Our appointment with death

https://odb.org/2024/11/21/the-appointment

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

Romans 6:23 NKJV:
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Every human being, in fact, every living creature has an appointment with death. Some may die of old age, some by illness and even some by accidents or mishaps. Some animals sadly are food for predators. There are still many who die due to war, like those in the ongoing Ukraine-Russia war or those in Gaza and southern Lebanon. There have been many wars waged throughout the ages, and many have perished. In modern times, the most devastating being the two world wars, and we know from biblical prophesy that as many as 1/4th of the world’s population will be wiped out before Christ comes again (see Revelation 6:8 on the rider on a pale horse).

No matter who we are, we can not avoid death. Whether we are king, president, prime minister or a normal pheasant, of nobility, or just a plain middle-class professional or a business owner. Whatever our station in life, we will die one day.

As brilliant as Einstein or Steve Jobs were, they couldn’t escape their appointment with death. Every single one of us is destined to die and face judgment (Hebrews 9:27), and the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus (Romans 6:23). Only teo persons are recorded in the Bible of not facing death – Elijah and Enoch and the only person who managed to postpone his appointment was King Hezekiah. Even Lazarus, who was raised from the dead by Jesus, died eventually.

Only Jesus Christ, who died for our sins, was ever resurrected from death and, in the process, conquered sin and death. He is the hope of our glory that one day we will be resurrected with Him in our glorified bodies and live for eternity in the new heaven and new earth.

So what must we do pending our appointment with death? It is certain, just that we do not know when. Accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour. That will secure our destiny with eternal life. Then, live our lives for Christ, for His plans and purposes for our lives – this will assure us of our place in the Kingdom of God. Salvation is a gift from God in the sense that we can not work for it. We are saved by our faith in Christ Jesus. Nevertheless, we could lose our salvation if we live our lives recklessly or in wilful sin, contrary to the will of God or if we choose to walk the broad path that leads to destruction or if we were to denounce our faith or deny Christ. We must do all we can to make sure our names remain written in the Book of Life!