A TIME TO DIE

By Kevi Meru

There is a time for everything under heaven: a time to be born and a time to
die (Ecclesiastes 3).

Death is decreed for all mankind. Adam and Eve were warned of the
consequence of disobedience, which is death, but they failed to heed the warning
seriously and brought death upon all humans down through the centuries. Still in mercy,
God removed sudden death and showed them the way of salvation by way of sacrifice.
An animal was killed, thereby shedding blood, to make a covering for the nakedness of
Adam and Eve. Fig leaf was not enough.

So now death is a curse and all humans are subject to it: we are subject to aging,
death and decay. Death came about because of sin. To conquer death, Jesus came to
earth and lived a sinless life. He paid the penalty of sin, which is death, and because He
was sinless, He conquered death by His resurrection, and now Jesus possess the keys of
hell and death (Revelation 1:18). For a believer in Christ, the final enemy to defeat is
death --- at death he or she shed the physical body and rise with Christ in victory in
spiritual immortality (1 Corinthians 15:26, 44).
For the most part, the time that each individual dies is a mystery. People die of
different conditions and in different circumstances and stages. Unless clearly revealed, it
should never be presumed dying young or old is better. For example, in the Columbine
shooting in a school in Colorado, a girl by the name Rachel was confronted by her
assailants to give up her faith in Jesus Christ or die. She chose to die rather than
renounce her faith. She is now in heaven and God used her testimony to speak to
millions around the world.

Beginning with the early Christians, many died under persecutions. Some were
burnt, thrown to lions, murdered and the bodies given to the dog, tossed to the sea, etc.
They did not get a proper burial. The Bible says that flesh and blood shall not inherit the
kingdom of God. So at death the spirit leaves the body to go to its eternal destination:
some to everlasting shame and some to everlasting glory (Daniel 12:2).
A friend who is a registered nurse in America faced a dilemma over the body of
her deceased dad. Her brothers in the Philippines wanted his body be shipped overseas,
but that would be too expensive --- she has three children who needed her income.
Cremation would be both convenient and inexpensive. Her oldest son was a bit
conscientious of a Christian body being cremated. I told him about the many Christians
who died and their bodies were burnt, eaten, drowned or mutilated beyond recognition,
and that a funeral service is mainly for the living to find a respectable closure and a
loving memory. The family opted for cremation.

1
 In Luke 16:19-31, Jesus contrasted the story of a rich man and a beggar named
Lazarus. Let’s call the rich man Larry for convenience. Angels are commissioned to
help those who are to receive salvation (Hebrews 1:14). When Lazarus died, angels
escorted his spirit to paradise called Abraham’s bosom. Either his stinking body was
dumped in the trash and given to stray dogs and vultures and crows, or tossed into a lake
or dirty stream somewhere.
Larry too died and was buried with all ceremonial pomp and style. Many VIPs
signed the beautiful guestbook, the priest performed the rite in dignity, and the camera
man got a nice pay check. The local florist almost ran out of flowers. Befitting a
Hollywood style funeral, the food at the reception was top notch. The five rich brothers
thought they did an excellent job in organizing the memorial for their departed brother.
None of them had any clue what happened to Larry in the afterlife.
A reversal of fortune happened: Lazarus found himself in paradise and Larry
descended to hell. Larry was thirsty all the time but all the wealth he accumulated and
left behind could not afford him a bottle of water. “It is appointed unto men once to die
and after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). When Larry died, under the Law of Moses
then, he was no longer under the protection of God and His angels, because Larry never
repented (Luke 16:30). Demons awaited his dead and took his spirit away to hell.
Hell was made for the Devil and his angels. When man sinned, he disqualified
himself from the paradise of God and hence was not granted automatic access to
paradise. A penalty must be paid, and Jesus paid it. So the only way back to heaven is
through Jesus Christ who said: “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life, no man comes to
the Father but by me” (John 14:6).
Remember, fig leaf was not enough to cover Adam and Eve. The fig leaf of
religion and good works alone cannot bring salvation of the soul. Only the dead of Jesus
on the cross can satisfy the demand of redemption. “For there is none other name under
heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

Is your name written in heaven? Are you willing to be escorted to heaven by the
angels of God? Then call on Jesus now from the bottom of your heart. Follow this
prayer:
Dear Father in heaven, I am a sinner and I fully rely on the name of Jesus who
died on the cross for my salvation. Forgive all my sins and put them under the blood of
Christ, and receive me into your light. I confess Jesus died and rose again and I welcome
Him into my heart now. Thank you for your salvation. In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.
___________________________________________________

If you have prayed the sinner’s prayer with all sincerity, then I rejoice with you.
From now on, live a holy life and keep yourself in the love of God (Jude 20-25). For
prayer request, please write to the address below. If you have any question and wish for a
response, please include a self addressed stamped envelope (SASE). Or provide email if
you wish a response through it.

Yahweh International Ministries.

5917 Oak Avenue #343
Temple City, CA 91780-2020