Death, Dying and Eternity – part 2
Bill Rudge
Himalayan Mountains photo by Bill Rudge
Death Validates the Bible
Death is yet another proof of the truthfulness of Scripture. Because of the Fall of humankind as recorded in Genesis, God pronounced the judgment of death, and no one or nothing can revoke God’s verdict of aging and death. Surely, if there is no God and the Bible is not divinely inspired, someone, somehow, would be able to overcome this curse of death pronounced on human beings and nature. Yet, the endless and elusive quest for a “magic potion” to live forever always ends in futility.
The Bible indicates death will continue throughout history until the Lord Jesus returns and the dead are raised. We have the assured promise that one day death will be forever eliminated (1 Corinthians 15:54-55).
Illusion or Reincarnation
As Satan tempted Eve to eat the fruit and rebel against God, he flagrantly altered God’s Word from, “You will surely die” (Genesis 2:17) to “You surely will not die!” (Genesis 3:4). Not only did Adam and Eve immediately die spiritually (separation from God), but they also eventually died physically. Satan’s lie seems so obvious and far removed from the visible evidence. To conceal his lie, two more fallacies are propagated.
The first false idea is that you do not really die; death is merely an illusion. However, if you go to a funeral and see the body lying there, it is obvious that person is dead. The second is reincarnation; your spirit leaves your body at death and is reborn into another body. We will not be reincarnated but will die once, and after death, face God’s judgment (Hebrews 9:27). No second chances, no reincarnation.
Although most people innately know that after death comes some form of judgment, yet many endeavor to suppress it during their lifetime (Romans 1:18-19) by denying the very God who offers the only means of victory over death.
This Is Not Our Home
I talked to a Vietnam veteran whose life seemed hopeless. In an effort to give him some hope, I said, “When you were in Vietnam, your goal was to get home safely and to bring back alive as many buddies as possible. Just as Vietnam was not your home, this world is not your home, but like Vietnam, we are in the midst of an intense spiritual battle for our lives and families and facing many dangerous challenges and difficulties. You have an inner longing to get to your real home—your heavenly home—and bring as many loved ones and friends with you as you can.” That illustration resonated with him, and, for the remainder of his life, he kept his focus on Jesus Christ and His promise of a future home in Heaven.
Thank God this world is not our final home; we are merely passing through. Certainly, we face challenges, trials and spiritual warfare, but our faith in Christ transcends the troubles in this life. Our goal is to get our loved ones, friends and as many others as possible into Christ’s eternal Kingdom. John Wesley said, “I want to know one thing, the way to heaven; how to land safe on that happy shore.” C.S. Lewis wrote, “If I find in myself desires which nothing in this world can satisfy, the only logical explanation is that I was made for another world.”
Meet Your Maker
A hardened farmer, from whom I bought some fruit and vegetables, was undergoing dialysis and nearing the end of his life. Upon discovering that I was a minister, he sarcastically asked why God hadn’t taken him yet. I responded, “Just like you leave fruit on your trees until it is ready to be picked, the Good Lord is leaving you here until you are ready to meet Him.” His wife enthusiastically agreed. I gave him a book I wrote which hopefully prepared him for eternity because, a short time after that encounter, he met his Maker.
On another occasion, I was talking to a neighbor who had already lived several months beyond what the doctors expected. Jim said to me, “God must not be ready for me yet.” I replied, “The most important question is, ‘Are you ready to meet God?’ He may be keeping you alive until you are.” After a few more visits, he accepted Christ as his Savior. Not long thereafter, he departed this life to meet his Maker.
What If I Die Today?
Some of you reading this may depart this life sooner than anticipated. So let me get introspective with you. When it is time for you to die, what will your last words be? If you were going to die today, what eternal legacy will you leave behind? Where will the footprints of your life lead?
What will your financial records reveal were the priorities of your life? What will the literature they find in your home reveal? What about the movies and television programs you watched? What will the sites you visited on your computer and the email and text messages disclose? Will you leave a legacy of fruitful faith or unrepentant failure?
Many rich and powerful people live to impress others—that is until their bodies and minds begin to degenerate. As their strength diminishes and their pain intensifies, with death appearing imminent, their proud and boastful words cease. Their former arrogant behavior seems like foolishness as their short-lived glory becomes nothing but a faded memory.
How foolish humans are to think that what we have is really ours. We might have built it, but we did not create the materials from which it was made—God did. And we definitely cannot take it with us when we die.
When facing imminent death, many people discover that what they previously thought was important is now irrelevant and that which they had considered of little value becomes most precious.
When we die—or when Christ returns—none of our accomplishments, degrees, credentials, awards, accolades, and possessions will matter (Philippians 3:7-8). What will really matter and be of utmost importance to you at the end of your life is your relationship with Jesus Christ.
Pandita Ramabai, a 19th-century Indian scholar, social reformer, educator and Christian convert accurately said, “A life totally committed to God has nothing to fear, nothing to lose, nothing to regret.” Jim Elliot wisely stated, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” An unknown author said: “When you were born you cried while the world rejoiced. Live your life in such a way that when you die the world cries while you rejoice.”
Win-Win Situation
I have been with many dying people who knew the Lord and died in peace and joy. Even as their bodies began shutting down, they testified of God’s love and faithfulness.
MaryAnn was a kind and gentle person who served the Lord her entire life. She was a powerful prayer intercessor with a passion for biblical prophecy. Although her body weakened, her prayers and trust in Jesus remained strong until her final breath. Then, she was in the presence of the One to whom she prayed and so deeply loved.
One dying man, Karl, said he lived his whole life for that “last trip.” As I visited him near the end of his journey, he was in great physical pain but had tremendous peace spiritually and emotionally. While many people visited this man to bring comfort to him, they went away blessed because of his attitude and love for the Lord.
Being at the bedside of many dying saints reminded me of the patriarchs in the Bible. Their final recorded words were ones of faith, instruction, and admonition to loved ones to remain faithful to the Lord. The final words of these committed believers in Christ were a reflection of their hearts; words from a voice that will never be heard again in this life.
Trapper John’s perspective was that if God healed him he would be a testimony for the Lord. If God took him home (as He did), he would be with the Lord in Heaven. Either way, he couldn’t lose! He had the “win-win” attitude of Romans 14:8: “for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.”
Closing Prayer
Oh Lord, until that Day when the dead are raised. Until that Day when we are given new resurrected bodies. Until that Day when we see You face to face. Until that Day when we are reunited with our loved ones. Until that Day when we inherit all You have prepared for those who love You. Until that Day when death and sorrow are forever banished. Until that Day… we ask for your comfort, strength, and grace in the midst of any loss and temporary separation. May we cherish the blessed memories of our loved ones as we await that magnificent day when Christ returns and the dead will be raised from their graves to be transformed with new immortal, glorified bodies! In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.
The preceding was excerpted from Bill’s new book Death, Dying and Eternity. Available in April 2024, free of charge upon request.
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To my brothers and sisters in Christ, please feel free to share this message of the cross with those in need…
You say you are a “born again” believer… BUT is your soul “ON FIRE” for the Lord ?? If not, open this link – https://godsmanforever.com/2020/08/01/are-you-a-christian-in-gods-eyes-and-on-fire-for-the-lord-or-not/
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