Facing Death

Funerals are sober reminders of our own mortality, bringing us face to face with the fact that one day each of us will die.  Death is a consistent and persistent enemy ("For the wages of sin are death.") -- one that reduces all arguments about life down to one truth: every man and woman must die, regardless of what they believe.  

We were neither born knowing God, nor wanting to serve Him.  We are all born inclined to serve ourselves.  What we learn of God is acquired after birth.  Our natures are predominated by self-interest, self-preservation.   We must be taught to share.   We learn the word "mine" almost as soon as we learn "mama" and "dada."   

In our world, our society, such ego-centricity is not discouraged.  Presently, it is encouraged more than ever before; "Be all that you can be..."   Even if you have to step on a few others to get what you desire.  Even if we must declare war to secure peace.   We are a nation motivated to succeed at all costs,  a nation of people entitled to be served but not oriented to serving.   We do not suffer servitude gladly.  We fight for the right for each to be his or her own master(s).  We do not instinctively submit to one another, nor do we comfortably humble ourselves for another' sake.  We generally help others when it's convenient.  We enjoy the credit associated with being perceived as a 'giver' but we tend to give without true sacrifice.  We "cleanse the outside of the cup" while leaving the inside of the cup unclean.  Even for those individuals who profess religion or spirituality, one must ultimately reconcile having been made in the image of a Creator, while not being given His godly nature.  We have to work toward it.  The Bible says God's nature is holy, righteous, just.  What then is mankind's..."dog eat dog?"  Survival of the fittest?

What if there truly was a remedy for death, or even a remedy for our inherent fear of death.  I mean one that really works...

Nearly 2000 years ago, it is written that a man, Jesus of Nazareth, conquered death--an amazing feat witnessed and recorded by more than 500 persons in what is now called the middle east.  And even today His word assures all who believe on Him that they may therefore take comfort in the Only Sure Remedy for death, which He alone secured. 
 
But what about those people who say they have better things to do than consider the possibility of a Jesus Christ's having died for them and having risen from death, so that all who trust Him may also one day rise from death's grip?  For them, their own death will be a real awakening.  

Right now, they are not aware that sin's (selfishness's) delusion is allowing them to live in a false feeling of security.  One day, however, death will overtake them, and when it does they will awaken to the harsh reality that they have stumbled into the oldest trap of all..."you can be as God."  

They have been rejecting the truth for a lie.  

They are missing out on true peace which defies explanation, relief that is only found in God's sovereignty, the comfort of His timeless, unchanging nature, and the knowledge of the fact that because we live in a selfish world bad things can and do happen to us.  But most of all we deprive ourselves of the love He offers His creation, so much so that He alone sent the only One who ever offered to endure His wrath (se: wages of sin, above) -- not for anything He Himself had done, but He suffered God's wrath and died as our substitute--He; God's own Son.  

The sting of the permanence of death will abruptly awaken those who rejected Him to the consequence of reckless choices.  You see, we have always believed we have been embued with the power to make choices...some even went so far as to call this gift, FREE WILL.  But we were never, never, EVER, been given the luxury of being able to also choose the consequences of our choices.  And indeed, at the moment of death we will each face a righteous and holy God, and at that time many will learn about the spiritual cost of self-made delusions excluding God (or counterfeiting Him), and in that great and incredible day, many indeed will learn about consequences.    

There is only One Remedy, as I said; it can be found in a mere book.  You don't even have to leave your house.  Many have been told that they may only know God through a particular religion or church.  But there is only one way to know Him.  Go get a copy of the Bible:  

Jesus says in John 14:6, "I AM the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me."  

You may be skeptical, but truly, you probably already know in your heart that nothing you have ever done, no one you have ever loved, has completely fulfilled you.   Begin by finding a copy of the Bible.  You can read one online, or buy one at any book store for about $10.00--less, at a used book store.  I bought one for $2.00.  Open it to the last half of the book called the New Testament.  Go to the fourth book called "John" or "The Gospel of St. John."  Begin there.  Read it all, or get someone to read it to you.  Ask God to help you to know what the truth is.  It will take about as long as watching a crappy movie or video.  It will be surprising.   It might change your life.   If you are depressed, it can give you hope.  If you are alone, you may want to call someone and tell them what you have found.  But what you will find there was intended just for you.  It is offered for free.  It has been paid for in advance--from an horrific Roman torture device invented 2000 years ago--paid for by a wonderful Man who did not ask to be served, but by One who was not afraid to get down on his knees and SERVE others, over and over again.  In fact, history has recorded that He was despised, beaten, bloodied, tortured and lied about by His own people, even as He died and rose from death so that all who call upon His name, including the ones who let Him be murdered, could have His free gift--just for the asking.  

Why pay for a movie.... 

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