Suffering and Death (Protestant and Lutheran Caucus/Devotional)

“These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth” (v. 13). - Hebrews 11:13–16

No discussion of suffering could long proceed without addressing the subject of death. History books tell us of numerous events, such as the Black Plague, in which immense suffering culminated in death. But death does not touch us only from a distance through the study of the past. We have all felt the impact of death personally as we have seen friends and loved ones die, many of them having suffered through long periods of illness. Furthermore, we know that the sicknesses we suffer in the present are evidence of the fallenness of creation and that, unless Jesus comes back first, we will likewise die, many of us from disease or simply because our bodies have worn out.

Certainly, Scripture never shies away from talking about death. Yet, while it does tell us that we will die (Gen. 3:17–19; Eccl. 9:1–6), Scripture’s teaching on death focuses far more on the condition of our souls at death than it does on the mere fact that we will die. God’s Word tells us that there are only two ways to die: in faith or in our sins.

To die in our sins is the most terrible thing we can imagine. Those who die in their sins do not enter heaven. They are separated from the sheep who trust in the Good Shepherd, the giver of eternal life, and placed among the goats, those who have never trusted in Jesus (Matt. 25:31–46; John 8:24). God’s Word tells us that there are only two possible ways to pass from this life into the next. All who lack a living faith in Christ when they die will not enter glory but will suffer forever in hell (Matt. 25:41–46; James 2:14–26). As the book of Revelation tells us, those who do not believe in Christ will suffer not only now but also forever in the life to come (Rev. 20:11–15).

People who die in faith, however, go on to a great reward. Everyone who rests in Christ Jesus alone for salvation joins His flock and experiences the eternal bliss of life in the presence of God (Matt. 25:31–40; 1 Cor. 13:12). God will never be ashamed to be the God of those who die in faith, and so all believers can be confident that a better country awaits them on the other side of the grave (Heb. 11:13–16). As we persevere in faith, we become more confident that by grace alone, we are already citizens of this better country. This means that true faith goes beyond a fleeting emotional experience, but it clings fast to Christ even when others might think it foolish or unwise to do so (Matt. 13:18–23; Heb. 11). May Christ Jesus grant and sustain this persevering faith in us.

We know that it is impossible for anyone who has truly put his trust in Jesus alone to fall away finally from Christ. How do we know that we have such faith, which is the only kind of faith that can save? One way is that we continue holding onto the promises of God and taking our needs to Him, trusting that He is walking with us always. As we walk with Him, our assurance will grow, and we will be confident that heaven is our reward.

Psalm 23:4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,3 I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my scup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and mercy5 shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall tdwell6 in the house of the Lord forever.

16 And at the end of seven days, the word of the Lord came to me: 17 “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. 18 If I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, in order to save his life, that wicked person shall die for4 his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. 19 But if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, or from his wicked way, he shall die for his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul. 20 Again, if a righteous person turns from his righteousness and commits injustice, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die. Because you have not warned him, he shall die for his sin, and his righteous deeds that he has done shall not be remembered, but his blood I will require at your hand. 21 But if you warn the righteous person not to sin, and he does not sin, he shall surely live, because he took warning, and you will have delivered your soul.

John 11:25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

Revelation 20:11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. 13 And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. 14 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

Ping!

Sorry that I didn’t post yesterday, there was a bit of a flood in my town and I couldn’t get home and then work.

All is well with the Gamecock family, but please pray for South Carolina. There are many areas of our state that are hard hit and it is not even making the news.

From the devotional: God’s Word tells us that there are only two ways to die: in faith or in our sins.

Yes

God's Word is not ambiguous here. No third way exists.

In my previous post, I mentioned a "third way"...people may wonder what contrasting ways (third ways) are presented as religious options, and I would encourage them to review, for example...these keywords...not meant to be embattled words, but simply offered up as fuel for study...

Contrasting words like purgatory, or the Mormon phrase "savior on Mt. Zion" -- which upon closer examination places people in a waiting "third way" posture while somebody other than Jesus "saves" you by proxy baptism...freeing you from being "dammed up"...

Or another comparative keyword is "universalism," as embraced by Unitarian Universalists & 33-degree Masons (just study any true Masonic funeral to see what I mean)

And, when considering that keyword "faith" in this article -- some religious movements militate against its uniqueness with a tendency to merge contrasting beliefs (The Bahai movement is a perfect example).

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