Tag Archives: death

The Greatest Consequence: Death

Church Bulletin, John, Sin, ,

Every one of us is where we are today because of choices made yesterday. We are successful in business because of decisions made previously. We are, likewise impoverished because of choices made in the past. No one stands where he is solely because of another. We have made choices which produce amazing blessings or profound consequences. It is the law of sowing and reaping as found in Galatians 6:7:

“Don’t be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.”

Every action carries with it a set of consequences or blessings. There are no neutral actions. Sometimes the consequence is slight. For example, a man caught speeding might receive only a warning. No penalty, just good advice to slow down. Other times the result might be catastrophic, like when the same man, failing to heed the warning, speeds headlong into stalled traffic killing himself and others. We do not choose our consequences; only the path toward those results.

There is a consequence more catastrophic than death; worse than causing the death of others. That is the consequence of sin.

Like billions today, Adam and Eve probably saw little harm in tasting the delicious looking fruit hanging from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. They had been warned. Still, the fruit looked so good. Maybe they thought, “could it really be that bad? It’s just a piece of fruit!” It was that bad. The first couple stood at the precipice of the greatest consequence of all: The consequence of sin.

Mankind suffered immeasurably for their “no big deal” decision. Genesis 3:16-19 announces the following consequences of their sin.

  1. Women would now suffer in childbirth,
  2. Women would be subjected to the authority of their husbands,
  3. Man would struggle to bring forth his crops from the good soil of the earth,
  4. Man would no longer keep the garden; he would labor in it all the days of his life.
  5. Man and woman, the entirety of humanity, would be banished from God’s garden and from before his presence.
  6. An innocent man, Christ Jesus, would have to suffer and die in consequence of their actions.

The greatest consequence was death which entered the world on that dark day. God banished mankind from the Tree of Life (Genesis 3:22-24). That is why you stand before the open grave of loved ones. It is why we keep watch over loved ones as they breathe their last. It is why we all fear that 2:00 AM telephone call or knock on the door. Death is now among us.

Actions have consequences. The consequence of sin was and is, death.

Jesus came to bring us out of the dread of sin. “For the bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world” (John 6:33). And again, “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10).

There is not that much you can do about a speeding ticket. But you can set aside the greatest consequence which is sin. You can know the lifegiving love of the Savior. He who suffered death himself, brings life to his people.

Comments are open and always welcomed!

 

Lessons from the Oldest Living Person

Daily living, Eschatology, News,

Bessie Cooper died yesterday in Georgia. She was officially the world’s oldest living person. Her son reported that she had her hair done earlier in  the day as if she was preparing to go. She had become something of a celebrity as she was the first Georgian to ever old a world record.

I don’t know Mrs. Cooper, but she reminds me of some lessons from the Good Book.

We All Have An Appointment to Keep

I suspect she wondered why she was still alive. A fine lady I know in her mid-90’s often asks the question, “Why am I still here?” I don’t know. She brings comfort to others, encourages others, shows love to others, etc. But despite all that she, like us has an appointment to keep. Mrs. Cooper’s appointment came after 116 years.

Hebrews 9:27 reminds, “it is appointed unto man to die once and after this comes the judgment.” It is good to remember that we all have a similar appointed which we cannot avoid. Although we may live to a great age, we still cross that river.

Things Do Not Matter

According to the report, Mrs. Cooper died in a nursing home with her family present. I’m sure there were important items with great sentimental value around her room. Her financial status was not disclosed but she does not appear to have been impoverished. Nevertheless, all those mementos and even the presence of her family took second place and were not of much importance as she drew her last breath. Even the wealthiest among us find limited comfort in their possessions.

Some of God’s great people were wealthy. Job learned how quickly material items can perish (Job 1:13-22; Job 2:7-8). Abraham was a man of wealth as were kings David and Solomon. Nevertheless, they passed this life and took no possessions with them. Job said it best,

“Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return” (Job 1:21).

While writing to Timothy, Paul said the same thing,

” But godliness with contentment is great gain, 7 for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world” ( 1 Timothy 6-7).

Store up the good treasures in heaven (Matthew 6:19-21; Mark 10:21) and your blessings will be great.

Say the Important Things Now – Don’t Wait

Although Mrs. Cooper was very old, there was no expectation of her passing so suddenly. Her day had been typical until she suddenly began having breathing problems and then passed. If her family is like most, I am sure there were things they wished they could have said to her. Such a lesson is not unique to the Coopers. All of us have stood at the grave and thought of things we wished we had said. How sad that we repeat the same mistake over and over.

Set your goal today to speak a good word to someone who love. Don’t let another moment pass with unspoken thoughts, compliments and praise. Speak them now and avoid regrets tomorrow.

Our thoughts are with the Coopers in their difficult time but we are thankful for the lessons she reminds us of today.

