September 23, 2010

Every hour 5,417 go to meet their Maker. According to the CIA World Factbook, as of July, 2005, there were approximately 6,446,131,400 people on the planet, and the death rate was approximately 8.78 deaths per 1,000 people a year. According to our nifty desktop calculator, that works out to roughly 56,597,034 people leaving us every year. That's about a 155,000 a day.

Those are rather grim statistics but force us to face a fact of life - death. Everyone who reads this

has had someone very dear stolen from them by death. Since that is true you might find it helpful to understand what happens after the moment of death. That is what we are exploring this week as our series "Happily Ever After?" continues.

I. Death Ends Prosperity And Adversity, Vv. 19-25

"There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. "The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.' "But Abraham replied, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony."

Would it come as a shock to you if I told you that life is not fair? I am pretty sure you have noticed. I like the way Jesus just addresses that head on. Some people have wealth and live in luxury and others suffer under extreme poverty and adversity. So it is in these two characters in the story Jesus told.

Jesus introduces the first character in His little story and he is a very rich person. There is nothing wrong with having wealth and we have no idea how he came by his riches. Perhaps he worked hard and was successful in business. Maybe he inherited it. Possibly he obtained it by illegal or illicit means. We don't know how he got it and for the purposes of this story it really doesn't matter. The point is he lived in luxury and had no need of anything. That was not a problem but his problem was his lack of compassion for people who did not have what they needed.

In contrast to this wealthy man was Lazarus, a man reduced to begging by his poverty and his miserable physical condition. Each day he struggled to place himself where the wealthy man would have to pass by him at least twice a day as he left and came home. Every day the rich man had two opportunities to lift some of the burden of this poor man's suffering. But, apparently, he never did a thing to help. Just as wee have no idea how the Rich Man came by his riches, we don’t know how Lazarus fell upon such dire circumstances. But they illustrate that in our world there are people who prosper and others who suffer the adversity of poverty.


One thing we DO know from this parable is that death ended the prosperity of the Rich Man and the Adversity of Lazarus. Death was the great equalizer as the Rich Man left his wealth behind and Lazarus left his suffering.

Eternity flipped everything. Lazarus, who had nothing in life suddenly had everything! The rich man who had never known want now needed everything. One moment after death eternity imposes justice. A moment after death ushers you into eternity all injustice will cease and you will receive justice.

Each of us have an "ever after". The crucial question is whether our "ever after" will be happy. While it is too late for the rich man and for Lazarus, it is not too late for you. You have the moment but you don't want to wait one moment too long.

September 22, 2010

"The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.' "But Abraham replied, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.'" Luke 16:22-26

Keep in mind that Jesus told this story as a parable and parables are about illustrating truths and not revealing details. To build a theology of heaven or hell around this story would not be a solid approach to faith.

But, having said that, there are some principles and truths that can be learned from what Jesus told these religious leaders. It has some helpful insights for us. I want to highlight three of them in this post.

First, eternity is not a joke.

I am sure you have heard many jokes about Heaven and probably even more about hell. I guess it is human nature to laugh at what frightens us. But one of the truths that Jesus wants to communicate is the important fact of a heaven and a hell. While almost everyone believes there is a Heaven many of those same people deny the existence of hell. Wishful thinking does not lead us anywhere except hell. It takes eternal truth to lead to eternal life.

Heaven exists and it is a place of perfection because it is the presence of God. Wouldn't you like to spend your eternity in the presence of God? Jesus tells us that is a real option!

Hell exists and it is a place of punishment and pain because it is separated from God. Spending eternity being separated from God is almost unimaginable. It is a real option but it is one we should avoid at all costs and do our best to keep others from ending up there.

Second, eternity brings justice.

Maybe you have noticed that life is not fair. You know good people who suffer very bad things, unfair and unjust things. They spend their lives believing good and doing good and seemingly receiving only hard things - bad things. Perhaps that is you. Doesn't seem right does it?

Similarly you may have noticed that there are also people who are bad - maybe even evil - and yet everything seems to fall their way. They cheat and win. They cut corners and prosper. Their shortcuts seem to lead to success. All their shady efforts seem to be rewarded with sterling results. How can that be?

