46 lines
4.6 KiB
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46 lines
4.6 KiB
HTML
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<title>How Should the Believer View Their Own Death?</title>
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<div class="head">How Should the Believer View Their Own Death?</div>
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<p>Scripture says that this life is not all that there is - we are beings made for eternity. Death is the doorway to eternity for all of us. This eternity will be one of a conscious existence. Consequently a person must be prepared. How then should the believer view their own death?
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<p><b>Not to Be Feared</b>
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<p>Although the believer has to suffer physical death because of the original sin of Adam, death loses its horror because it transports the believer into a better life. Therefore, for the believer, death is not something to be feared. Though it is the separation of the spirit and the body, it is a separation into something better.
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<p><b>1. Not the End</b>
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<p>Death is a transition not an end. Consequently the terror of death is removed. David wrote.
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<blockquote><p>Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me (<a id="nbi179-si1" onClick="return mV('Psa',23,4);">Psa 23:4</a>).</p></blockquote>
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<p>Believers know the Lord is with them when they have to face death. They only enter the valley of the shadow of death, not the reality. Although believers die physically, there is not the same separation as the unbeliever experiences in death. This is because the Lord is with them. Therefore nothing can separate the believer from the Lord.
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<p><b>2. Death Is a Source of Blessing</b>
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<p>The Bible teaches that death is a source of blessing to the believer. The psalmist proclaimed.
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<blockquote><p>Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His faithful ones (<a id="nbi179-si2" onClick="return mV('Psa',116,15);">Psa 116:15</a>).</p></blockquote>
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<p>Paul wrote.
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<blockquote><p>And not only they, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body (<a id="nbi179-si3" onClick="return mV('Rom',8,23);">Rom 8:23</a>).</p></blockquote>
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<p><b>3. Place Being Prepared</b>
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<p>The Bible says that a place is being prepared for believers. Jesus said.
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<blockquote><p>Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house there are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to Myself, so that where I am, there you may be also (<a id="nbi179-si4" onClick="return mV('Jhn',14,'1-3');">Jhn 14:1-3</a>).</p></blockquote>
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<p><b>4. Citizenship in Heaven</b>
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<p>Christians have their citizenship in heaven. Paul wrote.
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<blockquote><p>But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will transform the body of our humiliation that it may be conformed to the body of His glory, by the power that also enables him to make all things subject to Himself (<a id="nbi179-si5" onClick="return mV('Phl',3,20,21);">Phl 3:20-21</a>).</p></blockquote>
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<p>The believer is a citizen of two worlds, although we live here on earth our true home is with God in heaven. The Bible says we are strangers and pilgrims. Peter addressed his letter to these pilgrims.
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<blockquote><p>The pilgrims of the dispersion (<a id="nbi179-si6" onClick="return mV('1Pe',1,1);">1Pe 1:1</a>).</p></blockquote>
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<p><b>5. No Comparison</b>
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<p>Paul said there is no comparison between this life and the next.
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<blockquote><p>I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us (<a id="nbi179-si7" onClick="return mV('Rom',8,18);">Rom 8:18</a>).</p></blockquote>
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<p>Friends and riches will be far greater in heaven then here on earth. Everything worthwhile will be greater in heaven.
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<p><b>Summary</b>
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<p>Death is something to be expected unless the Lord comes first. However, it is not something to be feared by the believer. Death is the process of moving from one sphere of existence to the next. Since the citizenship of the believer is not of this world, the departure from this world is something that will be joyous.</p>
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