For those not familiar with an Anglican Service; there are four Scripture Readings before the Sermon. The Scripture Readings for this day were: Ruth 3:1-5;4:13-17; Psalm 127; Hebrews 9:24-28 and Mark 12:28-34.
A book of children's letters to God........ contain these entries:
Dear God,...... what is it like when a person dies?....... Nobody will tell me. ......I just want to know, ....... I do not want to do it. Signed,..... Your Friend, Mike.
Another youngster,..... Jane, has this suggestion for the Lord, ....."Dear God,..... Instead of letting people die and having to make new ones, .....why don't you keep the ones .....you got now?"
Actor and director Woody Allen...... voiced the same sentiments when he said,...... "I am not afraid to die. I just don't want to be there when it happens."
We are all curious about death .... We are all curious about what happens..... after we die. (Pause)
And it is not just ......an intellectual matter.
The topic of death is ..... a matter of the heart.
We know,.... like it or not,...... that death...... is part of our future. (Pause)
Paul Azinger learned this...... the hard way.
Professional golfer Paul Azinger....... was diagnosed with cancer .... ....at the age 33
He had just won the PGA Championship ......and had 10 tournament victories...... to his credit.
He wrote these words, ........ "A genuine feeling of fear came over me. I could die from cancer. Then another reality hit me ..... even harder. I am going to die eventually anyway, ...... whether from cancer .....or something else.
It is just a question..... of when."
Before this diagnosis, ...... Azinger lived for golf. ...... But No more.
One day shortly after his diagnosis, ....... Azinger remember some words...... he had once heard .....in a Bible study.
"We are not in the land of the living .....going to the land of the dying,..... "The teacher had said,...... "We are in the land of the dying ..... trying to get to the land of the living." (Pause)
That reality led him..... to a living hope...... through faith in Jesus Christ.
Golfer Paul Azinger recovered .....and returned to the PGA tour.
But the bout with cancer changed ......his life perspective.
He would later write,......... "I have learned that the only way to true contentment ..... is in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. .......I am not saying .....that nothing ever bothers me..... and I do not have problems,..... but I feel like I have found the answer to ..... the six-foot hole." (Long Pause)
Beloved..... The most important lessons in life .....are wrapped-up in three short statements:
Life is short...... Death is certain. .....Eternity is forever. REPEAT
So.....Where do we go for information about..... life, ..... death, ....... and eternity?
Who better help you plan for your future ...... than someone .....who has already been there?
Who better to take you into eternity...... than someone who holds the keys...... to life and death? (Pause)
Three friends were discussing death...... and one asked the group:...... "What would you like people to say about you .....at your funeral?"
The first one responded,..... "I would like them to say ....He was a great humanitarian, ....who cared about his community.
The friend who initiated the conversation replied...... "I would like them to say..... He was a great husband and father, ......who was an example..... for many to follow.
They nodded in agreement .....and looked to the third .....who had been silent.
Without hesitation..... the third man concluded, ........ "I would like them to say ..... Look, he's moving! (Pause)
Our text in Hebrews states this truth......: BIBLE "It is appointed for mortals to die once!" END
Death...... is a part of life.
Sadly some are convinced..... that death is all there is....... That Death is the end .....of existence.
Note the verse again....... BIBLE "Just as it is appointed for mortals to die once, .....and after that the judgment." END
Death is not an end in itself........ For after death...... there is a judgment. Hebrews 9:27 (Pause)
An elderly lady was riding on a crowded bus.
She was quietly reading her Bible ..... when a rather distinguished looking man..... took the seat .....beside her.
After a while..... he noticed what she was reading.
He introduced himself....... "Hello, I am Professor Smith.
I teach philosophy..... at the university......
Do not tell me .....you actually believe that stuff .....you are reading?"
"I certainly do," the elderly lady replied. ........"Every word of it."
"Even that story about the Jonah," .....challenged the professor ......with a smirk.
"Of course," .....was the quick reply.
"Can you prove to me that the story is true?"..... he asked next.
Knowing..... she was not about to win any arguments with the professor,...... she simply said, ......"Well, when I get to Heaven,..... I will ask Jonah."
The professor smiled, ......"Well, what if Jonahs .....not in Heaven?"
The lady laid her Bible down,..... looked the professor square in the eye and replied, ....."Then you can ask him!"
Death is a part of life .......and Death is followed by...... judgment ........and judgment by eternity.
And Beloved......Judgment will not be same for all.
You often hear people contend..... that spiritual matters are not really all that important..... because we are all headed .......to the same place.
Those who make that claim .....are at least ......partly right.