That is the story Jesus told. One man was ultra rich and lived in luxury and self-indulgence. We have no idea how he got his wealth. It could have been by virtue of hard work. That would be good. Maybe he inherited it. No problem with that! Or, perhaps he was corrupt and shrewd in the obtaining of his wealth. Regardless of how he got it. He hoarded it and lavished it upon his own desires while neglecting the obvious needs around him. Not fair? No, but real life!

And there was the other guy, Lazarus, who found himself in abject misery. Seemingly everything that could wrong for this fellow did. We have no idea if he was careless with his money and became poor. We don't know if he had a catastrophic event that drained his wealth or maybe he was just born poor and became even more destitute. All we know is that he needed help and didn't receive it from the rich man. Not fair? No, but it happens in real life.

BUT, then after each of them died - and that is real life - justice evened up the game. The rich man went to hell because of his love of money and his lack of love for the beggar. He mistook his wealth as God's seal of approval on his life-style and thought the poor man was cursed for being evil. This arrogant and presumtuous attitude cost him his eternity. Not, wealth was gone and he faced the eternal consequences of his spiritual poverty.

On the other hand, Lazarus who had nothing in life now had everything in eternity. All the injustices of life were suddenly replaced with the abundance of God. Everything he lacked in life, physically, emotionally, psychologically, and spiritually was now given to him in extravagance!

Third, eternity brought joy.

For Lazarus, eternity brought complete joy for he landed in the place of God's presence! In the presence of God is fulness of joy! Jesus is there! The Spirit is there! The saints of all the ages are there! You can be there and so can I.

But there was no joy for the rich man because his arrogance and greed kept him separated from God. Hell, is eternal separation from God. Therefore, it is the absence of any vestige of goodness or grace or light or truth. It is complete darkness and absolute despair in the presence of the Devil and the doomed.

Heaven is a real place and hell is, too. They are places where eternal justice is meted out. One is a place of great joy while the other is just - well......HELL!

The good news is Heaven can be attained and hell can be avoided. The eternal destinies of these two characters were determined by the decisions made during life. You are still in the land of the living and have opportunity to choose a personal relationship with God through Christ and gain eternal life.

A happy ending is still possible for those who believe the story!

September 21, 2010

"The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.'" Luke 16:22-24

The drama continues but the scene changes as well as the scenery. Both the rich man and the beggar have died, their locations have changed and their roles have reversed.

From this insightful story we learn several significant facts about our eventual destiny:

1) Existence Is Eternal

When the beggar died he was carried by an angel into heaven. In this version of the story it was Abraham who was the central figure in heaven. I'm sure Jesus told the story this way because he was telling it to people devoted to Judaism and they revered Abraham. Also, this is prior to His own sacrificial death and resurrection which was an absolute game changer.

Later, the wealthy man passed and the news is not so good for him. He found himself in hell, still alive but extremely tormented. To add to his torment was the fact that he could look up into heaven and see what he had missed.

We believe that the Bible teaches that each of us exist for eternity. From the moment we are conceived and life begins we become eternal beings. The only question is where we will exist. And that is a HUGELY important question.

The nine months we spend in the womb is short compared to the length of our life after we are born. But what happens in that period is extremely important to how life happens after our birth.

In the same way, our earthly life is very short when compared to eternity, but the choices and commitments we make during that life-span is vital to where we will spend eternity.

This story that Jesus told tells us that existence is eternal. The fact that you exist is evidence that you are eternal.

Where will you spend your eternity? Will you live happily ever after?

September 20, 2010

"There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores." Luke 16:19-21

If you causally or randomly read the New Testament you could conclude that Jesus doesn't like rich people. In several of His stories He makes them the bad guys and the poor people are the victims of these villainous wealthy folk. You might wonder if He would buy into our current culture of class envy where the people of means are being demonized and punished via tax laws and governmental policies.

Was Jesus promoting class envy? Did He have a grudge against the wealthy?

Let me remind you of an encounter he had with a young man identified only as "the rich young ruler". Jesus appealed to this young man to get his priorities in order and come follow Him. But in the end, the young man was more invested in his wealth than in his spiritual well-being. When he declined Jesus' offer and walked away the record shows that Jesus was very sad.

