It would appear that we humans spend so much time thinking, planning and doing for ourselves, we might be missing the significance of a death occurring on our behalf. Now that I have stated that, I am sure you are thinking in terms of any of our servicemen and women dying on the battlefield…for us. That would not be totally correct. Let’s take a look at the history of the people of Israel, God’s chosen.

The entire book of Genesis 22, it is the first time that God Almighty asks for a sacrifice of a life, which in the beginning it was to be the life of Abraham’s son Isaac. In the end it was a ram that was sacrificed, instead of his son, Isaac. Yet we see that from that time on, the sacrifice of an animal was for the sins of the people. Here is what bothers me: Most people will read about these sacrifices and never catch on that, either an animal or a person would be the sacrifice.

Leviticus 20:1-5 “And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Again, thou shalt say to the children of Israel, Whosoever he be of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn in Israel, that giveth any of his seed unto Molech; he shall surely be put to death: the people of the land shall stone him with stones. And I will set my face against that man, and will cut him off from among his people; because he hath given of his seed unto Molech, to defile my sanctuary, and to profane my holy name.

And if the people of the land do any ways hide their eyes from the man, when he giveth of his seed unto Molech, and kill him not: Then I will set my face against that man, and against his family, and will cut him off, and all that go a whoring after him, to commit whoredom with Molech, from among their people.”

In the passage above we see that sacrificing a child to Molech was a very bad thing as far as the Lord God Almighty was concerned, and would be bad as well for you and me. The point is this: Something of value was to be a sacrifice. Something or someone, depending on who you were and where you were was to die.

I find it to be most disturbing to think in terms of anything or anyone or any animal to be killed for any reason and, yes, I do indeed enjoy a steak now and then (that is what I mean). I don’t think you want to be there as the slaughtered animal or person. Not just because of the gore, but what right or reason do we have for killing anything? And yes, I like a good roast beef or steak and barbecued ribs, so I am just as guilty as anyone.

The Israelites sacrificed bulls and rams and even lambs, though the unblemished Lamb was the pinnacle for the purpose of covering their sin, according to the Lord God. Yet I want you to  think in terms of the animal. I am absolutely positive it did not choose to die and did not do so willingly. If you chose to sacrifice me there would some serious issues at hand, and I am sure the animals were just the same. In other words, I am asking you to look at this issue from a different perspective and most probably, one that is a little unsettling.

We have the ability to walk about a beautifully made and surgically clean…grocery store. We see the cuts of meat are individually wrapped for cleanliness, with bright lighting to be sure we have the most fresh cuts available. The point is this: We are not present at the killing and butchering of the animal, we do not need to see the fear in the animal’s eyes just before death. Whether or not we wish to see all of that, it is a fact. For our subsistence and health, an animal had to die and to die whether it wanted that or not. It is the same for the sacrifices by the people of Israel.

Having looked at this from this particular vantage point, we see that death is something very important, if not to you, then to the animal. A life is being snuffed out. Does this make any sense to you? And the second point is that there is fear involved and some pain, or maybe you have never been hunting.

Our way of life nowadays has made everything so clean and clinical, no fuss or muss for any of us. But the death is significant. Does the animal wish to die, to end its life? Of course not. Do you wish to die, for whatever reason? Of course not. Every being wants to maintain and enjoy life. It is this basic fact that I refer to. Life is precious to all, even to plants and trees or maybe you have never thought that deeply. Or it could be that this sort of thinking is not your cup of tea, so to speak? So what is this thing, the sacrifice of life?

It would be ridiculous to think of dying without any fear and I am sure you have at least thought of that before. You must admit, death changes everything and how it changes is anyone’s guess.  Right? Jesus Christ, our God, Lord and Savior chose to come here to earth and be born as a human being. The entire idea was that Jesus Christ was sinless and there was only one purpose for HIS death…to cover our sin with HIS Blood.

So how significant was HIS death? Do you think there was any fear in HIS death or pain for that matter? I mean, we are talking about the Lord God Almighty coming to earth to DIE on a Roman cross… to provide us with salvation unto heaven. Do you have any idea the concern that Jesus might have felt for the severe beatings and torture, and then to be mailed to a wooden cross?

Or maybe you have not considered that Jesus Christ as God knew the majority of humanity would reject HIM and HIS gift of salvation. We are talking about God the Creator creating mankind and then allowing HIS creation to kill HIM! Can you see how mindboggling that is?

There is one thing for sure, no one wants to talk or think about their own death. It’s scary, right? And yet a born-again Christians should have NO fear whatsoever, because death will bring life in eternity with the Lord Jesus Christ; the Bible tells us that. In other words, it’s one thing to talk about that path and it is quite another to walk that path.” The problem is, at least in my mind, everyone and everything is going to die one day and there is NO escaping that fact.

Philippians 1:21 “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

The apostle Paul stated this because he was talking about his death and then being with Jesus Christ (which he preferred), and yet he knew he needed to remain here to help you and me. Therefore, the purpose for life and death, here, needs to be for better reasons. As true followers of Jesus Christ we already know why we are here (or at least we should know). The very things  we fear are the exact things we should be considering all the time; we need a better perspective and Jesus Christ fills that need. That said, life and death are not for you and me to FEAR.

