Those That Die In Christ

INTRODUCTION

4 Everyone dies—we are like water spilled in the dust that can’t be reclaimed. But God will not waste a life—He won’t allow the banished one to be exiled permanently from His presence. – 2 Samuel 14:14 (VOICE)

DEATH IS CERTAIN Death stares at us upon all sides. The fields the other day were green; now they are brown. The tree that stood by our door last year was a thing of beauty; now nothing is left but the old lifeless trunk. In our childhood there were strong men who were wonders to us because of their deeds of manly strength. Where are they now? Go read their names on the gravestones, or see them pass by the gate with decay and death written in every feature of their faces.

So God teaches in His word: For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away. – 1 Peter 1:24

DEATH IS OFTEN SUDDEN Read the columns of the newspapers, and notice how many have been recently launched into eternity. How few really expect death when it comes! God would teach us that life is brief; "But a hand-breadth;" "A vapor;" "A flower of the field." That its end is uncertain. Christ said that He would come "as a thief in the night." "You do not know what a day may bring forth."

DEATH ENDS ALL "Water spilt on the ground which cannot be gathered up again." Lazarus was told of a great gulf which was fixed. The foolish virgins found the door shut for all eternity. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment. – Hebrews 9:27

PREPARATION FOR DEATH IS NECESSARY All realize this as far as this world goes, but few seem to realize its importance when the next world is taken into consideration. We fail to understand that: The things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. – 2 Corinthians 4:18b These “eternal” things need to be prepared for. Because we are strong it seems to us as if we would live here forever, and we fail to heed Christ's words, "you also be ready.” How are we to make this preparation? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. – John 14:6 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. – Psalm 23:4 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? – 1 Corinthians 15:55

THOSE WHO DIE IN CHRIST 1. THOSE WHO DIE IN CHRIST POSSESS ETERNAL LIFE

And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. – John 10:28 2.

THOSE WHO DIE IN CHRIST HAVE FOR A REFUGE AN ETERNAL GOD

The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them. – Deuteronomy 33:27

THOSE WHO DIE IN CHRIST PRESS ON TOWARD AND ETERNAL INHERITANCE

And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. – Hebrews 9:15

THOSE WHO DIE IN CHRIST INHABIT AN ETERNAL HOUSE

For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. – 2 Corinthians 5:1

THOSE WHO DIE IN CHRIST WILL EXPERIENCE AN ETERNAL WEIGHT OF GLORY

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. – 2 Corinthians 4:17

THOSE WHO DIE IN CHRIST WILL SERVE AN ETERNAL KING

Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen. – 1 Timothy 1:17