“Space...the final frontier...” who hasn’t heard these immortal words of
Captain James T. Kirk, aboard the Enterprise on Star Trek, the only real Star
Trek. But although he comes close, there is one final frontier that all human
beings will encounter someday, one which we don’t like to or don’t want to talk
about, death. The death rate on earth is 100%, no one escapes it, yet no one
talks about it until forced to. Which usually occurs when a friend, family
member, or celebrity has died. Followed by a service, usually referred to as a
funeral, but today “celebrations of life” have become popular among Christians,
for we know that death is only the beginning of eternity for those who are
saved, not the end of life for those who aren’t. And even the word death is
avoided when possible, he’s gone to a better place, passed on, not with us any
longer, and others are used, all having a form of truth, but the real truth
being the person is dead. Yet that word death is something we will all face
ourselves some day, don’t you think we should know more about it? Have you ever
talked to your kids about death?
How many times have you heard or even said or been scared to death? Yet we
rarely hear we are scared of death, which we really are. I guess you can be
scared to death, but really most are scared of death. It is a great unknown,
and no one is around to tell you what happens after you die. We are told in the
Bible, which mentions death almost 400 times, that the dead in Christ shall
rise, and even Lazarus was resurrected after being dead 4 days. But it never
tells of where he was, or what happened for those 4 days. I have heard some
scholars refer to him as the same Lazarus of Luke 15, whom the rich man stepped
over every day, and who begged Lazarus just to dip his finger in the pool to put
a drop of water on his tongue. And no one ever asked him, or is it recorded
what he had to say when he returned. So what happens after death, where your
soul ultimately goes for eternity, is based on faith, no second chances, no
reset button, no do overs like in kickball, death truly is the final frontier.
And why can we believe more about Star Trek than what the Bible tells us about
death?
Jesus tells us that “I would not have told you if it were not
so,” as He talks of hell. Jesus who even died a physical death, not a spiritual
one, and was resurrected, as all believers will be someday, knows and talks of
death. He tells us that those who believe in Him shall never taste death. That
they will pass from death unto life, avoiding death. But what happens, how,
when, and where are only up to God, not us, and as I have found out personally,
you have no say in it. You cannot add nor subtract days from your life, but you
can add quality of life to them. And death is as simple as falling asleep, and
even then Paul tells us that “we all won’t sleep,” that an event called the
rapture will occur taking many to heaven before they die a physical death.
Something we all as Christians hope happens to us, again because although many
believe, they are still afraid of death. Or as Frank and I once discussed, “we
are not afraid of death, we just aren’t real sure about the process.” Maybe
that puts death in an even more realistic life, because we also have no control
over the process. The ultimate blow to pride and ego, which when surrendered to
Jesus will assure you heaven. So what are the two choices of a final
destination, of your final frontier?
All men are born into sin, and fall short of the glory of God.
Blame Adam, but since him, we all fall short. And because of the spiritual
death of that event, we all are born destined to hell. Babies, who appear
innocent are doomed, ever teach a baby to cry, to yell “mine?” Yet God in His
mercy protects them, unto an age of accountability, which the Jews feel is the
13th birthday, but no age is given scripturally. Aborted babies, others dying
in the womb, all go to heaven, avoiding earth and it sins. Religion cannot save
you, nor can your church, parents, belief system, or being frozen. Only Jesus
has the power over life and death, and the gates of hell are not to keep you
out, but to keep those who deny Him in. The gates don’t save you from hell,
only Jesus does. So don’t you think on such an important topic, one we will all
face, we should know more about it? Personally I have come as close to death as
you can come without dying, so as the scripture in John 11:4 tells us, “this
sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, so the Son of God may be
glorified in it.” I can tell you heaven is real, beyond description. I have
seen Jesus, yet cannot describe Him, how do you explain the infinite to a finite
world? Using finite words? So we are told that eye has not seen, nor ear
heard, nor imagined, so whatever you imagine heaven to be, it isn’t. It is
better. But also whatever you think hell to be, it is worse. I have always
cast doubt on those who see a bright light, and other scenes. They saw
something, but it wasn’t heaven. The only way I can describe what I saw and
heard is I want to go back. The only conversation I had with Jesus, the peace
was beyond comprehension, and I thought I must be dead, and so I asked Him, His
answer was “you most certainly are alive.” Yet some will believe my words easier
than those spoken by God. And live in fear, when they don’t have to.
So death has a place in everyone’s life, and we revere it so
highly, we have funerals. And personally, I have never attended one where the
deceased wasn’t the best person, taken too soon, or deserved to live. It seems
in death, we are forgiving, when we really need to be in life. To ask Jesus,
whom God sent to reunite us with Himself, to save us from our sins, and promise
us heaven. Yet many will choose to not believe, and even in hell, scripture
tells us a harsh truth. Again Luke 15, the rich man in hell, now showing
compassion, wants to go back to only tell his family about hell, but God tells
him no. If they don’t believe the prophets, they won’t believe someone sent
back after death. And it is true today, as God has sent His spirit to tell us,
to warn us, yet we deny the same Jesus who died to save us. The one whom the
prophets foretold hundreds of times. So your test is easy, life or death?
Jesus or denial? Only available when you are alive, and tomorrow is not
promised to anyone. Today will be the day of salvation for many, yet the day of
damnation for others. How sure are you about death? So sure you bet your life
on eternal pain, darkness, and separation from God, heaven and glory? If you
deny God, He will honor you request, and deny you on judgment day, which we all
will face, and the truth will be made visible. Deny God, it is hell, but in
torment you will know for all eternity, you will know who Jesus is, and was, and
worship Him in utter agony, for every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess,
that Jesus Christ is Lord. So you will end up worshipping the one who could
have saved you, but you denied. When you could be in perfect peace, full of joy
unspeakable, and in the presence of a loving God. Has anyone ever talked to you
about death like this?
Your decision has eternal consequences, choose Jesus now, while
there is still time. Death can come upon you quick, no one wakes up knowing
they will die today. Your life is not your own, but in the hands of God. Place
it where you are assured of heaven, and enter the final frontier looking forward
to seeing God face to face. It takes about 15 minutes to read this, but can
have a lifetime change of direction. Take the time to tell your kids about
death, but also life. Death...the final frontier....where life doesn’t have to
end. You don’t have to be scared to death, for us it just begins.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com