I was driving earlier today to pick up two of my children when on the radio comes the report that Prince was dead at the age of 57. At first, I couldn’t believe it. What Prince is he talking about? He can’t be talking about the recording artist Prince? I guess what shocked me was the suddenness of it. Was he killed? Was he in an accident? Was he sick? You know, even as a follower of Christ, I will NEVER get used to this death thing. One day a person you love is here and the next day they're gone. It’s crazy.
What helps me makes some sense of the craziness experienced in this life is to ask myself, “what does God’s word have to say about this”? And you know what? There is a word from the Lord. In the Book of Hebrews, chapter nine, verse 27, the writer states, “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment”. In order to make sense of this “death thing,” we MUST understand God’s perspective on death.
Before I dig any deeper, I must say that what you read here may not bring you immediate comfort or encouragement. This exposition may not alleviate your fear or angst about the subject of death. But, what I hope happens is that you gain some clarity on what takes place when a person you love dies.
Hebrews 9:27 uncovers for us FOUR (4) important realities about death that we all need to know.
Reality #1
Death is CERTAIN (“And as it is appointed….”)
The word “appointed” means, something that is reserved, certain, and destined. Therefore, the writer declares that death (physical death) is reserved, certain and mankind’s destiny. Folks, there is no surer reality in life than physical death. Someone asked me, “Why do people have to die? The Bible is clear. The reason why mankind is subject to death is because of SIN. When Adam violated God’s righteous standard (Gen 2:15-17) the Bible states sin thereby entered the world of humanity followed by death (Rom 5:12). Because of sin, death is reserved, certain and destined for all humanity. Why did the 9 people in that Charleston South Carolina A.M.E church die? Because they were black? Well, their ethnicity may have been the Catalyst, but the true cause is because they like you and me, are sinners and therefore subject to the curse of sin, namely death. Why did Prince die? Because like the rest of us, he was a sinner (Rom 3:23). Let me add this. Everybody is NOT guaranteed to die quietly in their sleep like my grandfather, many of us will die kicking and screaming like his passengers. Again, the point is NOT how we die, but WHY we die. The Bible clearly states, "the wages of SIN is death"(Rom 3:23).
Reality #2
Death is certain FOR ALL MEN (“….for men…”)
The word “men” here is a generic term which speaks of “ALL humanity”. Every Human being regardless of gender or age is subject to physical death. Friends, death is no respecter of persons, death is not racist, death doesn’t play favorites, death is not politically correct.
EVERYBODY IS GOING TO DIE.
The Book of Hebrews, chapter 11 verses 36-38 states, “Still others had trials of mocking’s and scourging’s, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented— 38 of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth”.
Reality #3
Death is an ONETIME event (“…once to die...”)
Folks, concepts like reincarnation are FALSE. We don’t get several shots at this life, men and women are not born with 9 lives. In light of this fact, we should take the Apostles Paul’s advice seriously, “make the most of your time” (Eph 5:16).
Reality #4
Death leads to CERTAIN judgment (“…….but after this the judgment”)
Physical death is NOT the end. When people die they don’t cease to exist. The Bible is clear, following death comes judgment. This is the divine judgment carried out by Christ. The Bible speaks of judgment for BOTH the believer and unbeliever when they die.
Allow me to briefly explain what happens to a person when they die.
FIRST, what happens when the BELIEVER dies?
A. His/her, soul/spirit goes to Heaven to be with Christ (2 Cor 5:8).
B. At the Rapture of the Church the believer’s soul/spirit is reunited with his/her resurrected body (1 Thess 4).
C. All believers are reunited with each other and the Lord in Heaven during the time of Tribulation on the earth (1 Thess 4; John 14:6). It’s in heaven that the believer’s works are judged in order to determine his/her degree of reward (2 Cor 5).
D. At Christ’s Second coming all the saints return from Heaven with Him to live and reign on the earth during His Millennial Kingdom reign (Rev 20:4-6).
SECOND, what happens when the UNBELIEVER dies?
A. His/her, soul/spirit goes to Hell where in conscious torment they await the Judgment of God (Luke 16:19-31); Rev 20:11).
B. After the Millennial reign of Christ, the Dead are brought before the “White throne” of judgment where their works will be judged, not to determine whether they go to heaven, but to determine their degree of punishment in the “Lake of Fire” (Rev 20:11ff).
When I think about the death of Prince my hope is that he truly knew Christ as Lord and Savior. What I mean is this. I hope that at some point in his life he was able to REPENT of his sin and put his whole weight upon Christ. Because if he did, the Bible assures us that he is more alive today than he ever was in his life on earth. Jesus put it this way, “...I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies” (John 11:25). The plain truth is that many folks are not ready to die. How about you? Are you ready? If you died today, do you know where you would go?
