very popular too. Accept the free gift of salvation, because there is no other way to get to heaven. Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: No man cometh unto the Father, but by Me,” John 14:6. Jesus made the way for each and every man, but it takes action upon our part to receive this free gift.

No matter how good you or someone else may seem, without Christ you are nobody. He completes a person, when they put their faith and trust in HIM. Have you done this yet? Please don’t think you have the rest of your life to do it, because the rest of you life may be at its end now. Lord, I pray that you will convict the lost and that they will seek your free gift of salvation. May we all serve you with an open heart to find your guidance, and please help us to follow you. Amen.