10.9.25
Hey Calvary Fremont –
Joseph Bayly was flying from Chicago to L.A. and he engaged the woman sitting next to him in conversation. She was a little over 40, well dressed, and quite articulate. He asked, “Where are you from?” Her: “From Palm Springs.” Knowing Palm Springs to be a city of the rich & famous, he asked, “What’s Palm Springs like?” She answered, “Palm Springs is a beautiful place filled with unhappy people.” Taking advantage of the occasion, he asked, “Are you unhappy?” She said, “Yes, I certainly am.” “Why?” he asked. She said, “I can answer it in one word, and that word is mortality. Until I was 40, I had perfect eyesight. Shortly after, I went to the doctor because I couldn’t see as well as I could before. Ever since that time, these corrective glasses have been a sign to me that not only are my eyes wearing out, but I’m wearing out. Some day I’m going to die. I really haven’t been happy since that time.”
Tens of millions of Americans feel that same way. We don’t want to lose what we have or be reminded that death is coming to us. Someone said, “The only certainty in life is death.” If death is the only certainty you have – I’m glad you’re reading this. The Bible declares that DEATH has been defeated in death of Christ. We see the death of DEATH in the death of Christ.
Woody Allen said that he was not afraid of death – he just didn’t want to be there when it happened. I’m not afraid of death – but I am afraid of dying. I don’t want to burn to death or die slowly of cancer – or any other painful way. I told the church that I want to die preaching and hit my chin on the pulpit on the way down! No doubt, this would traumatize some of them for the rest of their lives! DEATH is not a grave, but a doorway into the fullness of eternal life. Jesus has stripped the devil of the power of DEATH. We see the death of DEATH in the death of Christ. Here’s what others have said about death –
John R. Rice: “We’ll say good night here and good morning up there.”
Billy Graham: “You’re born. You suffer. You die. Fortunately, there’s a loophole.”
D.L. Moody: “Someday you will read in the papers that D.L. Moody is dead. Don’t you believe a word of it! At that moment I shall be more alive than I am now.”
Helen Keller: “Death is no more than passing from one room into another. But there’s a difference for me, you know. Because in that other room I shall be able to see.”
If I told you that Mike Tyson was going to find you wherever you are and beat you up on January 3, 2026 – you would fear that day because you fear his fists of fury. Maybe you see death as an encounter with the fists of God. No wonder you’re worried!
If I told you that Bill Gates was going to find you and give you $10 billion on January 3, 2026 – you would rejoice and be exceedingly glad and look forward to that day with delight.
If you see death as a date with the fists of Mike Tyson – you will fear. If you see death as a date with the wealth of Bill Gates, you will rejoice. Do you fear or do you rejoice? Death is nothing to fear or tremble before. Christ has defeated the devil and sin and death and hell and the grave. He took your sin and mine to the cross and suffered the wrath of God for us.
Paul the apostle said that if you confess Jesus as Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead – you will be saved. Be saved today.
Be blessed and stay healthy and follow Jesus – Pastor Tim
Leave a Reply