Listen, the real tragedy is NOT Prince dying. The real tragedy is if he died NOT having trusted Christ as Lord and Savior.
It's not too late, Trust Jesus Now.
Todd.
What helps me makes some sense of the craziness experienced in this life is to ask myself, “what does God’s word have to say about this”? And you know what? There is a word from the Lord. In the Book of Hebrews, chapter nine, verse 27, the writer states, “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment”. In order to make sense of this “death thing,” we MUST understand God’s perspective on death.
Before I dig any deeper, I must say that what you read here may not bring you immediate comfort or encouragement. This exposition may not alleviate your fear or angst about the subject of death. But, what I hope happens is that you gain some clarity on what takes place when a person you love dies.
Hebrews 9:27 uncovers for us FOUR (4) important realities about death that we all need to know.
Reality #1
Death is CERTAIN (“And as it is appointed….”)
The word “appointed” means, something that is reserved, certain, and destined. Therefore, the writer declares that death (physical death) is reserved, certain and mankind’s destiny. Folks, there is no surer reality in life than physical death. Someone asked me, “Why do people have to die? The Bible is clear. The reason why mankind is subject to death is because of SIN. When Adam violated God’s righteous standard (Gen 2:15-17) the Bible states sin thereby entered the world of humanity followed by death (Rom 5:12). Because of sin, death is reserved, certain and destined for all humanity. Why did the 9 people in that Charleston South Carolina A.M.E church die? Because they were black? Well, their ethnicity may have been the Catalyst, but the true cause is because they like you and me, are sinners and therefore subject to the curse of sin, namely death. Why did Prince die? Because like the rest of us, he was a sinner (Rom 3:23). Let me add this. Everybody is NOT guaranteed to die quietly in their sleep like my grandfather, many of us will die kicking and screaming like his passengers. Again, the point is NOT how we die, but WHY we die. The Bible clearly states, "the wages of SIN is death"(Rom 3:23).
Reality #2
Death is certain FOR ALL MEN (“….for men…”)
The word “men” here is a generic term which speaks of “ALL humanity”. Every Human being regardless of gender or age is subject to physical death. Friends, death is no respecter of persons, death is not racist, death doesn’t play favorites, death is not politically correct.
EVERYBODY IS GOING TO DIE.
The Book of Hebrews, chapter 11 verses 36-38 states, “Still others had trials of mocking’s and scourging’s, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented— 38 of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth”.
Reality #3
Death is an ONETIME event (“…once to die...”)
Folks, concepts like reincarnation are FALSE. We don’t get several shots at this life, men and women are not born with 9 lives. In light of this fact, we should take the Apostles Paul’s advice seriously, “make the most of your time” (Eph 5:16).
Reality #4
Death leads to CERTAIN judgment (“…….but after this the judgment”)
Physical death is NOT the end. When people die they don’t cease to exist. The Bible is clear, following death comes judgment. This is the divine judgment carried out by Christ. The Bible speaks of judgment for BOTH the believer and unbeliever when they die.
Allow me to briefly explain what happens to a person when they die.
FIRST, what happens when the BELIEVER dies?
A. His/her, soul/spirit goes to Heaven to be with Christ (2 Cor 5:8).
B. At the Rapture of the Church the believer’s soul/spirit is reunited with his/her resurrected body (1 Thess 4).
C. All believers are reunited with each other and the Lord in Heaven during the time of Tribulation on the earth (1 Thess 4; John 14:6). It’s in heaven that the believer’s works are judged in order to determine his/her degree of reward (2 Cor 5).
D. At Christ’s Second coming all the saints return from Heaven with Him to live and reign on the earth during His Millennial Kingdom reign (Rev 20:4-6).
SECOND, what happens when the UNBELIEVER dies?
A. His/her, soul/spirit goes to Hell where in conscious torment they await the Judgment of God (Luke 16:19-31); Rev 20:11).
B. After the Millennial reign of Christ, the Dead are brought before the “White throne” of judgment where their works will be judged, not to determine whether they go to heaven, but to determine their degree of punishment in the “Lake of Fire” (Rev 20:11ff).
When I think about the death of Prince my hope is that he truly knew Christ as Lord and Savior. What I mean is this. I hope that at some point in his life he was able to REPENT of his sin and put his whole weight upon Christ. Because if he did, the Bible assures us that he is more alive today than he ever was in his life on earth. Jesus put it this way, “...I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies” (John 11:25). The plain truth is that many folks are not ready to die. How about you? Are you ready? If you died today, do you know where you would go?
Listen, the real tragedy is NOT Prince dying. The real tragedy is if he died NOT having trusted Christ as Lord and Savior.
It's not too late, Trust Jesus Now.
Todd.
