Life is a journey from the cradle to the grave. Although the length of the journey varies for every person, one thing is common: a person moves toward the grave as soon as he or she is born. The farther one is from the day of your birth, the nearer one is to the grave. There is a beginning to life, but there is also an end to it. Death is an inevitable fact of life.
Some die of diseases, some of old age, some drown, and others starve, but all these causes of death are not the absolute cause. The Bible says that death comes from sin; for wherever sin is, there is death. Since all have sinned, death comes to all. Sin and death are like an object and its shadow.
Death is dreaded by worldly people because they do not know what takes place after death. Yet death is also feared by believers who have turned away from the true path of salvation. For them, as the book of Hebrews states, there are no more sacrifices for sin. Those who have fallen away can only tremble in wait for the eternal fires of condemnation. For devout believers, on the other hand, death is the end of toil in this world and the beginning of eternal blessings in heaven.
Death is the destiny of humanity; so is judgment. No one can escape death or judgment, for God is the one who establishes both law and justice. He is the God who judges all people. As the end of this world approaches, God will reveal His justice according to what each person has done. To some He will give the gift of eternal life, to others eternal condemnation.
The end of all things is near. We ought to keep in mind that judgment begins with the family of God. If it is difficult for the righteous to enter into the heavenly kingdom, how do the ungodly stand a chance? To sinners, judgment is the outpouring of God’s wrath, but for the righteous it is the anointing of grace:
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness... (2 Tim 4:7–8)
May we be able to sing this triumphant song at the end of our earthly lives.
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