Problem of Death
John 14:19
How many of you have problems?
I am almost sure that most who are here would say that you have some problems.
All of us have problems.
Some may think that their problems are greater than those of others.
Some may be worrying about what you are going to do with your life.
How will you handle that business problem?
How will you make your mortgage payment this month?
What is going to happen to your marriage?
How will you get your childen through college?
Let me suggest how to prioritize your problems.
Suddenly, there is such excruciating pain across your chest.
You rush to the emergency room.
You are given something to relieve the pain.
And the your doctor comes and you hear that you have had a severe heart attack, and your heart
has suffered such massive damage that nothing can be done!
The crucial question: "Doctor, how much time do I have?"
"Two or three months," the doctor answers.
Now -- how important are all those other problems?
They are not urgent any more!
Our urgent problems take the back seat when we faced with the ultimate problem
-- the problem of death.
We are always trying to sidestep the thought of death.
Most people spend most of their time trying not to think about their own mortality.
How about you?
Rousseau declared, " No rational man could not fear death, and if anyone says
he does not fear death, he is a liar."
All of us would like to know what happens when we die.
A little boy wrote a letter to Reader's Digest with this important question:
"Dear Mr. God,
Would you please tell me what it is like to die?
No one down here will tell me.
P.S. I just want to know.
I don't want to do it.
Your friend, Jeff."
People are curious about death.
Recently I visited Butterfly World.
Each of us were shown a little chrysalis in a plastic cup.
They had already woven their own cerement.
They had built their own coffin.
But now they were breaking free.
They were utterly transformed.
Out comes one wing, and then another.
Then they pump their wings and fly off into the sky!
A butterfly is often used as a description of the resurrection.
All that are in Christ shall hear His voice and come forth the dead and live forever with Christ
Instantaneously..."to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord!
In a moment!
In the twinkling of an eye!
Our eyes close in this world and immediately open in heaven in the presence of God.
That is incredible!
Paul said to King Agrippa, "Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you,
that God should raise the dead?" (Acts 26:8).
With God, all things are possible, and nothing is incredible.
Why should it be thought incredible that God should raise the dead.
God created us out of the dust of the earth, and He can bring us back in an instant.
The God who spoke worlds into existence can raise the dead.
This is the teaching of the Scripture and the promise of Jesus: "I am He that liveth,
and was dead; and behold, I am alive for evermore." (Revelation 1:18a)
The resurrection of Christ from the dead is what we celebrate this Easter Sunday.
There is no resurrection -- no Easter in Islam.
There is no Easter in Hinduism.
There is no Easter in Judaism.
There is no Easter in Buddhism.
There is no Easter anywhere else.
There is no other resurrection.
Only Jesus could say, "I am He that was dead, and behold I am alive forevermore."
The ancient pagans had no hope.
Life was very dreary.
They had no expectation they would rise from the dead.
Socrates was one of the most brilliant intellects who ever lived, but at the end of his life,
having been condemned by the masters of Athens for perverting the youth, he was given
the cup of hemlock, which he drank.
As he breathed his last few breaths, and his eyelids began to flutter, his disciples,
who had gathered around, leaned close to ask one last question,
"Master, shall we live again?"
He answered, "I hope so, but no man can know."
We can know!
I know!
"These things have I written . . . that ye may know that ye have eternal life." (1 John 5:13)
"Because I live, ye shall live also." (John 14:19)
Jesus Christ's resurrection is the first fruits of them that slept.
That is something every Christian can know.
We can know because Christ suffered and died for our sins, and He rose again from the dead
so that we can live with Him forever.
So, we need not fear the death.
When Jesus was born, the angels said, "Fear not."
When the angel appeared at the tomb, he said to the women, "Fear not."
When Jesus appeared to John, He said, "Fear not."
Jesus can take away the fear of death.
He breaks the bonds of death and He destroys the power of Satan,
Those who have never received Christ should fear death. ...
Those who have been been given life by Christ, does not ever need to fear death.
Death has been destroyed.
Death has lost its sting.
A father and two boys were out for a picnic in a woods one day.
A huge bumblebee came buzzing around and stung one of the boys on the arm.
He cried out in pain as he rolled around on the ground.
Then. the bee began to buzz around the other boy.
The father looked at the son who had been bitten.
The other boy was flailing and screaming and crying and running.
The father said to him, "Son, don't run. Don't cry. Don't be afraid.
The bee has left his stinger in your brother."
So, death has left its sting in our elder brother, Jesus Christ.
All of that power of death was unleashed upon Him so that we do not have to fear dying.
Why should God let you into heaven?
No one deserve God's salvation.
We are all sinners.
We deserve death and hell.
We have sinned in thought and word and deed.
We have sinned by omission and commission, over and over thousand of times.
We deserve death and hell.
But Christ took all of our sins upon Himself on the cross.
He paid for all our sins, and He gives eternal life to those who will place their trust in Him.
Do you fear death?
You do not ever have to fear death or its consequences.
You can receive the free gift of eternal life by trusting in Christ today.
Remember, your hopes lie not in what you have done for God, but in what He has done
for you upon the cross of Calvary.
You and I do not know how close we are to our death.
It is possible that there are some here who are having their last Easter.
Don't look around and think: "Maybe that old gentleman who looks so feeble..." Oh no!
It may be that some of those who are young will not see another Easter.
Perhaps it may be you!
How will it be for you?
Jesus Christ is the only hope beyond this life.
Who is your hope?
Where will you spend all eternity?
Turn from your sins and invite Christ to come into your heart.
Trust Him as Saviour and Lord of your life!
You will receive the gift of eternal life and live forever in your home in heaven!
That is what Easter is all about!
Sermon by Dr. Harold White
