Death

Death

Ecclesiastes 9:3

This is an evil among all things that are done under the sun, that there is one event to 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.      

Hebrews 9:27 KJVS

[27] And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

Psalm 116:15 KJVS

[15] Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.

Introduction – Ecclesiastes is occupied with discerning the mysteries of this life, ‘under the sun’.  Of these, the greatest is death.  Solomon’s observations on life here ‘under the sun‘ all seem to end at the graveside.  In vs.1-6 of this chapter, the fact that all die is a matter of deep frustration to this man of wisdom.  One reason for this is the almost universal idea among the ancients that length of life is always determined by one’s righteousness or wickedness.  Now there is no doubt that there is a ‘window’ of time given to every man for his death, and that his manner of life can have a definite effect on whether it is long or short (Ecclesiastes 7:17).  “Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?”

As a pastor, I have been constantly exposed to death and its effects on those left behind.  My observations and my study of the scriptures have resulted in the following thoughts on the subject of death.  Notice the:

REALITY OF DEATH

Some foolishly believe death is not real!  There are two kinds of death mentioned in the scriptures.  First, there is physical death.  this is the subject of Solomon’s observations in the text.  Second, there is spiritual death, or the second death  mentioned in  Revelation 20:11-15 [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.”  in the `lake of fire’.  Both are equally real, but we are able to see the results of physical death all around us.  Physical death is:

1. UNIVERSAL – In Ecclesiastes 9:2-3, we read “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.  This is an evil among all things that are done under the sun, that there is one event to 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’. We see those who have their bodies frozen after their death so that some time in the future when a cure for what killed them has been found, they can be thawed out and cured. This is a sad and silly attempt to circumvent the certainty of death. Medical advancements have been remarkable in the past years, but one thing is still the same ie. ‘every one dies’. It comes to the rich and famous as it does to the lowly and poor. Benjamin Franklin once observed that there are only two things in this life that are certain ‘death and taxes’. Some have means of not paying taxes, but all die.  

2. UNAVOIDABLE – Solomon further says in Ecclesiastes 8:8 `There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath he power in the day of death:  and there  is no discharge in that war;  neither shall wickedness deliver those that are given to it‘.  The New Testament scriptures agree in Hebrews 9:27 we read “it is appointed unto man once to die, but after this the judgment:”.  That is an appointment all will keep (except for that one generation of believers living when Jesus returns, this was not revealed in Solomon’s day). We spend an enormous amount on ‘health care’ in the United States.  I fully understand, at my age most of my trips from home involve doctors or pharmacies. I can eat the prescribed diet, do the prescribed exercises, avoid the vices such as drink and drugs, but in the end I will die (should the Lord not return beforehand). 

RESULTS OF DEATH

Like a stone tossed into calm water, death causes ripples all around.  Many are affected, in addition to  the one who has died.  Consider some of these effects of death:

1. SURPRISES – I have always found it interesting to observe the shock and surprise experienced by those who have had a loved one die.  This surprise is in evidence even if the death has been anticipated for a long time!  I have seen families lose a loved one 90-100 years old, remark “Why did they have to be taken NOW?” I found this in my own experience. My father died very suddenly and unexpectedly. Naturally I was shocked to hear the news and it took some time to adjust. When my mother passed it was a different story. She had lived a good and long life. She suffered a severe stroke, she lived about a month after that. We expected her death, but it was still a shock to me.  The fear of death makes us want to ignore it. Because we don’t want to face death and often don’t prepare for it comes as a surprise and a shock. 

2. SEPARATES – Physical death is separation of the soul from the body it has occupied since conception.  It separates us from our friends and families, and from the world we live in.  Our modern religious environment refuses to accept the reality that man was created by God and in His image. The physical body is our ‘house’ it is the abode that we inhabit for this life.  When we die, it is not an end of existence, but a change of residence. In my life I have lived in a number of houses, when I moved out of one into another my existence did not end.  It continued in another place. Death is the same idea.  Paul expresses it in 2 Corinthians 5:8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. After death the soul migrates to one of two places; the saved are transported into the presence of God, the lost find themselves in the flames of Hell. While until the time of the resurrection they are not inhabiting their bodies, they still have all the feeling and desires.  This is cleary seen in the account of Lazarus and the rich man. The rich man is in Hell, his body is in the tomb, yet he is suffering in the flames and he wants water. We can begin to understand this when we consider people who have lost a limb and they suffer ‘phantom pain’ in the missing member. They will tell you the pain is real even though there is nothing there to feel the pain.  In the same way people in Hell are and will suffer the agonies without being in their bodies at the time.

