Some of us were sitting around at lunch break one day talking about this and that. Somehow the talk got around to the subject of death. The question was asked, "What is the worst possible way one might die?" One suggested drowning would be the worst way, one thought of death by fire; and another even suggested crucifixion would be the worst way to die.
When I heard "crucifixion" I thought immediately of the blessed Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, the One "who gave Himself for our sins," as we read in Gal. 1:44Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: (Galatians 1:4). So I expressed the thought that the very worst way anyone could possibly die would be to die without Christ! To die in your sins and spend a lost eternity in hell there couldn't possibly be a worse way to die.
That thought ended any further discussion on the subject of dying! But it is a reality, and something you must deal with. People say that death is so final, but it does not all end at the death of the body. The Word of God tells us that "it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment." Heb. 9:2727And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (Hebrews 9:27).
Yes, after death the JUDGMENT. What a searching thought that is. For all those who die in their sins who die without Christ must face Him for judgment. For those who through grace know Him as Savior, that judgment is past. They can by faith look back to Calvary and say with Peter, "Christ... suffered for us... who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree." 1 Peter 2:21, 2421For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: (1 Peter 2:21)
24Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. (1 Peter 2:24). Yes, the Lord Jesus Christ went to Calvary and died a criminal's death, but it was my sins that led Him there. "For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the Just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God." 1 Peter 3:1818For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: (1 Peter 3:18).
Have you been brought to God? Or is the thought of death to you like a leap into the dark unknown? It need not be! As the Apostle Paul could say, "We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord."