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Introduction:
Life can be confusing. Almost everyone struggles with their identity and eventually joins the quest for finding purpose in life. We spend our days trying to be in charge, achieve, and belong. These struggles are all elements of the journey to discovering what life is all about. Incorrect assumptions of the purpose of life can lead to bad decisions and empty and distracted living, but finding the true purpose of life leads to focused and fulfilled living.
“Be on your guard, so that your minds are not dulled from carousing, drunkenness, and worries of life, or that day will come on you unexpectedly 35like a trap. For it will come on all who live on the face of the whole earth.” —Luke 21:34-35
This collection of talks will provide answers from the Bible to four of the most important questions people ask:
September 5th “Why Am I Here on This Earth?”
September 12th “Can I Be Happy and Fulfilled in Life?”
September 19th “How Do I Make the Most of My Life?”
September 26th “What Happens After I Leave This Earth?”
Text: Ecclesiastes 12 (Old Testament, CSB)
THINK WEEK #4: “What Happens After I Leave This Earth?”
Today’s Takeaway: Death should not scare us; it should prepare us.
I. THE
OF DEATH (Ecclesiastes 3:1-2)
A. Death is
“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:” —Hebrews 9:27
Death is not an
Death only happens
Death is not
B. Death’s timing is
“Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit” 14yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. 15Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” 16As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.” —James 4:13-16
II. THE
FOR DEATH (Ecclesiastes 9:5-6)
Death is a divine judgment executed upon man because of Adam’s sin.
“Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned:” —Romans 5:12
III. THE
OF DEATH (Ecclesiastes 9:7)
We remain separated from God in Hell or we enjoy the celebration in Heaven.
A. A Snapshot of
“…and in Hell, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. 24 And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’ 25 But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may —not be able, and none may cross from there to us.” Luke 16:23-26
It is a place of
“… will be cast out into outer darkness:” —Matthew 8:12a
“… In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” —Matthew 13:42bIt is a place of
“And will cast them into a furnace of fire:” —Matthew 13:42a
It is a place of
“Who will be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;” —2 Thessalonians 1:9
B. A Snapshot of
It is a place of
“For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling.6So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.” —2 Corinthians 5:1-2, 6-8
“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” —Romans 8:18It is a place of
“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” —Psalm 16:11
It is a place of
“And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” —Revelation 21:3-4
IV. OUR
TO DEATH (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14)
“O death, where is your sting? O grave, where is your victory? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” —1 Corinthians 15:55-58
A.
“And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. 13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.” —1 John 5:11-13
B.
“For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw 13 each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. 14 If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.” —1 Corinthians 3:11-15
CONCLUSION: What will happen to you after this life is over?
DEEP DIVE QUESTIONS:
Are you scared of death? Why or why not?
Do you believe the reason for death that Ralph showed us from Romans 5:12 is a just one?
Compare and contrast the snapshots of Hell and Heaven using the verses listed in the notes.
Salvation and Service were listed as our right responses to death. Can you think of any others, either right or wrong?