3. SETTLES – Death settles the destiny of the one who has passed from this life. There are only two possibilities, Heaven or Hell. Up unto the moment of death, there is still hope that one can change the destiny of his soul by repenting and trusting in Christ.  Some do not believe in deathbed repentance, but tell that to the thief on the cross.  One thing I do know, that death ends all hope for repentance and faith.  This life only is given to us to make this choice! I often hear people ask for prayer for someone who has died, too late! We must make every effort to reach them in this life. I have officiated at a number of funerals. Many times I see people who are distraught at the death of their love ones, but while they were alive they showed no concern for them, neither their physical or spiritual needs. But there is nothing that you can do for them now. Their fate is settled. 

4. STOPS – Death brings an end to many things familiar to us here on earth.  For the:

1. Saints – Pain, sorrow, trouble, stress, fear will all be ended. Job tells us Job 14:1 Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble. When Adam sinned in the garden he brought a curse upon all of mankind. Genesis 3:17-19 17 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground forthy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; 18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; 19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

b. Sinners – pleasure, happiness, and all good things will cease. All the things that the flesh craves will no longer be available to those in Hell. The torment in Hell is not just the flames, but also the constant desires that cannot be satisfied.  The drug addict cannot ease his suffering, the sex addict will no longer have a way to fulfill his perverted desire. Adding to the suffering is the isolation from contact.  Jesus spoke of the conditions in Matthew 8:12 But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. All the pleasures of the flesh denied and the terror of suffering alone and in darkness. 

5. SORROWS – Whether sinner or saint, our death brings sorrow to those around us.  Even ‘Jesus wept‘ at the tomb of Lazarus.  Death can even bring sorrow and a sense of loss to some even if they didn’t know the deceased.  Just the reality of death is sufficient to grieve their heart. When we hear reports of natural disasters with great loss of life our reaction is one of shock and sorrow.  We don’t know the people affected but the thought of lives lost, especially the children brings sorrow to us. When it is someone we know and love the sorrow touches us much more deeply.

6. SPOILS – Death has a way of spoiling our worldly plans and schemes.  I remember a man who had made elaborate plans for his retirement, only to die and leave them two days after he retired!  None is sure of tomorrow! I am reminded of a man who had been faithful in church for many years. As he approached the age of lessened responsibilities he decided to build his dream house and as it was finished and the last purchases were being made to furnish it, he suffered a heart attack.  He said many times “when my house is done I’ll be back in church.” He did not return to church or live in his dream house.  He made his plans but death spoiled his plans. 

7. SILENCES – Our voice is silenced…whether for good or evil.  But you may say doesn’t the Bible say, “he being dead yet speaketh’?   Yes  it does,  but  remember,  this  ‘speech’  after death is the result of our ways and words during this life. The only thing we leave that is of value is a legacy of faithful service to God. You may leave a fortune in material things, but these are easily squandered on worldly things. Our testimony can live on after us. Think of those heroes of the faith, many had none of the world’s good but their legacy has inspired generations of believers to sacrificial service. We may never know until eternity how God will use our service and testimony.  Let us be faithful and obedient, leaving the results to God. 

8. SUMMONS – Hebrews 9:27 says ‘And as it is appointed unto man once to die, but after this the Judgment‘.  Death then is a summons to appear  before God to answer  for our lives.  Death is a summons that cannot be ignored.  It often comes when least expected. Luke 12:15-21 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. 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,andbe merry.20 But God said unto him,Thoufool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?21 Soishe that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God. The uncomfortable truth is that you will die. After death comes judgment The verse in Hebrews makes it clear that all will give an account for our lives.  Those who reject God’s offer of forgiveness and eternal life in Christ must suffer eternal death in the Lake of Fire. The choice is up to each individual. A decision that determines one’s eternal destiny. 

9. SHOWS  – God’s sovereign power over the affairs of men is demonstrated by the death of men.  The fact that he determines the manner and time of our death demonstrates that HE is in charge. Many think that they are in control of their lives. While God allows all men a certain latitude in their actions, no one can choose the time, manner or place of their death.  God not only knows the moment of our death, He has determined it!

REASON FOR DEATH

People frequently ask, Why death?  Simple question, with a simple answer 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.”  The sin of MAN brought the curse of death into the world.  Let’s not blame God!

REMEDY FOR DEATH

Jesus gave the remedy for death at the tomb of Lazarus his friend in John 11:25-26 “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection and the life:  he that believeth  in me, though  he were dead,  ye shall  he live:  and whosoever liveth and believeth  in me shall never  die.”  Jesus Christ himself is the remedy for death.  Receiving him is the secret to escaping the second death. We must:

1. RECOGNIZE that we are sinners, deserving of God’s judgment

2. REPENT of sin and unbelief

3. RECEIVE and trust Jesus Christ as our personal savior