Christian Death Christian Life (2 Thessalonians 1:11-12)
Gary McManus, 02/19/2023Part of the New Life series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
February 19, 2023 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12
At DCC, we have been looking at America’s Top Ten Fears (from Chapman University).
Even as America’s fears, notice that Americans cannot even agree about what they are afraid of.
Last time we noticed that five of the top ten American fears concern death.
Some things Pastor did not mention about life and death last time. Let’s talk about Christian death. . . and Christian life.
For the Christian, there are worse things than death. . .is Pastor not correct?
On earth we live among evil deeds and evil people.
Especially, if you are elderly, what do you have to live
for? Most of your people are already in Heaven.
This world does not have much to offer you.
How do we know this? The Apostle himself said so
(Philippians 1: 21-23)
Other life experiences where death is not the worst thing.
--“a living hell”?
--“Hell on earth”?
If life is more an experience of Hell. . .then death
is preferable.
--Nazi concentration camps
--WW2 combat in the Pacific Theater .
--Prisoner of War camps
--ethnic cleansing killings.
Closer to home, using all medical means to keep alive? . . .Is death worse?
Cannot death come as a friend, to end suffering?
(when recovery or cure are not possible)
Let’s hear from some Christians.
Pastor Don Piper, 90 Minutes in Heaven.
--traffic accident, pronounced dead
--34 surgeries over the next several months
--pain and recovery so difficult, Pastor Piper didn’t
know why he couldn’t stay in Heaven.
(Heaven was wonderful; 1 Corinthians 2:9.)
(We will look at an answer to that question.)
Looking at Don Piper’s experience. . .
can we affirm with the Apostle that death is not the
worst thing that can happen to any of us?
What about Annabel Beam?
Miracles from Heaven by Christy Beam (mother)
Film, Miracles from Heaven
Discussed in a sermon in 2016.
--she fell thirty feet. . .basically uninjured
--said she “sat in Jesus’ lap”
--Jesus told her she would be okay
--Having suffered an incurable illness for five years,
after the thirty foot fall, Annabel was healed.
The doctors refuse to let them say that she was cured (by them).
While talking to Jesus (in Heaven), Anna protested to Jesus that she wanted to stay in Heaven. Anna reports that Jesus said, “My child, I have things for you to do on earth that you cannot do in Heaven.”
SO, the question has been placed: if Heaven is so
wonderful, why can’t Christians just all die and go to heaven?
Ephesians 2:4-10: WE ARE God’s work, created (and born again) for good works. (Saved to do good, not the other way around.)
--on earth (where God created us and meets us)
--for God’s glory (Romans 11:36, 1 Peter 2:12)
Crudely: God’s job is to love us.
Our job is to glorify God and
hopefully those two things are connected. Amen.
Earlier: | Same day: | Later: |
---|---|---|
« Death Yes Death | None | Sin is more than what we DO » |