DYING THE RIGHT WAY

TOPIC: DYING THE RIGHT WAY

INTRODUCTION

So much has been said and written about how to live a good life, how to take good care of our bodies in order to live long, and how to avoid health hazards so that we may not die young.  But not much has been said and written about how to die. That is why this message is very important because we will surely die someday.

WHAT IS DEATH?

Death is a separation of the spirit and the body (Eccl. 12: 7).  At this point of separation, life has gone out of the body, because the body without the spirit is dead (Jas. 2: 26).

FACTS ABOUT DEATH

* Death is the necessary end of every mortal.  It must surely come (Heb. 9:27).

* Life is full of troubles (Job 14:1); it is brief and short (Psalm 90:10; Jas. 4:14).

* There will be judgment after death (2 Cor. 5:10).

* The final destiny of every human after death and judgment will either be in heaven or hell throughout eternity (Matt. 25:46).

* God is only pleased with death of the righteous (Psa. 116: 15; Ezek. 33: 11).

HOW NOT TO DIE

*     Do not die as a fool who does not believe there is God (Psalm 14: 1; 10: 4). It will be very disappointing for one to die in such a circumstance.  After all, everything that should point us to the existence of the Creator is readily available everywhere (Rom. 1: 18-23).

*     Do not die by committing suicide. To commit suicide is to take one’s life in order to escape the temporal pains, frustrations, disappointments, or shame that one faces in life (Matt. 27: 3-5). Today, there are suicidal tendencies everywhere, with some people now considering suicide as the easiest way out of their woes.  The fact remains that no one has the right to take his own life since we cannot create one.

*     Do not die before your time (Eccl. 7: 17).  To die before one’s time is not when a person dies young.  It is to die as a result of living a life of foolishness and wickedness.  It is this kind of life that will not allow one to accomplish God’s purpose for creating him before departing this world.

*     Do not die unprepared.  To die unprepared is to go about life not minding that life will come to an end someday.  King Hezekiah was told by God to “set your house in order for you will die and not live” (2 Kings 20: 1). The wayward and unrepentant Israel was told to “Prepare to meet your God” (Amos 4: 12).

NOW, HOW SHOULD WE DIE?

*     We must die prepared.  How then should one prepare to die?

a)     Hearing and believing the gospel (Rom. 10: 14, 17).

b)     Repenting from past sins (Luke 13: 3; Acts 17: 30).

                c)      Confessing Christ as Son of God (Matt. 10: 32, 33).

d)     Baptizing for forgiveness of sin (Acts 2: 38; Gal. 3: 27).

e)     Be added to the body of Christ, His church (Acts 2: 47).

*     We must die as faithful Christians (Rev. 2: 10). It is one thing to become a Christian, and it is another thing to remain a faithful Christian till death.  The scripture says, “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints” (Psalm 116: 15).

ARE YOU READY FOR DEATH?

Dear friend, are you ready to die if death comes knocking? Do you really want to die as you are now? Do you want to die without giving your life to Christ? Do you want to die as God’s enemy?  Can you please stop for a moment and think about your life? If you die, where will you spend your eternity? Will it be in heaven or hell?

CONCLUSION

Beloved, it is now clear that we will all die (Heb. 9: 27).  So, the question is not “Will you die?” But, “How will you die?” Please, do not die without giving your life to Christ. “Behold, now is the acceptable time. Behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor. 6: 2).

MINISTER, OKPAN CLEOPAS.