The Great Appointment

The Great Appointment

Text: Hebrews 9:26–27 (KJV 1900)

27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

* We live in such a time that death is not a reality to most people.

* Death is real this morning.

* There are so many people dying this morning that we are having to burn the bodies of the dead because there is no more room to bury them in our cemeteries.

* Great Britain became the first country in the world to have more cremations than burials.

* In Japan, it is said; graveyards are so crowded that only members of the imperial family are assured a resting place.

* West Berlin has had at least a six-week waiting period for burial.

* In Brazil, a 12-story “carneiro,” or cemetery, has been built and there is a long-standing reservation. * At Arlington National Cemetery is so crowded that officials are working on a columbarium to store 50,000 urns of ashes. * Governments world-wide are worried that if people continue to die, soon no more places would be found to bury them.

* The thought of death has been covered up and glossed over.

* We hear about dying, but we never see anybody die.

* There was a time in this county when we were very familiar with death.

* In our not too distant past people died at home and the whole family watched the process of death as the sick and the elderly slowly moved closer to the point of death.

* It was in a time, just about 50 years ago that my grandfather was called to the bedside of a man who claimed to be an atheist. (tell the story) and witnessed his screams as the demons pulled him down into the fires of Hell.

* Today, in this superficial time in which we live, no one sees death, and because of this, death is not real to most people.

* When our loved ones die in this new age of hospitals and medicines, people are put into a drugged state and die being unconscious under the influence morphine.

* Death has been hidden away from the sight of our families in hospital rooms and the pangs of death have been covered up with drugs.

* When the preacher stands in the pulpit, and warns people that they had better get right with God because we have an inescapable appointment with death, it has no effect, because death is not longer real.

* The Devil has blinded our eyes with cell phones, computers, fancy televisions, vacations, fine homes and cars and the like to the point that we no longer have time to ponder our way in this life.

Proverbs 4:25–27 (KJV 1900)

25 Let thine eyes look right on, And let thine eyelids look straight before thee. 26 Ponder the path of thy feet, And let all thy ways be established. 27 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: Remove thy foot from evil.

Haggai 1:3–7 (KJV 1900)

3 Then came the word of the Lord by Haggai the prophet, saying, 4 Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your cieled houses, And this house lie waste? 5 Now therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways. 6 Ye have sown much, and bring in little; Ye eat, but ye have not enough; Ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; Ye clothe you, but there is none warm; And he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes. 7 Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways.

* God expects us to take the time to think and consider, to ponder our lives and the way that we live because we all have an appointment with death and judgment day, and we do not know whether it will be today or tomorrow.

* But the Devil is constantly trying to occupy our minds with thoughts of frivolity, keeping us constantly entertained with the television and things that are not important.

* The Devil works to keep your mind occupied so that there is not time to consider the day of our death. We have been lulled to sleep with the cheap tinsel of technology, and no longer have any concept of our appointment with death.

* According to our text this morning, God wants you to think about coming the day of your death,

* Death and judgment day hang over you like the dark clouds that gather in the sky just before a great and terrible storm.

I. Only God can choose the time and place of our death.

Ecclesiastes 8:6–8 (KJV 1900)

6 Because to every purpose there is time and judgment, therefore the misery of man is great upon him. 7 For he knoweth not that which shall be: for who can tell him when it shall be? 8 There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath he power in the day of death: and there is no discharge in that war; neither shall wickedness deliver those that are given to it. II. Because we don’t know the day of our death, we should live like every tomorrow is the last day of our life. Ecclesiastes 9:7–10 (KJV 1900)

7 Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works. 8 Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment. 9 Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun.

10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest. ( This is my motivation, this is what keeps me going)

A. Love your family like tomorrow will be the last day of your life.

* Every time you part with someone you love, tell them you love them, because it may very well be the last time you see them.

* The last time I saw my father alive was at night in the hospital. We were both tired, and we sat in silence and said nothing for a few hours and then I told dad I had to go home.

* If I had known it was the last conversation I would ever have with my father I would done things differently that night.

* No sacrifice in the present is too much while you have your loved ones with you.

* Love your children and parents wile you can, sacrifice now so you don’t regret later.

B. Serve the Lord like today is your last chance to serve him.

Work for the night is coming

Work, for the night is coming, Work through the morning hours; Work while the dew is sparkling, Work ’mid springing flowers; Work when the day grows brighter, Work in the glowing sun; Work, for the night is coming, When man’s work is done.

Work, for the night is coming, Work through the sunny noon; Fill brightest hours with labor, Rest comes sure and soon. Give every flying minute, Something to keep in store; Work, for the night is coming, When man works no more.

Work, for the night is coming, Under the sunset skies; While their bright tints are glowing, Work, for daylight flies. Work till the last beam fadeth, Fadeth to shine no more; Work, while the night is darkening, When man’s work is o’er.

C. Witness to the lost like today is their last day upon the earth. Jude 22–23 (KJV 1900)

22 And of some have compassion, making a difference: 23 and others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

D. Remember God while you are young. Ecclesiastes 12:1–7 (KJV 1900)

Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them; 2 While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain: 3 In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened, 4 And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of musick shall be brought low; 5 Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets: 6 Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern. 7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

III. Leave behind a memory that will honor God for many years to come. * I the eyes of men, my father never did anything great, but he was the greatest man I have ever known. * My father never built a successful business; he supported himself by hanging wallpaper, but my father gave his children the work ethic and grit to be successful, and provide for themselves and their familys all the days of their lives. * My father started college, but he never finished a great education. But my father was the wisest man I have ever known. * My father was a preacher, but he never pastured a large church. But my father influenced my people for the Kingdom of God than any man I have ever known. * My father never had a fancy car, or a fancy house. But my father always had a good place to live, and always provided everything his family needed. * When my father died he had nothing to for his children to inherit. But when my father died, every one of his children, and his wife, were blessed by God and had everything they needed. * To his family, my father was the greatest man that ever walked the face of this earth because he brought every one of his children to the feet of Jesus to be saved.

