Welcome to the
Pioneer and Bell Church of Christ
PREPARING FOR DEATH
James tells us, "Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time and then vanisheth away." (
James 4:14) He makes two points: We do not know what is going to happen to us tomorrow and that life is short. To bring this home I can tell you that within a month of reading this article a certain number of you will be dead. Are we prepared for that experience called death?
Some of you will say, "I sure am. I have a life insurance policy, and I have a will made." A rare few will even say that they have a burial plot reserved and the funeral ceremony laid out and paid for. However, if you think about it, none of these three things mentioned have anything to do with preparing you for death. The life insurance policy is for your survivors, not you. The will is for the distribution of your assets, not for you. The burial details, burial plot, and burial ceremony purchase is for your remains, but it is not for you. The writer in
Hebrews 9:27 tells us, "And as it is appointed unto men once to die but after this the judgment." So when I am asking about your preparing for death, I am asking if you are prepared for judgment. There are only two outcomes to this judgment. We will either go away to eternal punishment or to eternal life (
Matthew 25:26). What is going to determine that outcome? Paul tells us in
2 Corinthians 5:10 that we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ so that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body whether good or bad.
Our actions in life will determine the outcome of that judgment day. Paul notes in
Galatians 6:7-8 that we are not to be deceived; God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Only those who hear and do God's word will have life. Jesus tells us in
Matthew 7:21-23 that not everyone who says to Him, "Lord, Lord," will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of the Father who is in heaven. This is what we mean by are you prepared for death. Are you living your life to be prepared for death? As Jesus asked in
Matthew 16:26-27, what good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in His Father's glory with His angels and then He will reward each person according to what he has done is this life. Are you prepared for death?
Charles Royal
Decatur, AL
"Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away."
"And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:"
"His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:"
"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad."
"Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?" "And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."
"For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.