Also consider the fact that many of the early Patriarchs were extremely wealth people. Abraham was. Isaac was. Jacob was, for example.

Why would a God Who owns everything be envious of anyone with a large net worth? He's not. He cares very little about stuff. In Heaven, gold is used for paving! They fix potholes with it!

Consider who He is having a conversation with in this portion of Scripture. He is talking to greedy, self-righteous people who were trying to maintain an appearance of piety while looking for every angle to enrich themselves. In other words, they were hypocritical frauds. That is what bothered Jesus, not their riches but their poverty of spirit.

In addition to their hypocritcal hearts, Jesus despised the harm their greedy behavior inflicted on the poor.

Scroll up a few verses and you see the statement Jesus made regarding the responsibility of riches, "To whom much is given, much shall be required." Jesus isn't as interested in what you have as He is interested in what has you. If you are selfishly hoarding riches trying to create a heaven on earth while doing nothing to help relieve the hell of the poor, that is a problem. And that is the point.

Our founder, John Wesley, often said, "Make all you can, save all you can, and give all you can." Jesus would say, "Amen".

You can't buy your way into Heaven but you can spend your money and your time in a way that keeps you out. Invest all your heart, all your hopes, and all you have in Jesus. That is where real riches are found!

September 19, 2010

“HAPPILY EVER AFTER?”

Week One – “Dead Certain” Hebrews 9:27-28

Well all love fairy tales. We enjoyed them growing up. We tell them to our children. All fairy tales end the same way – “and they all lived happily ever after”.

Is there a real life “happily ever after”?

If so, how does that happen?

Have you ever heard these humorous epitaphs?
1. “Here lies Anne Mann. Who lived an old maid, but died an old Mann.”
2. “Beneath this sod, a lump of clay lays Arabella Young; who on the 21st of May began to hold her tongue.”
3. “The children of Israel wanted bread, the Lord sent them Manna. Old Clark Wallace wanted a wife, the devil sent him Anna.”
4. Here lies Johnny Yeast- ‘Forgive me for not rising.’
5. “Here lies Butch, we planted him raw. He was quick on the trigger but slow on the draw.”
6. “Under the sod and under the trees, lies the body of Jonathan Peas. He’s not there, there’s only the pod. Peas shelled out and went to God.”These are all pretty funny but when we think about it seriously, what will your tombstone say?



I. DEATH IS A CERTAINTY, V. 27a
“It is appointed unto man once to die……”

Woody Allen’s once stated, "I don’t want to achieve immortality through my work," he said. "I want to achieve immortality by not dying."

Country Music Super-Star, Tim McGraw discovered at age 11 that his real father was the star major league pitcher, Tug McGraw, when he happened to get a glimpse of his birth certificate…..
He said I was in my early forties with a lot of life before me when a moment came that stopped me on a dime and I spent most of the next days looking at the x-rays Talking bout the options and talking bout sweet time I asked him when it sank in that this might really be the real end how's it hit you when you get that kinda news man what'd you do
I went sky diving - I went Rocky Mountain climbing
I went 2.7 seconds on a bull named FuManchuand then I loved deeper and I spoke sweeter –
and I watched an eagle as it was flying –

He said I was finally the husband that most the time I wasn't and I became a friend a friend would like to have and all the sudden going fishin wasn't such an imposition and I went three times that year I lost my dad well I finally read the good book and I took a good long hard look at what I'd do if I could do it all again

I went sky diving - I went Rocky Mountain climbing
I went 2.7 seconds on a bull named FuManchuand then I loved deeper and I spoke sweeter –
and I watched an eagle as it was flying –

Like tomorrow was a gift and you got eternity to think about what'd you do with it what did you do with it what did I do with it what would I do with it' -

I went sky diving - I went Rocky Mountain climbing
I went 2.7 seconds on a bull named FuManchuand then I loved deeper and I spoke sweeter –
and I watched an eagle as it was flying –
and he said someday I hope you get the chance - to live like you were dying.- To live like you were dying - To live like you were dying- To live like you were dying - To live like you were dying

There are some very healthy and amazing things that can happen when you begin ordering your life in view of your morality. I think Jesus would agree with Tim McGraw – “LIVE LIKE YOUR ARE DYING” because you are – and you will.

