The Elephant in the Country

Intro

2020 has been a shock for many people. Even now at the end, many people are struggeling and living in fear.

One of the main reasons is that in 2020 many people were faced with something they have never faced in the whole life.

Daily and weekly death stats.

Every day, we read how many people have died of civid related issues. Every day.

Death, it seems, is everywhere and has never been more active and powerful.

And the result: Fear.

Now, i feel like we need to address this issue: As a pastor, who lives next to both a grave yard and Durbans bussiest crematorium - death is a part of my life. For all pastors, but given my circumstance even more.

2 Corinthians 2:16 ESV

16 to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?

You have never heard about or been exposed to the massive reality of death. Yes on an individual and family basis you have, but not really on a natiomal level.

I have.

Every day from 8:00 on moday, every hour on the hour for the last 11 years a different family has arrived in moiurning to say good bye to a loved one. That is not even counting the dozens of funeral processions that go into the grave yard.

No joke, my dog has learned to howl along with the bag pipes of amazing grace.

Death, has been, is and will always be a daily part of life. We just dont see it, untill now.

Hebrews 9:27 ESV

27 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,

Are the death rates up?

Well lets not have emotional responces but lets look at the facts.

https://www.samrc.ac.za/reports/report-weekly-deaths-south-africa

link

So yes, people are dying of covid related issues my friends, but its no where near a leading cause. Death is happening this year just as it always has BUT YOU WERE NEVER EXPOSED TO IT LIKE YOU ARE NOW.

All of a sudden, death has a thing that happens to old sick people and NOT to you, has become a reality.

And many people, instead of responding in faith, have responded in fear.

Compre the terror you see in people eyes when faced with death to the words of the apostle Paul:

2 Corinthians 5:8 ESV

8 Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

and

Philippians 1:21 ESV

21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

And perhaps most famously:

1 Corinthians 15:55 ESV

55 “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”

Why and how did the Apostle have such a healthy relationshgip and concept with Death?

Because the Apostle knew and believed certan truths about what God, through Christ has done.

truths like:

1 Corinthians 15:54 ESV

54 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”

Death the Enemy

Lets make sure of a few thin gs

Death is an enemy.

Enemy: “A thing than harms or weakens”

And for many that is exacally what death does: It harms them, it weakens them.

1 Corinthians 15:26 ESV

26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death.

This verse is a referal to a past problem, but look at what it says:

1 Corinthians 15:26–28 ESV

26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27 For “God has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “all things are put in subjection,” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. 28 When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all.

The last enemy, death HAS been defeated, it was defeated by Jesus Christ when He rose from the dead.

2 Timothy 1:10 ESV

10 and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,

Because death HAS been defeated - it is NO LONGER an enemy. But if you keep seeing and believing in it as an enemy then you will NEWVER have the peace and confidence the Apostle dispalyed.

Since death, the final enemy HAS alrewady been defeatyed, it can NO LONGER do to you what an e=nemy can:

It can no longer hurt you and it can no longer weaken you.

That is why Paul said:

Philippians 1:21 ESV

21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

Death is not loss BUT GAIN! Instead of being weakened the Apostle is strengthened!

Why and how is this possible?

2 Corinthians 5:6–8 ESV

6 So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

The Apostkle knows that death, far from costing him, will actually transport him to to glory, to the presence of God.

And why is that better?

Revelation 21:4 ESV

4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

But I dont want to die

Does this mean that we hate life and long to die? Of coiurse not. Far from it, As christians we love life, and we do not allow death to to rob us of that joy.

Again Pauil says it best:

Romans 14:8 ESV

8 For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.

In this powerful verse Paul finds contentment and peace in life AND in death.

While i live, I live for God, in his joy, in is hope and in His peace.

And If i do, I go to the Lord, his love and Gis peace.

Is is that easy?

Yes, but there is a secret to finding this kind of peace.

Matthew 6:21 ESV

21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

We decide right now on what our treasure is. If your treasure is earthly - mony, fame, sociolozing, traveling, parties. posision, prestige, recofnition, influence.

Then death is going to be very upsetting and terifyling bercause all your treasures are earthly and thus your heart is set on earth and thus NOT dying.

But if your treasure is spiritual and heavenly: Jesus, truth, peace, the bible, fellowship with God - then death looses its terror because it will unable to take your heart.

For many people the thought of death is devestating, they thing of nall they will lose.

But for others:

John 14:1–3 ESV

1 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

The big deciding question is where do you keep your treasure?

In your earthly house or in your father house?

Do you love earthly and sensual and material things, or do you love spiritual, holy and heavenly things?

Because ultimatly your heart cannot be in 2 places at once.

Conclusion:

My friends, unless the comes tarries you will encounter death. I will, we all will. But will you encounter it as an enemy or as a freedom?

God said:

Revelation 14:13 ESV

13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!”

Rest, not terror is what death brings to the child of God.

Rest from labor which will soon be followed by reunion with loved ones.

Forget about dying when you are old, life does not work that way, are you ready to die today?

John 11:25–26 ESV

25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”