‎ Patrick Henry is a name known to every school boy. Best known perhaps is his heroic exclamation: “Give me liberty, or give me death!” He was an orator of top rank and also a wise and fearless statesman. He had an active and important role in forming the government of the United States and particularly some of the provisions of the Constitution.

‎ However, he lacked business ability in the sense of building up a personal fortune, so that at his death in 1799, his family was not surprised when they opened his will to read: “This is all the inheritance I can give to my dear family: The religion of Christ will give One which will make them rich indeed.”

* I wonder this morning, what will your children think about you when you die? * Will your children remember you pointing them to the savior? Or will they remember that the most important thing to you was success and making more money? * I have the greatest mother on the face of this earth. Mothers, what will your children think of you after your death.

* Can truthfully say with the writer of the book of Proverbs concerning my mother:

Proverbs 31:27–30 (KJV 1900)

27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, And eateth not the bread of idleness. 28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; Her husband also, and he praiseth her. 29 Many daughters have done virtuously, But thou excellest them all. 30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: But a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.

* When your children sit around your body in the funeral home, will they be able to say these things about you?

‎ William Barclay tells of an old man who, as he lay near death, was obviously troubled. When asked what was disturbing him, replied, “One day when I was young I was playing with some other boys at a crossroads. We reversed a sign post so that its arms were pointing in the wrong direction, and I’ve never ceased to wonder how many people were sent in the wrong direction by what we did.”

* Everyone is preaching with their life this morning. Are you send people in the wrong direction with your life?

* What will your children think about you when you are gone? Will their thoughts about you lead them to Christ, or will your example lead your children to Hell?

* People are still hearing about God and the way of salvation this morning because my mother and father left behind a memory that still is honoring God to this day. IV. The Christian is not to fear death.

‎When I’ve been to my last service,

‎And fades softly on the air,

‎The notes of the last song for me,

‎And then the final prayer;

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‎When friends arise and slowly walk

‎Down the long church aisle,

‎For that last look at my cold corpse,

‎As they pass in single file.

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‎There may be words of flattery,

‎And some may even sneer,

‎Some may sob, and some may cry,

‎Some may not shed a tear.

‎

‎But be what may, this much I know,

‎I will no longer care;

‎No earthly voice can reach my ear,

‎As I climb that “Golden Stair.”

‎

‎Now, pen in hand, I’m writing you

‎This is my last request,

‎Don’t grieve for me; don’t wish me back;

‎For I am one most blessed.

‎

‎I have a hope beyond the grave;

‎I am secure in God’s great love.

‎I leave this world with all its cares

‎For a mansion up above.

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‎Though it be hard, please wear a smile;

‎Rejoice, and praise our God!

‎’Tis only this old shell of mine

‎You place beneath the sod.

*The Bible teaches that the death of a saint of God, a saved person, is precious in God’s eyes.

Psalm 116:15 (KJV 1900)

15 Precious in the sight of the Lord Is the death of his saints.

‎* Death is not a blind alley, but a thoroughfare into the Father’s “House of Many Mansions.” * Death this morning is not a box canyon with only one way in and no way out. * Death is a pass through the mountain into the beautiful green valley of eternal fellowship with the Lord and with loved ones gone before.

Psalm 23 (KJV 1900)

1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4 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. 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: And I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

1 Corinthians 15:53–58 (KJV 1900)

53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

“A few hours before entering the “Homeland,” Dwight L. Moody caught a glimpse of the glory awaiting him. Awakening from a sleep, he said, “Earth recedes, Heaven opens before me. If this is death, it is sweet! There is no valley here. God is calling me, and I must go.” His son who was standing by his bedside said, “No, no, father, you are dreaming.”

‎ ““No,” said Mr. Moody, “I am not dreaming: I have been within the gates: I have seen the children’s faces.” A short time elapsed and then, following what seemed to the family to be the death struggle he spoke again: “This is my triumph; this my coronation day! It is glorious!”” * My dear father’s birth was a lowly birth to a poor sharecropper family who lived south of the river out on Hwy 58. His life was a lowly life, his later days were spent in weakness and sickness. *But the day of his death was the greatest day of his life for it was the day walked through that dark valley that lead to the eternal light of God’s glory! * Jesus met Him at the gates of the Glorious City, and said:

Matthew 25:21 (KJV 1900)

21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

* It was his coronation day!

Conclusion:

Ecclesiastes 7:1–3 (KJV 1900)

A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one’s birth. 2 It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart.

* We come into this world with joy and rejoicing that a child has been born. There are cards and congratulations. “People say I am happy for you!” But God says the day of your death will be a much greater day!

* Will you lay the day of your death to heart this morning?

* If you have considered the day our your death this morning and the Holy Spirit has revealed to you that the memory that you will leave to your family and friends is not the one you want them to have, * Why not come to the alter now and make a commitment to God to leave a memory behind that will glorify God and bring men to Christ.