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What is Death?

The Bible provides a peek into understanding the state of those who die and wait for the resurrection at the Second Advent of Jesus Christ. The Psalmist tells us that our thoughts perish at death in Psalms 146:4. In addition, the dead do not praise the Lord in Psalms 115:17. Certainly if one were to live in the state between death and resurrection, that one would praise God and have cognitive function.

Death as Sleep

In addition to the above, we should note that many Bible writers referred to the state of those in death as “sleep.” For example in Psalms 13:3, 1 Thessalonians 4:15, Matthew 27:52. Even Jesus refers to it as sleep in John 11:11-14.

Thus from the above we conclude that the period between death and resurrection is unconscious because our thoughts perish, and it is a sleep that we shall awaken from because the many Bible writers call it that. Thus it is an unconscious sleep or sometimes referred to as a dreamless sleep.

Awaking to Jesus

But this is good news. For sin created death, but the resurrection of Jesus turned death into just a mere sleep. (2 Timothy 1:10) And in a little while we will see our Redeemer coming back to wake us up. We may lie down and rest, but we will wake up and the trumpet blast of our Savior and Lord. (1 Thessalonians 4:16)

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The Joy of the Sabbath

The other day I was talking to a friend about the joy that the Sabbath brings. I do not have to work on that day. I can set aside cares and responsibilities that living in our contemporary world brings. I can take a nap in the middle of the day, I can reunite with members of my faith community, I can call friends, I can take a walk with my family.

I can do some missionary work. The Sabbath is a day that I can set aside worldly cares and be unencumbered in my kingdom living, however with a young child, I am beginning to wonder how to talk of and pass on the love for the Sabbath.

Many of us as children longed for the sun to go down on Sabbath because we didn’t have the cares of the week. We didn’t have the responsibililties waiting around the corner. We didn’t have the daily grind seeking to call us back. And so we don’t see that aspect of the Sabbath as welcome relief.

In addition, many middle class American children are shielded from the great pain and heartache arond the world. The Sabbath as a pointed to the coming kingdom is not as important when your present kingdom doesn’t seem so bad.

But these things perhaps pushes me to realize that undestanding the Sabbath is my point. It is on me to pass on this important ideal. I pray that God will give me the patience and love to pass on this blessing. as children, we are shielded from the blessing that the Sabbath points to. There are

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Powerful Testimony or Celebration of Sin?

Carl McRoy has written an article entitled Testipohnies. You can find the article at this link. In the article, McRoy chronicles the common occurrence of a preacher talking about his or her life of sin before coming to Jesus. We all have heard these stories. We listen intently as the preacher found his or herself in a tight situations. They have smoked cigarettes and done drugs, drank everything but Drano, stolen from the big pimp boss man, and some even killed other people. But GAAAWWWD brought them out of all that and here they are right now to tell you about it.

Glorifying Sin

McRoy makes a very startling point. Often in these “testimony” sermons the preacher only talks about the pleasurable things. They tell you about all the women they have slept with, but none of the diseases or the painful waiting for that Venereal Disease test to come back. They talk about the alcohol, but not the hangovers. They talk about the glamor of sin and not the underside of it. Certainly there are exceptions, but in many cases this is what you find.

Belittling Those Without These Experiences

But more than this, and I have experienced some of this, we have people who will actually belittle those who have not engaged in some of these practices. The preacher will take on a pious or sanctimonious tone and mock those who have attempted live a whole life in line with Christian principles.

Encouraging to Put Off Coming to Jesus

Finally, and McRoy brings this important point out, these stories can promote living a lifestyle that is not in line with Chrsitian principles, becuase ultimately you will have a later chance to come back to God. While it is true God will forgive, it is also true that sometimes we face the hard issue that we often do reap the harvest that we have sown. Testimonies are important and should be given, but we must never either glorify sin, belittle those who have not had the experiences of these sins, nor should we make people think that they can put off till tomorrow coming to a saving relationship with Jesus Christ.