Bryant Evans may be reached at bryant at bryantevans.com. You can follow Bryant on Twitter @jbevans.

Is That A Ghoul in my Front Yard?

Daily living, Eschatology, ,

We do not like to think about death – except at Halloween. This once a year fright night brings around all sorts of “undead” to haunt the neighborhood in search of goodies. As expected there is also the usual crowd of scary movies released just in time for the spookie holiday. I thought I would use this time to think about death in a more serious way.

Death has not always been inevitable. In Genesis 2:9 the text mentions the “tree of life.” This particular tree produced fruit that would allow man to live forever  (Genesis 3:22-24). Unlike the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:17) man could eat of the tree of life always (Genesis 2:16). So death was not a necessary part of life in the beginning.

Tragically, that changed. Man sinned (Genesis 3:6). God removed man’s access to the tree of life as a penalty for his sin (Genesis 3: 24). Man immediately died spiritually on the day he sinned and began to die physically. There was no anecdote for physical death in this life. Since we no longer have access to the tree of life we also die, just like the first family.

Hebrews 9:27:

“…it is appointed unto man to die once, and after that comes judgment…”

James 4:14

“For what is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.”

1 Peter 1:24

“All flesh is like grass…the grass withers”

These are just a few of the passages that remind us of the brevity of life. We are here for a few years and then we pass. We hope that we leave a strong legacy behind (Revelation 14:15). No matter how important we are, we will die. Usually our death comes much sooner than we expect. Our concern must be eternity.

We do not cease to exist at death. There is consciousness beyond the grave. Lazarus found comfort beyond the grave while the unnamed rich man found himself in severe pain ((This is the meaning of the word “torment” in Luke 16:23. It translates the Greek word, BASANOS.)) (Luke 16:19-31). The words of comfort in Revelation 21:3-4 describes conscious relief from the trials of life while Revelation 20:15 details the eternal home of the unrighteous.

So while we ooh and ah at the “spirits” of the weekend, let’s think of the reality of our brief life and of our eternal resting place.

Lessons from the Passing of Senator Edward Kennedy

Eschatology, Government, News,

Senator Ted Kennedy died Tuesday night. The patriarch of the Kennedy family was, according to the Washington Post a “the last male survivor of a privileged and charismatic family that in the 1960’s dominated American politics and attracted worldwide attention.” The story reminded readers that his two brothers were political scions in their own right, one serving as President and the other as Attorney General of the United States before being gunned down. A sister who died a few days ago was the founder of the Special Olympics and the only surviving sibling is a former ambassador to Ireland.

That means nothing today.

Edward “Teddy” Kennedy discovered some truths in the waning days of his life that we should all come to know right now.

Death Comes for All

The cold, spiny fingers of the reaper touch all men sooner or later. The writer of Hebrews says “it is appointed unto men once to die” (Hebrews 9:4). There is no escape from the condemnation of death which is the just penalty of our own sins (Romans 6:23). I have little doubt that the Kennedy family brought the entire weight of their wealth and privilege to bear on the Senator’s health but to no avail.

On the Press Register website this morning there were 16 obituary notices. Each dear to someone but none with the power and prestige of Ted Kennedy. Yet they all, including Kennedy, shared the same fate – death. We cannot escape the grip of death but we can prepare for it.

“Things” Bring Little Comfort

Senator Kennedy died at the Kennedy family “compound “ in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts. The very idea of a lush compound in Hyannis Port brings to mind ideas of wealth and rich living. I suspect the furnishing around the ailing public servant were of the highest order. A staff attended to his every need and that of the gathered family. Yet when his final breath exhaled none of those things mattered to him or to his family. The press of death bypassed all the grand amenities once cherished by the Senator.

It might be easy to cast aspersions on Kennedy because of his wealth but in truth men of all life’s stations are touched by  the love of belongings. The Bible reminds us that “covetousness is idolatry” (Colossians 3:4) and that contentment is “great gain” ( 1 Timothy 6:6). God gives us what we need as we serve him.

Judgment Comes

I will not presume to judge Senator Kennedy. God has not given me that responsibility. However I am certain that the Senator now knows the true value of his time upon the earth. As the writer of Hebrews noted in the preceding passage, judgment follows death.  In Luke 16 both the rich man and Lazarus the beggar, knew their destinies just after death. Both were in places unchangeable and unchanging, either doomed to an eternity of punishment or blessed with everlasting glory. The Senator knows the reality of judgment and one would expect that he would share it with those left behind if he could.

The coming days and weeks will bring many memorials, reflections and services to honor the life of Edward Kennedy. But our glory here, if any, is fleeting. Let us pursue the glory of the Father of Lights and leave this old world behind. It has nothing for us.

When we pass, and we all will, let us talk of what lies ahead for us and not what is behind.