II. DEATH IS A REALITY, V. 27
“…..and after that to face judgment…..”

Some nine year old children were asked what they thought of death and dying. Jim said, “When you die, they bury you in the ground and your souls goes to heaven, but your body can’t go to heaven because it’s too crowded up there already.” Judy said, “Only the good people go to heaven. The other people go where it’s hot all the time like in Florida.” John said, “Maybe I’ll die someday, but I hope I don’t die on my birthday because it’s no fun to celebrate your birthday if you’re dead.” Marsha commented, “When you die, you don’t have to do homework in heaven, unless your teacher is there too.”

A doctor called one of his patients into his office to deliver some very important news. "I have received the results of your tests and I have some bad news and some good news", said the doctor. The patient was quiet for a moment, sensing the severity of the announcement. "Let me have the good news first, doc", said the patient. The doctor took a deep breath and said, "You only have 24 hours to live." "Oh my goodness", shouted the patient, "If that’s the good news what could the bad news possibly be?" The doctor replied, "I was supposed to tell you yesterday."

FOUR IDEAS ABOUT DEATH:

1) Annihilation
2) Reincarnation
3) Soul Sleep
4) The Truth

The fact that there is a judgment that each of us must prepare for is a major game-changer. Since God is keeping a “permanent record” everything we do in life takes on more significance! Everything we do in life echoes in eternity!

III. LIFE IS A POSSIBILITY, Vv. 27-28
“Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.”

Winston Churchill arranged his own funeral. There were stately hymns in St. Paul’s Cathedral and an impressive liturgy. But at the end of the service, Churchill had an unusual event planned. When they said the benediction, a bugler high in the dome of St. Paul’s Cathedral on one side played Taps, the universal signal that the day is over. There was a long pause. Then a bugler on the other side played Reveille, the military wake-up call.

When John Owen, the great Puritan, lay on his deathbed his secretary wrote (in his name) to a friend, "I am still in the land of the living." "Stop," said Owen. "Change that and say, I am yet in the land of the dying, but I hope soon to be in the land of the living."

An aged minister was lost on an unpaved, unmarked road in west Texas. He went to a farmhouse to inquire as to how he could reach his destination. A little freckle-faced boy gave the following directions: "Go right on down the big road for several miles. It is plenty sandy and rough. Sometimes you will bog down and get stuck, but keep going until you come to a graveyard. Go right through the graveyard and just on the other side you will come to a paved highway. Turn to the right and the place you are looking for is just around the corner. When you get to the paved road beyond the graveyard, your troubles will be over!"
The old minister thought as he rode along: "I am traveling down the rough road of life. Sometimes it seems that I almost bog down. After I travel life’s road for a few more miles, I will come to the graveyard, and then my troubles will be over, for God's highway and the heavenly home are just the other side of the cemetery!"



That is true because of the salvation provided by Jesus – the Son of God Who stepped out of eternity into time and put on flesh and blood. He willingly left the land of the living to come to the land of the dying and die! And though He was totally innocent and holy, He took our guilt and the penalty of our sin so we can live and so when we leave this life we can live forever with Him!

THE REASON THAT JESUS CAME – THE CENTRAL REASON FOR SALVATION, AND REDEMPTION, AND THE ATONEMENT – IS SO WE CAN HAVE A CHANCE TO CHOOSE A “HAPPY EVER AFTER”!

As believers, we take our ideas from the Bible and the Bible teaches that life begins at conception and never ends! It just changes forms………

“See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction.” Deuteronomy 30:15


You have an “ever after”.

Only you can make your “ever after” a happy “ever after”

Will you?

September 18, 2010

"Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him." Hebrews 9:27-28

Later today I will be sitting at Lane Stadium in Blacksburg, VA with 66,238 of my closest friends. We will have several things in common. All of us love the Hokies and all of us have a date with death. (Some of us live and die with the Hokies, but that is a different story) And after we each did we will each face a judgment before God.

You might be saying, "Wow! Thanks for that depressing thought!"

I am simply echoing the truth recorded here in this portion of the Scriptures written by the author of Hebrews. When you back away from these couple of verses and look at the bigger picture of what is being said, it is actually good news - no, great news!

