This is the second part of a three part entry. It would be best to go back and first read part 1 prior to reading today’s entry.
Yesterday we saw Solomon’s words that the day of our death is better than the day of our life. How can that be? We saw from Acts 7, that at the moment of our death, God gives to us a measure of dying grace that will put us in complete peace in spite of our circumstances. What else does the Bible teach us about the moment of our death?
In Luke 16, Jesus told the story of a beggar named Lazarus who died. In verse 22, it says that, “the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to paradise.” From this teaching of Jesus we can take it that at the moment of our death, we receive an angelic escort into heaven. No wonder Solomon proclaimed that the day of one’s death is better than the day of one’s birth. Imagine breathing your last breath and then being greeted by a messenger of the Almighty God. What do you think the angel will say to us at that moment? Perhaps the angel will greet us with the same words the angel said to Mary, the mother of Jesus, “Greetings favored one! The Lord is with you!” Perhaps their first utterance will be the two word greeting they often proclaimed when they appeared to men and women in Scripture, “Fear not!” At the moment of my death, I believe that angelic messengers will supernaturally and instantly transport my soul into the very presence of the Lord. Yes, the day of my death will be the greatest day of my life!
In 2 Corinthians 5:1-9, Paul describes our earthly body as a tent which groans and longs to be clothed with our dwelling in heaven. Chuck Swindol said it masterfully when he wrote, “We are weary, rain-soaked campers longing for home.” The older we get, the more our bodies groan, producing multiple trials and pressures in our life. But on the day of our death our groaning will be swallowed up into everlasting life. Our burdens will give place to laughter and joy. Jesus said in Luke 6:21, “Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh!” So amazing will be the joy that we suddenly experience that it will make all of the groaning of our aging body over the years seem completely insignificant in comparison.
The day of our death will be the completion of our salvation. In the past we were saved from the penalty of sin. This happened the day we trusted Christ to be our Lord and our Savior. Because of that day we never have to worry ever again that we will ever spend even one second in hell. In the present we are being saved from the power of sin. Each day we become more and more transformed into the image of Jesus Christ. But when we get to heaven, we will be saved from the very presence of sin…never ever having to battle our sin nature again. Our salvation will be complete. It is guaranteed. Paul stated it this way in Philippians 1:6, “For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus!” No wonder the day of our death will be the best day of our life! No more pain! No more tears! No more battling sin. It’s true! Never forget it! For the Christian, the best is yet to come! Be sure to read the conclusion in my blog entry for tomorrow.
Yesterday we saw Solomon’s words that the day of our death is better than the day of our life. How can that be? We saw from Acts 7, that at the moment of our death, God gives to us a measure of dying grace that will put us in complete peace in spite of our circumstances. What else does the Bible teach us about the moment of our death?
In Luke 16, Jesus told the story of a beggar named Lazarus who died. In verse 22, it says that, “the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to paradise.” From this teaching of Jesus we can take it that at the moment of our death, we receive an angelic escort into heaven. No wonder Solomon proclaimed that the day of one’s death is better than the day of one’s birth. Imagine breathing your last breath and then being greeted by a messenger of the Almighty God. What do you think the angel will say to us at that moment? Perhaps the angel will greet us with the same words the angel said to Mary, the mother of Jesus, “Greetings favored one! The Lord is with you!” Perhaps their first utterance will be the two word greeting they often proclaimed when they appeared to men and women in Scripture, “Fear not!” At the moment of my death, I believe that angelic messengers will supernaturally and instantly transport my soul into the very presence of the Lord. Yes, the day of my death will be the greatest day of my life!
In 2 Corinthians 5:1-9, Paul describes our earthly body as a tent which groans and longs to be clothed with our dwelling in heaven. Chuck Swindol said it masterfully when he wrote, “We are weary, rain-soaked campers longing for home.” The older we get, the more our bodies groan, producing multiple trials and pressures in our life. But on the day of our death our groaning will be swallowed up into everlasting life. Our burdens will give place to laughter and joy. Jesus said in Luke 6:21, “Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh!” So amazing will be the joy that we suddenly experience that it will make all of the groaning of our aging body over the years seem completely insignificant in comparison.
The day of our death will be the completion of our salvation. In the past we were saved from the penalty of sin. This happened the day we trusted Christ to be our Lord and our Savior. Because of that day we never have to worry ever again that we will ever spend even one second in hell. In the present we are being saved from the power of sin. Each day we become more and more transformed into the image of Jesus Christ. But when we get to heaven, we will be saved from the very presence of sin…never ever having to battle our sin nature again. Our salvation will be complete. It is guaranteed. Paul stated it this way in Philippians 1:6, “For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus!” No wonder the day of our death will be the best day of our life! No more pain! No more tears! No more battling sin. It’s true! Never forget it! For the Christian, the best is yet to come! Be sure to read the conclusion in my blog entry for tomorrow.
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