Death

It is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment. 

~ Heb 9:27

Death.  For the most part we don't like to talk about it.  We don't like to think about it.  We prefer to keep it off in the distance.  Out of reach.  Out of sight.  Yet it is always out there, looming as it were.  Waiting.

For most it is something we wish to brush under the rug.  When it approaches we try to slam the door and bolt the lock.  But death.  It knows no boundaries.  It is stopped by nothing.  It is a relentless foe.  A fearless enemy.

You see, death entered this world when our first parents, Adam and Eve, bought the lie and chose self over obedience.  That fateful day in the garden they heard the lies of our great adversary, the devil, Satan, the enemy of our souls.  Though they had paradise they thought to grasp the Divine.  Instead of being satisfied to have been made in God's image they desired to be like God.  And though God reveals His glory in His creation of man He will not and does not share His glory with another.  So death came.  Spiritual death.  Physical death.  And not only physical death but decay.

The moment we were born we started to decay, to run towards our end.  Oh, we may live to 70, even 100.  Perhaps we'll only make it to 50 or just 15.  I've lived long enough to see a lot of death.  It started when I was about 19.  We were one of those group of kids that experienced the death of a friend at the hands of alcohol, who wrapped himself and two others in a twist of metal and an early grave.  Then death came closer to home and beat on my door.  At a mere 25 I watched my father wither and die in just 4 months time.  He made it to a young 57, and I'm not far from that number myself now.  Next was my stepfather about 6 years later.  Another early grave and a quick withering away.  More effects of the Fall.

Sin brought death. 

Just as through one man sin entered the world, 

and death through sin, and so death

 spread to all men, because all men sinned. ~ Romans 5:12

Now looking back just 20 years my life is littered with the death of family and friends.  Death cares not about age.  A 92 year old grandmother, 94 year old grandfather, 2 year old son of a boss, 15 year old son of a neighbor, 15 year old daughter of a friend.   At least 3 deaths last year and already a couple this year with another imminent.  I could go on.  I think you get the picture.  At least I hope you do.

So why do most avoid the topic of death?  Well, it is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God.  For the sinner.  The unregenerate.  For he who has heard the truth about Christ, sin, the gospel, and rejected it.  And rightly so.  You see God has graciously put before us life and death.  He has planted within us a knowledge of Him.  He has revealed Himself in the work of creation.  Yet we, for the most part, have rejected it.  Why?  Simple.  We love ourselves more than Him.  We desire to be sovereign.  We bow to none.  So it is only right that we fear death.  Sin brings death and then judgment.

We desire to live 60, 70, 80 years apart from giving Christ His due.  We may live a moral life, moral on a horizontal scale not a vertical one.  We think that gains us favor and in the end we will 'be ok.'  Yet why when death is at the door do we fear?  Because we know it's not enough.  We know we have offended a Holy God and He demands payment.  That payment is satisfied in Christ.

So this brings us the contrast.  The Christian, the one who has repented of his sin, confessed his offenses, and believed upon Christ's work on Calvary has no fear.  Death is but an entrance into glory.  Glory with the eternal One.  Why?  This person understands that he is a sinner.  He is nothing but a vile wretch, full of hatred and self will.  He has nothing to offer because he is altogether corrupt.  Or should I say was?  By trusting in Christ's righteousness and not leaning on an iota of his own supposed righteousness he has received the imputed righteousness of Christ and been made new.  Entirely new.  He is a new creation who can now walk in the fullness of life.  Perfect love casts out fear.  So death for the godly one is precious in His sight.  And not only in God's sight but for the forgiven sinner.  He has a sure hope.  A confident assurance.  A place prepared for him.  And it shall happen!

Where do you find yourself?  Fearful of death?  Ignoring the elephant in the room?  Do you keep death out of reach?  When it comes do you grieve as one who has no hope?  Or do you look at death and say,

O, death, where is thy sting?  O grave, where is thy victory? 
~ 1 Cor 15:55

He must increase,
Kevin