| Are you ok? You might need a moment to recover from that title.
Now that you have recovered, let me explain.
Death Is Brutal
Death is brutal for us to deal with in general. We all know that death occurs. Yet, we seem ill-equipped to deal with it when it happens. I have witnessed people in their dying moments. I have spoken with them. I have prayed with them as they deal with the death of a loved one.
My Experience
My experience with the subject of death has been a journey. My father died two days after my seventh birthday. No one explained to me what happened to him. At his funeral, I wondered why he was sleeping in a box. As I grew, I was petrified of death. I remember lying in my bed at night, shaking for fear of dying.
When I gave my heart to Jesus, He began to help me with that fear of death. Over the years, God has removed the fear of death. I am not afraid to die. I have been able to comfort people in those last moments. It has helped me to officiate funerals better.
A Foundational Doctrine: Learn to Die, Learn to Live
In Hebrews 6, understanding the resurrection of the dead is a foundational doctrine. To the writer of Hebrews, understanding death and what happens after death is very important for Christians. When the Apostle Paul writes about it in 1 Corinthians 15, he spends an extensive amount of time dealing with the resurrection of the dead.
Why is it important to understand the resurrection of the dead? There are many reasons. I will mention one of them. Learning about the resurrection of the dead will help you live. One person told me, “Teach your people how to die, and they will learn how to live.” When Paul concluded his discussion on the resurrection of the dead, he said for them to “be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not [in] vain in the Lord.” (I Cor. 15:58) After discussing what happens at death, he tells them to live.
This Sunday, we will continue to unpack this sensitive and vital topic. May the Holy Spirit help you deal with grief. May the Holy Spirit show us how to live with a proper perspective on life now that we understand death.
This is part of the sermon series “Foundations: Always Protected and Prospering.” We will continue to look into how to build our lives on the foundation of Jesus Christ and His teachings. This sermon series will continue every Sunday and Wednesday through May. |
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