DEALING WITH DEATH AND LIFE
The biblical Word of God says, it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). People deal with the issue of death and life in different ways. But the Bible reveals God way of dealing with it.
MAN’S WAYS OF DEALING WITH DEATH AND LIFE -vs- GOD’S WAY:
ATHEISM—”there is “no God.” -vs- ROMANS 1:20–the creation is evidence of God existence.
AGNOSTICISM—”don’t know if God exist.” -vs- ROMANS 1:20—the creation is evince of God’s existence.
ETERNAL OBLIVION–“when you are dead you are done” -vs- HEBREW 9:27—after death comes judgment.
REINCARNATION—”continual rebirth in a new body” -vs- HEBREW 9:27—“appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment”.
GOOD WORKS—”good deeds earn your way to eternal life in heaven.” -vs- EPHESIANS 2:8-9–it is by grace you [are] saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.” (John 3:16).
The Bible says: “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death” (Proverbs 14:12; Matthew 7:13-14).
CASES DEALING WITH DEATH AND LIFE
A BIBLE REPORT: This case involving two criminals facing death and life on crosses beside Jesus.One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”
40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.[b]”
43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:39-43). In dying the repentant sinner had no opportunity to do good works; but God saved him because he truly believed in the atoning work of the Son of God. The Word of God says, “if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have” (2 Corinthians 8:12). Besides knowing the hearts of the two criminals, The Lord God knows the hearts of all people (John 2:25).
After Jesus’ resurrection from the dead, he told his disciples: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:15-16; Matthew 3:11).
PERSONAL REPORTS: Recently I was involved in two cases of death and life. One case involved a nephew who was terminally ill; the other case involved a childhood friend, who was in a prolonged coma. In each case, I shared the gospel of Jesus Christ.
CASE 1. My nephew had had several surgeries and was terminally ill with cancer. I visited him in the hospital and at home, trying to show him the love of Christ. At a time when he was homebound, I frequently took him food I knew he enjoyed; spent long hours with him watching his favorite TV programs; and some times he was open to discussing the Bible with me. However, before he died, he did not tell me if accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his Savior. God who looks at the heart knows if he accepted the Lord.
CASE 2. The wife of my childhood friend called me from another state to notify me that my fiend was in a prolonged coma. I had been praying for him for years, and trying to share the gospel. He was apparently unrepentant. But I believed our loving and Almighty God might still might allow him to hear the gospel. I asked his wife to read Scriptures to him about the loving and saving power of Jesus Christ. She said she did. However, she later let me know he died. Only God, who knows all hearts, knows if my friend accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his Savior.
God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16.
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