March 7, 2007

Dear Friend,

Let's talk a little about death.  Most people don't like to talk about it or even think about it.  But it's pretty much a part of everyone's life down here on this earth. Our pets die, people we know die, and eventually we all die. So let's look at the topic of death.

There are many different ideas about death and what happens to a person in the moments after they are dead.  But the Bible gives us only one option for the person who is dead; they are dead, and not alive somewhere! But it uses another term to refer to a person who has died, a term to describe their mental state and their condition, and that is sleep. In fact, the Bible refers to death as a sleep over 50 times. 

David, Solomon, and many other kings of Israel and Judah were after death described as sleeping with their forefathers (1 Kings 2:10; 11:43; 14:20, 31; 15:8; 2 Chronicles 21:1; 26:23; etc.). Job referred to death as a sleep (Job 7:21; 14:10–12), as did the psalmist (Psalm 13:3), and Daniel (Daniel 12:2). In the New Testament Christ stated that the dead daughter of Jairus was sleeping (Matthew 9:24; Mark 5:39). He referred to the deceased Lazarus in the same manner (John 11:11–14). Paul and Peter also called death a sleep (1 Corinthians 15:51, 52; 1 Thessalonians 4:15–17; 2 Peter 3:4). Many saints "which slept" arose from their graves at the resurrection of Christ and appeared to many (Matthew 27:52-53). Luke, the writer of Acts, described the martyrdom of Stephen as falling asleep (Acts 7:60).When you stop and think about it, sleep is a fitting symbol of death.  Let's look at some of the comparisons between sleep and death:

 1.      Sleep is a condition of unconsciousness.

"The dead know not any thing." Ecclesiastes 9:5, 6.

"His breath goeth forth...; in that very day his thoughts perish." Psalm 146:4.

 3.      Sleep brings an end to all the day's activities.

"There is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave." Ecclesiastes 9:10.

"Neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun."  Ecclesiastes 9:6.

"Their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished." Ecclesiastes 9:6.

 6.      In sleep, men do not praise God.

"The dead praise not the Lord." Ps 115:17.

"For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks?" Psalm 6:5

 7.      Sleep is transitory and presupposes an awakening.

"Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee." Job 14:15.

"The hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth." John 5:28, 29.

"And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt."  Daniel 12:2.

So the next time someone you knows passes to their rest, you can comfort their loved ones with the comforting news that they are truly resting now. And all of us, while we are still alive, must be sure we take the time each day to give God our lives and put our trust in Christ and follow His desires. And then we will not have any fear of death, since it's only an unconscious state until the Second Coming of Christ and the resurrection!

Have a great week; and, remember, I'm praying for you!

Mark