Broadcast Date – November 18, 2001 on KCXY (Y95) - 95.3 FM

Have you ever formed a negative opinion of another person without first meeting them? Perhaps your opinion was based solely upon what you heard others say about that person. But later, after you had an opportunity to meet that person, your opinion of them changed. Once you became familiar with that person and got to know them better, you find out all those negative comments you heard were not really accurate.

Is it possible that the same can be said of death? Many people, because of what they have heard from others, have negative connotations of death. People go to great lengths to prolong their lives and thus postpone their deaths. Many people simply refuse to think about death, much less talk about it. We tend to stay away from places that remind us of death.

Could it be that we make death our enemy for the same reason we sometimes unfairly make another person our enemy? Perhaps we have a negative attitude toward death because of what we have heard others say. But, when we study the scriptures and see what God has to say about death, we learn that for a faithful Christian death is not an enemy but a friend. I recently read an article written by Allen Webster titled, "Making A New Friend Out of An Old Enemy." In this article, Allen made several observations concerning what the Bible has to say about death.

First, the scriptures speak of death as going to sleep. Consider for a few moments the events of John 11:11-14. "These things said he: and after that he said unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking rest in sleep. Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead."

Friends, Jesus’ disciples did not understand the significance of Jesus’ words. They mistakenly thought Jesus spoke of physical sleep. When they were slow to catch the meaning of Jesus’ words, Jesus plainly told them, "Lazarus is dead."

Jesus considered raising a dead man as no more difficult than for us to wake someone from their sleep. Paul, in I Corinthians fifteen, taught that there will be a "great awakening" at the resurrection.

When Christ comes again, all those who are asleep, that is, physically dead, will rise. Listen to the words of the apostle Paul, recorded in I Thessalonians 4:13-18: "But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord."

When Christ comes again, all that are in the graves shall come forth. Those who are Christians will rise to go home to spend an eternity in heaven (John 5:28-29). Those who are not Christians will rise to go to the lake of fire for all eternity (Revelation 20:15).

Friends, sleep is precious! If you don’t think so, just ask someone who has had to go a long time without it! In a similar fashion, death is precious. "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints" (Psalm 116:15).

Second, the scriptures speak of death as taking a trip. Notice Paul’s words recorded in Philippians 1:23: "For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you." Also notice Paul’s words recorded in II Timothy 4:6: "For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand."

Friends, did you notice the word Paul used to refer to his death? A departure! When we depart on a trip, we do not cease to exist. We simply go from one place to another! Likewise, when we die, we do not cease to exist. We do not lose our identity. We go from one place to another!

While I was growing up along the Gulf Coast of Texas, I enjoyed watching the ships leave their harbor and go out to sea. As the ship went further and further away, it appeared to get smaller and smaller, until finally, it was out of sight. It was gone beyond the horizon. But friends, imagine there being someone else on another shore, on the other side of the horizon, watching the ship as it came closer and closer. Imagine someone watching the ship as it comes closer and closer, appearing to get larger and larger. Finally, when the ship pulls into port someone says, "It’s here."

When we stand beside the bed of a dying loved one we say, "He’s going," and as he takes his last breath, "He’s gone." But remember, there’s someone on the other side of death saying, "He’s here. He’s home at last."

Third, the scriptures speak of death as a change of residence. Imagine going to an old friend’s house and knocking on the door. When no one answers, a neighbor notices and says, "Are you looking for your friend who used to live there?" "Well, yes", you reply. "But what do you mean, used to live here?" The neighbor informs you that your friend doesn’t live there anymore. Your friend has moved to a bigger and better place.

As Christians, we desire a better country, a better place of residence. Listen to the words of the writer of the book of Hebrews: "By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable. These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city" (Hebrews 11:8-16).

Currently, we live in a temporary, physical body. But we will one day have a permanent, incorruptible body. In II Corinthians 5:1, Paul wrote: "For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." Notice how Paul describes the physical body in which we now live – a "tabernacle," literally meaning a "tent." Obviously a very temporary place. But notice the word Paul uses to describe the incorruptible bodies we will one day have – a "building," indicating a sense of permanence. In fact, Paul describes this as a building "eternal in the heavens." In verses two through ten Paul continues: "For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. Now he that wrought us for the self same thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent form the Lord: (for we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that everyone may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad."

Fourth, the scriptures speak of death as gaining an inheritance. Christ’s death made it possible for us to receive an inheritance in heaven. Notice Peter’s words, in I Peter 1:3-5: "Blessed be the god and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you."

However, gaining our inheritance in heaven stands in stark contrast to gaining an earthly inheritance. We receive an earthly inheritance when someone else dies. Of course, in order to receive an inheritance in heaven, someone else had to die. That someone, of course, was Christ. But, in order to receive our inheritance in heaven, we must also die. In Philippians 1:21, Paul wrote: "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." When a faithful Christian dies, he receives an inheritance that cannot be stolen by thieves (Matthew 6:19). He receives an inheritance that cannot be corrupted by rust. He gains victory over Satan, sin, and doubt. He gains freedom from aches, pains, diseases, tears, and sorrow (Revelation 21:4). He enjoys fellowship with God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit (Philippians 1:23). He gains association with all the saints who have ever lived (Matthew 8:11).

Friends, a Christian does not lose when he dies, he gains unimaginable riches!

Jesus has made it possible for us, like David, to say, "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil." When we become familiar with what the Bible has to say about death we learn that, for a faithful Christian, death is not our enemy, but our friend.

I thank you for your attention and hope you can be back next week!

Rod Halliburton