Good morning,
I am the Chaplain for the Wasilla Senior Center. I work with seniors on a daily basis. I observe seniors in very good health and others with various maladies. Some are scared about death, others are not. Why is that? Some have settled the issue of what comes next and others have not.
Paul, the apostle, was not afraid of death. In fact, he was looking forward to it. He had accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior and was actively serving Him. “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.22 But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labor: yet what I shall choose I wot not.23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:24 Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.” (Philippians 1:21-24)
Paul knew that when he died he would be immediately with the Lord.
“Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.9 Wherefore we labor, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.” (2 Corinthians 5:6-9)
That is why our seniors who have repented of their sins, accepted Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord of their lives, have the assurance that they will go to be with Jesus when they die. The Bible tells us there will be no sin, disease, or tears where Jesus is. No worries.
Those who have chosen to reject Jesus or make no profession either way, have inadvertently followed their father the devil. He is a deceiver, angel of light, and a liar. The consequence of this decision is separation from God for all eternity (forever). The Bible is clear that there will be a day of reckoning.
“So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.” (Romans 14:12)
“And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:11-15) The lake of fire is a place of torment day and night forever.
Please choose to follow God. He wants you. He sent Jesus to die on the cross for your sins.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
Choose Jesus.
Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001
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