CALAMITY VERSUS HOPE

PROVERBS 14:3

A. WHY THIS TEXT?
  1. A very sad occasion to all present at this service:
    1. A youthful and promising life cut off by the hand of death.
    2. A question seems to force itself upon our grief- stricken minds, "Why did this happen?"
  2. Does the word of God hold the answer?
    1. Why was a god-fearing and useful life cut off so suddenly and so unexpectantly?
    2. Why do careless and sinful people live on in seeming security to good old age?
  3. Eternity alone will give the answer for some of the unexplained happenings:
    1. Job complained about the imminent death - Job 3:25
    2. The Psalmist, too, feels the pain of unexplainable sorrows - Ps. 55:5
B. FOR THE WICKED OR UNGODLY DEATH IS A CALAMITY
  1. Death voids all his plans: Luke 12:20; Prov. 27:1-3. How many laid plans for tomorrow and never saw them materialize?
  2. Death seals his destiny:
    1. Paul's strong testimony in Heb. 9:28
    2. The story of the rich man in our Lord's parable - Luke 16:23-25
  3. Death paves the way for the coming judgment: Heb. 9:27; 10:27
  4. God's message to the wicked: "Woe unto the wicked! It shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him." - Isa. 3:11
C. BUT ABOUT THE DEATH OF THE RIGHTEOUS THE STORY IS DIFFERENT
  1. "Say unto the righteous that it shall be well with him": Isa. 3:10
  2. "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints." - Ps. 116:15
  3. "As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied when I awake in thy likeness." - Ps. 17:15
  4. Hear the testimonies of some of the saints: Job - Job 1:21; 19:25 Hezekiah - Isa. 38:17 Paul - Phil. 1:21; 2 Tim. 4:6, 7
  5. Why? What gives them such confidence?
    1. No reproaches from their conscience - Job 27:6; Acts 24:16
    2. Have the forgiveness of their sins -
      1. The thief on the cross - Luke 23:42-44
      2. The Psalmist - Ps. 32:1-5
      3. The Prophet Isaiah - Isa. 33:24
  6. What a contrast!
    1. "Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." - Matt. 25:34
    2. But to the wicked he will say, "Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels." - Matt. 25:41


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