Death and Judgement

The skeleton to the left was once a sailor from the French ship, "La Belle" which was part of La Salle's American expedition in 1686. The ship was sunk in an unexpected storm off the coast of Texas. This man on the right is a reconstruction from one of the skeletons of the sailors who died in the storm.

I am sure this man left on La Salle's expedition with the hope of finding a fortune. Instead, he and the rest of the settlers died in the New World. He went in search of bettering his life and instead he lost his life.

The Bible speaks of a general sin in 1 John 2:16 called the "Pride of Life." It is based on a strong feeling within all people that tells us of our immortaility. It was explained in a different way by a Marine officer neighbor who served in Iraq. He said that young Marines never believe that they will be the ones that will be shot. They approach battle as immortals.

This sin turns what is the natural knowledge of God's immortal nature in us to a twisted proud mindset that blind's us to the reality of death. This hinding from death is noticeable all over our society. When we bury individuals in open caskets the goal is to make them look "life like." People incinerate their remains to leave only the smallest reminder that they had ever been on the planet.

Why do we hide from death? In a secular society that denies the need of God, death is the most unpleasant and real experience. The secular society that protected individuals to allow them to sin with a seared conscience is face-to-face with worst of circumstances - no exit only forward into an unknown abyss of fear. After living a life for only momentary pleasures, the individual stands at a prepepice looking down into the darkness wondering why they had not read and studied more about who is the God they are about to see.

What does the Bible tell us about this unknown? That death is just the beginning of the punishment for sin. After death, everyone will be reconstructed to face the judgement of the Lord Jesus. When Jesus came the first time, he came as the Savior. If Jesus had started to judge, Judgement Day would have started right then and there. No salvation could have been offered. When the Lord Jesus comes a second time, Jesus shall come only as Judge. Those who are His people will be saved but there will be no additional mercy shown. The large majority of mankind will be condemned to hell.

Jesus describes a picture of the horror of hell in Luke 16:25. The parable is about a begger who believes in the Lord and a rich man who lived for his momentary pleasures. At death, Lazarus is taken to Abraham's bosom while the rich man is condemned to a tortured eternal existance. In his pain, the rich man ask for 1 drop water to reduce his punishment. His request is refused. He then asks for a messenger to be sent to his father's house so his kin would not have to endure the same fate. Abraham replies that if they will not listen to Moses and the prophets they will not listen even if someone came back from the dead. Salvation is the gift of God.

I would like to deliver the message from the rich man to those of you who do not belong to the Lord Jesus. Please consider the message of what exist beyond this world. "It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to heart" and again in verse 6, "For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity."

Life is short. Soon all of us will have to face the River. I pray that you will trust in the only Savior, the Lord Jesus. "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by Me" (John 14:6).

Consider what comes after death. The Bible teaches that the Lord Jesus will come with power and glory to judge. One sin is all it takes to be found unworthy. How will your sins be covered? God has provided one sacrifice. The Lord Jesus who died for all of His people's sins.