We are all headed to the same place....... The judgment of God! ..... Yet.....There the path separates.
Jesus said there are two roads......the straight and narrow ......and the broad and wide.
One is popular,...... the other less so.
One leads to life .... the other leads to destruction.
Death is not the end in itself...... We are appointed once to die...... and then..... the judgment.
Beloved ...... For those who are in Christ Jesus... death does not mean...... uncertainty and fear.
Note the rest of our passage. BIBLE "Just as it is appointed for mortals to die once, and after that the judgment, 28 So Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him." END (Heb 9:27-28).
The Scriptures are clear.
Yes ......Death is a physical issue..... but ultimately death is ......a spiritual issue.
Our creator formed us for life ......and fellowship with him ......... forever.
Life ..... A fulfilled Life ..... is all about living in a personal relationship with the God ......who formed us in our mothers womb.
Sin is rejecting our maker ... refusing to walk..... in his ways.
Physical death...... is a result of living in a world of rebellion ..... in a world of sin.
Beloved......that is why Jesus came.
Jesus came .....because He loves us.
Jesus words and works....... show us..... the Father.
He said he came to lay down his life.... as a ransom for our sins, ...... to pay the price..... for our transgressions.
The Scriptures are clear, ......."he died for our sins, ....was buried,..... and was raised from the dead."
Jesus shares with us these words found in the Gospel of John, BIBLE "Very truly, I tell you, anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life, and does not come under judgment, but has passed from death to life." END (John 5:24).
To believe the message of Jesus in your heart,.... to confess him as Lord with your lips, .....and to commit your life to him in baptism .....transfers you ......from death to life.
Those who have a hope in Jesus Christ .....can have a totally different perspective...... about death.
The future is no longer..... dark .... The future is no longer..... unknown.
We will not know everything .....that lies on the other side .....of eternity .
But this we know .....Jesus has prepared a place for us...... for eternity.
That knowledge ... that promise ...... should affect..... the way we live.
That knowledge ... that promise.... should affect the way we face the question....... of the six foot hole.
There is a difference between dying in fear and despair...... and dying in faith and hope.
This does not mean we eagerly look forward to death.. ....for the scriptures tell us..... that death is our enemy.
It does not mean.... we do not mourn ..... that we do not hurt .....when a loved one dies.
God made us with the capacity to love and to care.
It hurts .... It hurts deeply .....when we lose one.... we have loved .....so deeply.
But for those who die in Christ Jesus ....we can mourn.... with hope.
For we know that death.... has been defeated.
That Jesus reigns
. We are a resurrection people . (Pause)
Max Lucado's book,.... Six Hours One Friday, ......offers an understanding .....of a resurrection faith.
Lucado tells the story .....of a missionary in Brazil .....who discovered a tribe of Indians..... in a remote part of the jungle.
They lived near a large river.
The tribe was in need of medical attention.
People were dying daily.
A hospital was not too terribly far away.....across the river, .... but the Indians would not cross it.... because they believed.... it was inhabited .....by evil monsters.
They were convinced ....to enter the water.... would mean.... certain death.
The missionary explained ....how he had crossed the river..... and was unharmed.
They were not..... impressed.
He then took them to the bank .....and placed his hand in the water..... They still would not go in.
He walked into the water..... up to his waist .....and splashed water on his face.
It did not matter.
They were still fearful..... to enter the river.
Finally,.... he dove into the river, .....swam beneath the surface...... until he emerged on the other side.
He punched a triumphant fist..... into the air.
He had entered the water...... and escaped.
It was then ....that the Indians broke out into a cheer..... and followed him across.
That is exactly what Jesus did! (Pause)
Jesus shared with the crowds...... that they need not fear death, .... Yet they would not believe.
He touched a dead boy.... and called him back to life.
They did not believe.
He whispered life into the body of a dead girl .....and yet they still ......would not believe.
He let a dead man spend 4 days in a tomb..... and then called him out ....and the people still did not believe.
Finally,..... Jesus himself entered into the river of death .......and came out on the other side.
Christ has conquered death ....not only for himself ..... but also for all ....who make his resurrection ....their own.
"Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?
Beloved .... Jesus paid it all.....Jesus is the answer to the six-foot hole.
(Sing)
Jesus paid it all, ...... All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,..... He washed it white as snow.
Beloved.... Jesus paid it all....... Let him not only be your Savior but let him be the Lord of every aspect of your life.
Amen and Amen!!!
I received much insight (Especially in the early part of the message) from a Sermon by Roger Thomas titled "Four Lies About Death" I commend it to you.
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