A man had a friend who enlarged his business. His sales had increased to the point that a larger warehouse and sales office were needed. Even though the move was a rather complicated and burdensome process, it was really a thing to be celebrated. For this reason, the man sent his friend some flowers on the day of his grand opening. The flowers, however, were poorly handled and the businessman received a bouquet that was intended for a funeral. It was accompanied with a card which said: “My deepest sympathy during this time of sorrow.” When the man called his friend on the phone to wish him well, he was confronted with the error, “Why in the world,” said the businessman, “did you send me these sympathy flowers?” The man went immediately to the florist to demand an explanation. The florist met him outside the shop and was obviously upset. “I am terribly sorry about the mix-up with the flowers,” he said, “but I hope you will understand. Your situation is not half as bad as the one down at the funeral home. The folks there received your flowers accompanied by the card which said: “BEST WISHES IN YOUR NEW LOCATION.”

Transition

In reality, death is nothing but a “new location.” For a Christian, that new location is the glories of heaven. As we look at the account of Sarah’s death here in Genesis 23, we are reminded of three important truths about death.

Death is Inevitable

Sarah was a godly woman. She is the only woman in the Bible to have her age at death recorded. She is praised in 1 Peter 3:6 for her obedient example as a wife. She is commended as a woman of faith in Hebrews 11:11. Now at 127, Abraham mourns her death. Even for such a godly woman death was inevitable. There are two questions that surface as we think on this.

  1. What is death?
    1. The Bible tells us that man is a three part being. Our bodies are material and our souls and spirits are immaterial. Death occurs when our immaterial soul and spirit leave our material body.
    2. Though there is a lot of talk about near-death experiences, dying and returning, and clinical death, once the soul and spirit leave the body, they do not return.A glove represents the body, my hand the soul and spirit. Without life inside, the glove is lifeless and empty.
  2. Why is death inevitable?
    1. Why can’t death be avoided? Since the moment Adam and Eve sinned, the death process has been in action. When they sinned, they instantly died spiritually and instantly began to die physically. This we inherited.(Romans 5:12) “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:” Death is the divine judgment of wilful disobedience.
    2. Every person will one day leave his material body.(Hebrews 9:27) “And as it is appointed unto men once to die …”

Mourning is Natural

When Sarah died, Abraham, mourned and wept, v.2. His mourning and weeping was appropriate and fitting, intense and sincere, yet limited and restrained. We should not deny that death brings sorrow. It does. Its pain is real. Its loss is genuine. Even Jesus experienced this as his cousin John the Baptist died and as He himself prepared for death. From events in Christ’s life, we can find 6 practical lessons on how to cope with the pain of death.

  1. Spend time alone (Matthew 14:13, 23).
    1. After John’s death, Jesus sought to be alone to pray. This time can be used to reflect on the lost loved one’s life as well as our own past – present – future. What if it had been me? Would I have been ready? What am I doing with my life for God?
    2. Distinguish between life’s important and trivial activities.(Psalms 90:12) “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.”
  2. Don’t be afraid to show emotion.
    1. Abraham wept for Sarah, Joseph wept when his father died (Gen 50:1), the disciples mourned and wept when Jesus died (Mar 16:10), and Jesus wept when Lazarus died (John 11:35). Crying when a loved one dies is not a sign of weakness, but an expression of love.Someone wisely said, “Broken bones take time to heal and broken hearts take even longer.”
    2. When a Christian dies, we cry, but not as painfully as when an unbeliever dies. The soul of the believer is with the Lord in heaven.(1 Thessalonians 4:13) “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.”

      (2 Corinthians 5:8) “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.”

  3. Remember that sorrow is only temporary.
    1. Because Christ rose from the dead, He will resurrect the bodies of all true Christians.(1 Thessalonians 4:16) “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:”
    2. Christ will one day wipe away all tears.(Revelation 21:4) “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”
  4. Share your sorrow with a friend.
    1. In Matthew 26:37, Jesus spent his sorrowful hours with his friends.
    2. True friends will quietly comfort. Pour your heart out to them.(Romans 12:15) “Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.”
  5. Accept death as God’s will (John 3:16).
    1. Christ’s death was God’s plan.
    2. God makes no mistakes.(Ecclesiastes 3:2) “A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;”
  6. Resume a normal schedule as soon as possible (Matthew 14:14).
    1. Jesus did not spend prolonged time mourning, but turned his attention to the needs of others.
    2. Pleasant activity heals the heart.

Preparation is Priceless

Though death is inevitable and mourning is natural, we need not fear death if we are prepared. To help us prepare for death, we must understand two facts.

  1. One day we will die and stand before our Creator.
    1. We cannot escape death.
    2. Right NOW, before death, is our only time to prepare.
  2. Death is not the end, but the door to eternity.
    1. We will all live eternally in one of two places—heaven or hell. There are no exceptions. Jesus described death as passing through a gate – The wide gate opened into destruction and the narrow gate to everlasting life (Matthew 7:13-14). (See also Luke 16:19-31)(Hebrews 9:27) “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:”
    2. Our destiny is sealed at death. There is no second chance.(Revelation 20:15) “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”

Conclusion

This morning we have been reminded that death is inevitable. Our friends and relatives will someday die and so will we. We all have an appointment with death. When we lose a loved one we should remember the six lessons Christ gave us to help us cope with the pain. Most importantly, we have been reminded of the importance of preparing for death. If you have not placed your faith solely in Christ’s payment for your sin, you are not ready to die. Jesus said, (John 5:24) “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” If you have not passed from death unto life, trust Jesus to save you today.

Song: Come to the Saviour 254
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Truths About Death
21 September 2014 AM – Genesis 23:1-20 – Gen 14 – Scott Childs