Death

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DAILY DEVOTIONAL SATURDAY AUGUST 17, 2002
(Philippians 1:21)

For to me, living means opportunities for Christ, and dying--well, that's better yet!

Death. This is obviously a subject that we aren't fond of talking about, though it is part of our human experience, especially when someone in our family or a close friend dies. You have probably heard the statement, 'nothing in life is for sure except for death and taxes'. Well, some have found ways of getting around taxes, and while modern science has done remarkable things, they have added only a few short years to the average lifespan. It is important to understand that God created man to live forever, not to die. Death became a byproduct, one of the consequences of the sin in the Garden of Eden. Now it is something we must deal with during our life, and face ourselves.

Many people, even many Christians, have a fear of death. That is normal. Death is an unknown to us. We don't really know what is going to happen. Through actual experience. Of course as believers who know Christ as Savior, we have the assurance that when this life is over, we will spend eternity in Heaven with Him. We know that, we believe that, but since we have never actually done it, there is that little bit of doubt, even fear. Again, don't feel bad, it is common. However, the longer you walk with the Lord, the closer you get to Him, the more you realize that this whole life isn't just an accident, a coincidence. It is exactly like the Bible claims. We were created in the image of God, for the purpose of serving Him and glorifying Him with our lives. If that is true, then the rest has to be true as well, which means when we die we go to Heaven to be with our Creator for eternity.

Let me try to put this life in perspective for you. During our life, we grow stage by stage. In our early years we learn the basic ways of functioning in this world, and get an education. As an early adult we start working, having a family. In our elder years we slow down, reflect on our life, and hopefully enjoy some of the fruits of our labor. Then death. Death wipes everything out that we did in this life such as our education, career, relationships with people, whatever position or power we may have had, our financial resources.

When Bill Gates dies, his money stays in this world, it doesn't go with him. Rather than being someone special because of his financial wealth, he will be just another soul. All of the things of this world pass away. THE ONLY THING THAT WE TAKE FROM THIS LIFE IS OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST. If you have no relationship with the Lord, then you leave this life with nothing. This is why I constantly am harping on our daily relationship with the Lord. THIS IS THE ONLY THING THAT WE TAKE FROM THIS LIFE INTO ETERNITY!!!! Understanding this, can you see now how important it is to know Him each day, to build that intimate, loving relationship with the Lord? The things of this life will all pass away, but your relationship with the Lord carries on throughout eternity.

I love you, and I care about you enough to challenge you today to refocus your thoughts and priorities. Know how important your service to Him is since it has eternal significance. Your day to day life here on earth has no eternal significance, other than the things you do to impact the lives and souls of people. That is why witnessing, serving the Lord is so critical. Our jobs, our friends, our recreation have such a big part of our life, but we need to try to refocus on the things we do each day that carry an eternal weight to them.

I will be praying for you today to really sit down and reread this several times to let the words sink in. The Lord loves you. Death is something that we have to deal with and accept. But we have the knowledge and promise that when this life is over, we will be spending eternity with our God. That knowledge should motivate us each day to maintain our daily walk with the Lord and be about the things that will help others know Him too.

If you want to know Jesus as your personal Savior, and know for sure that when your life is over, you will be forever with HIM, take a moment, pray for God to open your heart and read the words on this link: www.liveprayer.com/SPlan.html

In His love and service,
Your friend and brother in Christ,
Bill Keller

If I can help you in any way you can contact me through my personal email at bkeller@liveprayer.com.

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