THE MOMENTOUS EVENT


A. "BUT MAN DIETH AND WASTETH AWAY; YEA, MAN GIVETH UP THE GHOST, AND WHERE IS HE?" - Job 14:10
  1. The Bible teaches and experience shows that death is inevitable to all men:
    1. "It is appointed unto man once to die" - Heb. 9:27
    2. In Adam all die, because all have sinned - Rom. 5:12
  2. Some people seem to be totally indifferent to this heaven appointed event:
    1. Such indifference is very dangerous and can be fatal.
    2. We all will do well to pray, "So teach us to number our days" - Ps. 90:12
B. DEATH IS A SOLEMN AND MOMENTOUS EVENT TO CONTEMPLATE
  1. "Man dieth and giveth up the ghost":
    1. It is an event which affects our present life and that of the world to come.
    2. It breaks all ties with loved ones, regardless of the pain associated with this experience - Job 7:10-14
  2. Death cuts us off from all opportunities in life -- no more plans, no more changes of mind, all is over: Eccl. 5:10
  3. It is an event which makes no exception:
    1. It comes to the rich and the poor, the high and the lowly, the old and the young, those that are ready and those who are unprepared.
    2. This is because that all have sinned and are subject to die - Rom. 5:12-19
    3. The very seed of death is born with man; it is a part of human nature.
    4. It is an event to which we all are liable every moment of our short life -
      1. Boasting of tomorrow is foolish - Prov. 27:1; Eccl. 8:7; Luke 12:19, 20
      2. Planning for tomorrow is foolish - Jas. 4:13, 14
      3. Death may overtake us on the highway, on the street, in the backyard, or in the house. One just does not know!
    5. Job believed that there is an appointed time for man to die - Job 14:5
    6. We shall do well to recognize this inevitable event as one of our appointments, sooner or later.
C. "BUT MAN DIETH AND WASTETH AWAY; YEA, MAN GIVETH UP THE GHOST, AND WHERE IS HE?"
  1. Mankind has many different answers to Job's question:
    1. Some think that death is the gateway to Paradise.
    2. Others think that death separates body and soul, the body being laid into the grave, and the soul entering the spirit world.
  2. But the Bible says:
    1. That when man dies, he goes into the grave - Job 14:13; said Job, "O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me in secret, until thy wrath is past."
    2. In chapter 17:13, he says, "If I wait, the grave is mine house."
    3. The dead all sleep in the dust of the earth - Dan. 12:2; 1 Thess. 4:13-17
      1. The infidel is there.
      2. The profane is there too.
      3. The worldling dies and is laid in the grave.
      4. The saints are there too - Dan. 12:3
  3. It is a momentous event:
    1. "It is appointed unto man once to die, and after that the judgment." - Heb. 9:27
    2. No, death is not the end of man, he has another appointment with God after death - 2 Cor. 5:10
    3. The life he lived here in the flesh will determine the outcome of that appointment - Rev. 20:11, 12
    4. Yes, the life we now live will make the difference on how we die -
      1. In Christ.
      2. Outside of Christ.
      3. Prepared - Luke 2:25-29
      4. Unprepared - Dan. 5:5-9
    5. What an event! Eternal Salvation or Eternal Damnation! Go to the right or be told to go to the left. Enter the kingdom of God, or meet damnation in eternal hell fire - Matt. 25:30-36


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