Saturday, July 6, 2019

Death

The Bible is a book of contrasts. Here is a very solemn one:

“As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked” (Ezekiel 33:11).

“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints” (Psalm 116:15).

How very different is the death of an unbeliever from that of a believer in Christ. It is as different as night and day, as different as heaven and hell. The Bible clearly states, “And as it is appointed unto men once to die” (Hebrews 9:27). But how we die is vital! The Lord said, “For if ye believe not that I am He, ye shall die in your sins” (John 8:24).

If you were to draw your last breath and be laid in your coffin today, where would your soul be? Would your death be “precious in the sight of the Lord,” or would he “have no pleasure” in your passing?

For the believer, there is no fear in death. We can say, “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory” (1 Corinthians 15:55)?That’s because, for us, it means we will, “depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better” (Philippians 1:23).