It’s times when a loved one or friend passes away, that I often contemplate how the world views death. Some of the terms we often see floating around during the time of a person’s death are “see you on the other side”, “until we meet again”, and “fly high”. The truth of the matter is that we throw these terms around as terms of endearment and take no account of what they actually mean or – that they don’t mean anything at all. What other side did they go to? Are you really going to see them there? Are you really going to meet them again? Are they really flying high? You really need to stop and think about these things. Death comes for all of us. The question is – but will YOU DIE?
There are two things that happen when Death (referred to with a capital D and as an entity) comes for you.
and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. – Ecclesiastes 12:7
It doesn’t matter what your carnal belief system was here on Earth. When you die, your body decomposes back to the Earth, but your Spirit returns to God who gave it to you.
Our existence did not explode into being from nothing. From one big bang, one amoeba did not change into every living class of animal and human with fully functional endocrine systems and nervous systems and animal mating seasons and animal migrating patterns and the camouflaging colors of animals with the changing of the seasons and human morality and consciousness, etc. etc. It’s insane to think that these intricate details down to the DNA level were evolved from a single cell off some meteor from outer space or something. Think about it. The heavens declare the glory of the Lord and His handiwork. All of creation is singing His praise. He says that if you will not worship Him, the rocks will. It is our Father in Heaven who is the Creator of all things.
Our Father in heaven wishes for none of us to perish, no not one. He wishes for all of us to turn, turn, turn from our wicked ways and seek Him with our whole heart, whole mind, and whole soul. If we seek Him, He says that we will find Him. We just have to knock and the door will be opened to us. The hard facts are that not everyone has knocked. Not everyone has sought. Not everyone has loved Him with their whole heart, mind, and soul. Not everyone has obeyed His Word. Not everyone has His Spirit indwelling within them. We can say “nice” things about someone who has passed away, but we are doing others no good service when we deny the fact that this person did not love the LORD or flat our rejected Him and did not go on to everlasting life. They died and they will also meet the second death.
We will all stand before the Father in the Great White Throne Judgment. There He will separate us, as sheep and goats. Think about the GOAT! I am here to say the GOAT is NOT the greatest of all time.
Matthew 25:31-3331 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left.
Matthew 25:41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
Matthew 24:46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
Jesus said that His sheep know His voice and they FOLLOW Him. He is The Way, The Truth, and The Life. Have you been following Jesus? He set an example for us. We are told to keep His commandments.
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14
13 The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.
Matthew 19:17 And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.”
1 John 2:4 Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him,
Just as Jesus defeated Death, we have the opportunity to follow Jesus into eternal life. We can choose to follow Him and receive our inheritance as adopted children of God the Father, walking alongside our Father again OR we can choose to reject Him. The choice is ours.
What must we do to be saved from Death?
This is what the Scriptures say:
Matthew 24:13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
Revelation 2:7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’
John 10:9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.
Acts 4:12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
Acts 16:31 And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
Romans 10:9-109 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
There is more than just believing going on in the Scriptures as well. You can say you believe all day, but if your life is not reflecting a life of Christ, if your heart is not chasing after the Father’s heart, if your works do not declare your allegiance to King Jesus, if you have not set yourself aside as Holy as He is Holy, if you have not left the world (Babylon) and entered His Kingdom… For even the demons believe, those who worship other lesser gods believe, those who worship Satan believe. For even they donate to charities and can be seen as a so-called good person. Being a good person saves no one. Jesus is the only way to salvation. – So what makes you any different than them if your heart and life hasn’t changed, if you have not been born again by His Spirit?
1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
1 Peter 1:23 since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God;
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
Let’s fill in the blanks from Matthew 25, which was quoted above:
31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ 44 Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ 45 Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ 46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
Faith without works is dead because good works follow faith. Works can’t save you, but faith in the Lord Jesus followed by good works prompted by His Spirit indwelling within you can.
And, let’s take a look at the Parable of the Ten Virgins:
Matthew 25:1-13
“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. 5 As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. 6 But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ 7 Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ 10 And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. 11 Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ 12 But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ 13 Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.
Five of these virgins believed in the LORD, but the door was shut in their face because the oil in their lamps was empty. They were not prepared for His coming. You are the lamp. The oil is the Holy Spirit. They believed in the LORD, but they did not obey Him and they were not filled with His Spirit, born again. Therefore, they could not enter the Kingdom of God. There are many “believers” who are not Spirit filled.
Jude 1:5 Now I want to remind you, although you once fully knew it, that Jesus, who saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe.
Yes, Jesus lead the Israelites out of Egypt. God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. He never changes. He is the God of the Old Testament. Jesus is God, The Word made flesh.
Here, on Earth, we are either slaves to sin or slaves to righteousness. That’s just how it is and we get to choose what we are a slave to. We are either children of disobedience subject to the wrath of God or we are children of God. We get to choose whose children we are. We are either of the world or set apart and Holy. We get to choose. Whatever you choose, God will confirm it.
2 Thessalonians 2:9-119 The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, 10 and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false,
2 Corinthians 4:3-43 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
Ephesians 2:1-2And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
Ephesians 5:6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
Colossians 3:5-65 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: 6 For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:
1 John 3:1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
Luke 20:35-3735 But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage: 36 Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection. 37 Now that the dead are raised, even Moses shewed at the bush, when he calleth the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.
Romans 8:15-1715 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
Galatians 3:26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
1 Peter 1:15-1615 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
Take note of who is inside and outside the gates to the Kingdom of God:
Revelation 22:14-16
14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. 15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
Remember what Peter said about being born again of incorruptible seed?
1 Peter 1:23 since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God;
This is how Death is defeated – by following Jesus who defeated Death for us, obeying His commandments, and being born again of the Spirit.
1 Corinthians 15:54-5654 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?
Jesus is the bridegroom and we are the bride. The bridegroom is only going to marry those who love Him and those who know Him. Makes sense right?
John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
John 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
It’s not just about believing Jesus exists, because, again, even the enemy of God believes in Him. It’s about having a right relationship with Him, knowing Him intimately, and showing Him that you love Him by keeping His commandments. We have a duty. We belong to a Kingdom and we have a King.
Matthew 7:22-2422 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. 24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
1 Corinthians 10:1-12For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, 2 and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 and all ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. 5 Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness. 6 Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did. 7 Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.” 8 We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. 9 We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, 10 nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. 11 Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. 12 Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.
Revelation 2:7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
Revelation 2:11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
We do no soul any favors by pretending they are in a better place now or by saying they now have their wings, which is not found in the Bible anywhere. We are not floating around on clouds with wings playing harps.
Here is a clue as to what we will be doing:
Revelation 2:26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
1 Corinthians 6:2-32 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?
Nor do we do any soul any favors by saying we will see them again when we know we will not because they were unbelievers who did not know Christ and they will meet the second death – and so on.
This is a wake up call for all of us. Our time here is short, as a shadow that passes by, compared to eternity. Where will you spend your eternity? Eternity. Say that word again. We have an instruction manual for life. We need to read it. We have a Creator and we need to obey Him. The Word (Jesus Christ) is the only one who gets us out of here alive.