May your soul “rest in peace”, the common words that echo from our hearts whenever we hear of the death of someone, whether close or distant. It is sometimes our final well wish as we ponder on a life lost in that eventual battle with death. And death, when close to the heart is never easy to bear, especially when it is tragic in nature, for it drains the minds of those left behind into exhaustion. A lot of questions go unanswered, which causes anger and frustration, with tear ducts running dry from the realisation that the life lost will never be seen again.
Death also grants us the opportunity to look within and evaluate our lives to ascertain if it is heading in the path that leads to glory, glory in Christ. It is from this self evaluation that I find it difficult to utter those words “rest in peace”, especially when I have no idea how the lost soul will stand before God. For a life outside of the covering of the sacrificed blood of Jesus has no chance of peace on the other side, only torment awaits such a soul for eternity (Rev 20:10). This is when reality starts to sink in deep for me, for We have only one shot at this life and oh it has to count.
John, paints a very graphic picture in Revelation 20…..
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. 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. 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. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:11-15 ESV)
This is man’s last day in God’s court. This court scene will not be like the familiar trials held on earth. For those on trial this day will experience a very different kind of court. There will be no debate about guilt or innocence. There will be a prosecutor but no defender, there will be an accuser but no advocate. There will be an indictment but no case for the charged. There will be a swift presentation of the convicting evidence but no rebuttal, a testimony with no cross examination. There will be an utterly unsympathetic judge and no jury. There will be a sentence but no appeal, a punishment with no parole in a jail with no escape.
The dead, great (in order of earthly importance) and small (earthly insignificance) will stand before the throne with books opened before them showing in details clearer than the highest definition all they have done (sins) and not done (accepting Christ). These books will serve as the basis from where their judgement will come from, according to what they had done… Rev 20:12-13
It is said that no one in the entire New Testament mentions hell more than our Lord Jesus Christ. Let it be imprinted upon our hearts that even the very breath we take must have at its very core the purpose to bring Him glory. For every obscene word, inane thought and self gratifying act will be accounted for before God. (2 Corinthians 5:10)
In that book of life, only those submitted to Christ will be found on it. His sacrifice displayed the highest level of submission and those whom He died for live a life of complete surrender to Him, taking care to obey His commandments out of love and reverence for Him.
My warmest prayer and declaration is that me and my house will serve the Lord with every breath He gifts us (Joshua 24:15)… I pray it is so for you too..
Sola Gratia…
The Lord's Vision 