Philippians 1:21-26 “Between Two Worlds”
Funerals remind us of our own mortality.
“I’m not afraid to die. I just don’t want to be there when it happens.” Woody Allen
Death is unavoidable.
“One can survive anything nowadays except death.” Oscar Wilde
Are You Ready To Die?
Death is a transition – into eternity.
"Someday you will read in the papers that D. L. Moody of East Northfield is dead. Don’t you believe a word of it. At that moment I shall be more alive than now." D. L. Moody
"One short sleep past, we wake eternally, and death shall be no more; death, thou shalt die." John Donne
God created the human spirit to be eternal.
The human body is not immortal.
What kind of eternity am I stepping into? Heaven or Hell. The answer depends on your relationship to Jesus Christ.
God does not want anyone to go to hell.
If anyone goes to hell, it will be because he refused to come to Jesus.
Death Brings Us Into The Presence of Christ
There is no such thing as soul-sleep.
We immediately enter God’s presence.
Death Brings Us Eternal Rewards
“For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain”
We gain a better:
- Body.
- Home.
- Inheritance.
- Fellowship.
Christians can be ready to die because they know the true nature of death.
Are You Ready To Live?
You are here for a reason. God has a purpose for you.
A Christian’s greatest purpose is to glorify God.
We are to glorify God:
- Every day of the week.
- In our jobs.
- In our families.
- By what we say and don’t say.
- By what we allow our minds to dwell on.
- In our attitudes and actions.
How do we do this?
We are called to be conformed to Christ’s image.
You are here for others.
Our lives can make a difference in the lives of others.
That’s what our church should be about:
- People caring for one another.
- People helping one another.
- People encouraging one another.
- People ministering to one another.
True success is:
- Helping people find God.
- Pointing people to Jesus.
- Being an encouragement when they are down.
- Sharing the love of Jesus in practical ways.
Because we are ready to die, we can truly live.
