In yesterday’s post, we discussed these three facts about life and death:

1. The brevity of life.
2. God determines the days of a man’s life.
3. God ordained man to die.

Knowing these above facts to be true, the following are the topic statements for this devotion:

The way we view death is the way we view life.
There are two ways to view death:
as men view death; and as God views death.

Death as Viewed by Man

1) The natural man; the man who is ruled by his flesh; the man who is not regenerated by the Spirit of God (1 Corinthians 2:14) – views death in the following manner:

a) He hates death. He hates death because of having to leave behind his life’s work, wealth, family, etc. He will do anything to live one day longer. He does not want to surrender to death.

b) He fears death. The reason is that it is the unknown. He doesn’t know if it will end all, or if there is really hell or any type of life after death.

c) Because he hates and fears death, he resists death – he tells himself death is a long way off from him; that it will not come to him anytime soon. See Luke 12:16-21:

“And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:” (Luke 12:16)

“And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?” (Luke 12:17)

“And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.” (Luke 12:18)

“And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.” (Luke 12:19)

“But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?” (Luke 12:20)

“So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” (Luke 12:21)

2) The spiritual man (1 Corinthians 2:9-16); the regenerated man; the one who knows by the witness of the Holy Spirit that he is a Child of God (Romans 8:14-16) – knows the following:

a) Death is an Appointment of God (Job 14:5; 5; Ecclesiastes 3:2; Psalms 90:10)

b) Death is the Gateway to Eternity; therefore, he does not hate death, fear death, or resist death. See Philippians 1:20-21:

“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21)

c) He knows that to save his life, he must lose his life:

“For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.” (Matthew 16:25)

d) He knows where he will spend Eternity (Ecclesiastes 12:7; 2 Corinthians 5:1-8)

“We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 5:8)

e) Plus, he knows how God views death:

Death as Viewed by God

1) Psalms 116:15 relates to us how God views physical death, “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.”

2) God ordained death as a Day of Graduation for the saint from this world of trials and troubles to the next world of Holy Bliss, in His Presence forever and ever.

The Conclusion of the Subject of Death is –
How Death is Viewed is How Life is Viewed

1) When you fear death, you can’t enjoy life. But when you don’t fear death, you can live your life with purpose (Philippians 1:20-26; 2 Timothy 4:6-7; 2 Peter 1:13-14).

2) When you don’t fear death, your eyes are on Him (Christ) and not this world (Philippians 3:7-11; 1:20-26; Matthew 6:19-33).

3) When you don’t fear death, you know there is a reward awaiting you after physical death (Hebrews 11:6, 24-27; Philippians 3:12-14; 1 Timothy 4:8).

“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6)

“I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:14)

“For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.” (1 Timothy 4:8)

Application

What is your life?

1) To acquire an abundance of this word’s goods (Luke 12:18-19); goods that only rot and go away?

2) Or do you see your life as living His Life through you, for His Name’s sake; with eternal rewards, “that fadeth not away” (1 Peter 1:3-5); as being brought to where He is (John 14:3; 17:21-24); going from glory to glory (2 Corinthians 3:17-18)?

Remember:

1) Life is only a preparation for eternity.

2) Life is a tool of God to work out His Purpose, for God and for you.

“For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26)

What is your answer?

1) Serve God (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14)

“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13)

“For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.” (Ecclesiastes 12:14)

2) And Enjoy Life (Ecclesiastes 2:24, 26; 3:11-14, 22; 5:18; 7:14; 8:8)

Yes, we are going to die, as Sarah did, at the appointed day and time.

Praise God! For then our labors will be over; our journey complete; and we will enjoy eternity.

What is your life? For yourself? Or for God?