The purpose of Hebrews is to explain the advantages of the New Covenant over the Old Covenant. In the Old Covenant, the Law was central and you atoned for violations of the Law through the shedding of the blood of the sacrifices in the Temple by the priests. But the New Covenant was established by the grace of God through the shedding of Christ's blood on the cross. So, he is essentially asking this question, "Would you rather depend on the continual offering of sacrifices or would you rather just depend on the 'once and for all' sacrifice of Christ, God's Son?"

Good answer!

Trusting the sacrifice of Christ is not only a better way to live, it is a better way to die! Since everyone of us is going to die, would you rather die hoping that you have offered the right sacrifice or would you rather die KNOWING that Christ's sacrifice is sufficient for your salvation!?

Good answer!

After death come the judgment. Let me ask you again - would you rather face the judgment trusting in the blood of goats and bulls OR would you rather face the judgment knowing that Christ was offered for your sins and that He took your judgment for you?

Good answer!

So, let me summarize. What sounds like a blunt and cold statement of depressing news, at further examination is GREAT news! Knowing that you will die and that there is a judgment means you need to do something to prepare. And the something you should do is trust Jesus as your Savior and Lord because He died and He was judged for you! His death provided the means for you to be forgiven of your sins and freed from the penalty of judgment!

When he delivers this news he is saying, "God died and God was judged (in the person of Christ) so that you can face death and the judgment without fear or dread!

Will you? Have you put your faith in Christ and trusted Him for your salvation?

September 17, 2010

"Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment" Hebrews 9:27

You are familiar with the old truism that only two things are for sure - death and taxes. I suppose if you are in a certain income bracket and can find enough deductions and a good accountant, you might possible avoid your tax liability. However, there is no way to escape dying.

With that in mind I want to share with you four mostly commonly held ideas within our culture.

1) Soul Sleep

2) Reincarnation

3) Annihilation

4) Heaven or Hell

Soul sleep is a position held primarily by members of the Seventh Day Adventists or the Jehovah's Witnesses.

The proponents of the soul sleep position have two premises. First, they hold that at death the soul does not leave the body; both soul and body sleep until the Day of Christ’s return. Second, they teach that the soul has no consciousness as it sleeps; it is aware of nothing. What is the basis for these two premises? They base their argument primarily on passages that speak of death as sleep (or unconsciousness) and passages that speak of bodies awakening on the Last Day.

Proponents of this view hang their position on three verses that refer to death as sleep, but the word used in the Greek for sleep is taken figuratively every other time it is used. The vast evidence of Scripture clearly implies that at death there is a separation of the soul and the body.

The death of Jesus illustrates that the soul departs the body at death. Ephesians seems to indicate that upon His death Jesus went to the lower regions since he died as a sinner and his body was sealed in a tomb guarded by Roman soldiers.

Reincarnation originates in Eastern religions and teaches that life recycles into another form until it finally is able to rid itself of bad karma and merge into nirvana with the cosmic consciousness. In Western thought, the soul is thought to evolve to a higher or lower life form based on how you behaved during this reincarnation.

The writer of Hebrews speaks directly to any notion of reincarnation when he states flatly "it is appointed unto man ONCE to die and after that the judgment"

I am not sure where the idea of annihilation comes from. We believe the Bible clearly teaches that once life begins at conception that life is eternal. Though it changes form from the womb to the world into eternity, it continues to exist. Our verse from Hebrews also suggests that life continues following physical death.

Without going too deep into the Bible I can think of the encounter Jesus had with his deceased friend, Lazarus in Bethany. Lazarus had already been departed from his body four days when Jesus came and raised him from the dead. If Lazarus had ceased to exist upon his death Jesus would have had to recreate him and not resurrect him. I also think of what happened on the Mount of Trnasfiguration where Peter, James and John saw both Elijah and Moses appear with Jesus. Both of them had been gone quite awhile before they appeared on the mountain with Jesus. If they had gone out of existence they would not have been able to appear there.

Overwhelming Scriptural evidence supports the idea that upon death the soul leaves the body and goes either to Heaven or to eternal torment in Hell. In the words of the classic board game, Monopoly, "go directly to eternity and don't pass 'go'".