These two areas are the whole enchilada of our existence. Then why do we spend so little time thinking of these? When we think of these things, according to the Word of God, we find that it is Jesus Christ…at the center of all of it. If we spent more time thinking about Jesus Christ, we would have less time to think on the foolish things of our little lives and less time considering “It’s all about ME.”

Do you think I’m wrong? Who loves Christmas? The presents should be for, who? The meals satisfy, who? Starting to catch on here? I hope so. This physical life here on earth is a short one at that. On the other hand, eternity is forever. Thus, if you think long and hard about it, you should realize one is better than the other. It does not require simple math or even being a genius, to figure out which one lasts longer

Yet… there are requirements for an eternity in heaven. Now the question is, how much time are you willing to spend to find out the truths in acquiring the best ending in eternity? If you’re too busy having fun to contemplate your eternity, then you will have the eternity you desire. If in fact, that contemplation does not include Jesus Christ, then you will have hell for eternity. Come on my friends! You already know, it’s one way or the other.

Looking at life from this perspective you are able to see that life is important to all, human or animal. Life is significant to you as an individual, thus the reason you strive for the things of this life… for yourself. And the reason you continually see yourself first and everyone or everything else second. And for one moment, you ought to see and understand just how significant your choice of heaven or hell really is…

Death comes for all. Only a select number in all of the history of mankind will not taste death, those in the Rapture. It sort of makes sense that we are living in the last days, that we take this accounting seriously.

Okay, so I have decided to stop talking about death in my articles, not because I don’t like it or you don’t like it. But there are so many other things that need to be understood in this life and many things we have not touched on, as of yet. Would it surprise you to know how often we may be troubling the Holy Spirit by the things we like in God’s Word and the things we don’t?

And you would be right to include death in that summation. As I have said, death is not something we like to discuss and having said that, we also know it is important to know, because it is a part of this life and according to the Word of God.

In a previous article I wrote about what some think when they lose a loved one, that: They are in a better place. The question still remains, how do you know that? These people always say, “Well, it’s in the Bible.” True enough, it is in the Bible. Yet how do you know the loved one that has passed on belonged to Jesus Christ?

The point is, no one knows for sure because that is between the Lord and that loved one. So this leaves a bit of speculation on our part, am I not correct? Again, that is where the “Rubber meets the road” so to speak.

We read the verses that talk about the love of God for us, and people of other religions say the exact same thing. They simply call God by another name. Yet everyone tells the bereaved families that their loved one is in heaven—when that may not be true. There is a blank spot when we think about this concept; suddenly the ground is a little shaky, right?

The question is, how do we know this for sure? We understand that these people mean well when saying such things; they want to lessen our pain and suffering. And of course, it would be considered crass to ask them: “How do you know this for sure?” We simply shut our mouths and smile back.

What other areas do you think people use the Word of God incorrectly?

How about those who come to church every Sunday? Those who know all the hymns and even some Scripture; yet they have never asked Jesus Christ to save them. Their sins have never been covered by the blood of Jesus Christ on the Cross. How many will pray to Mary, as they believe she is the Queen of Heaven?

What I am trying to get across to you is this: A little knowledge of God’s Word can be just as bad as knowing nothing. And then in some cases, there is the outright removal of God’s Word or manipulation to make it fit what we want it to say and mean, rather than what is actually there.

Where in the Word of God, does it tell us that we need to make our lives prosperous, financially? Or is the Lord God telling us we need to be a person of integrity, faithful and true to HIM? Where is it in the Bible that God is the ultimate ATM machine? Have you ever read a passage of Scripture, where Jesus Christ made someone filthy rich? Is it where Jesus Christ healed someone that was lame or sick, in an effort to show the need for our Spirits to be healed, as much as our bodies? How about this?:

Matthew 6:19-21 “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

So if you’re so busy asking the Lord God Almighty for as much money as you can accumulate, how much treasure will you have in heaven? Please remember, everything physical will stay right here on earth…after you die. Of what need will there be for money in heaven, where everything you could ever need will be available to you? Does this make any sense to you?

“They must be in heaven. They were such good people!” This is another common statement, when in actuality we do not know the score with that loved one and the Lord God Almighty! Lets read God’s Holy Word and see what HE has to say to you and me, about our integrity and wealth.

Mark 10:17-21 “And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, ‘Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God. Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, honour thy father and mother.’

And he answered and said unto him, ‘Master, all these have I observed from my youth.’ Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, ‘One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.’ And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.”

Oops…we just killed two birds with one stone, so to speak. Who would be able to think in this manner and in several sentences convict a person? For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. None of us are GOOD, We are as filthy rags.

If for nothing else because of being born a human and having “original sin” from Adam and Eve. It is the most serious question of all, Where is your treasure? Is it found in “religion” or in money or is it in Jesus Christ?

Isaiah 55:8-9 “My thoughts are not your thoughts neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

If the Lord God is greater than you or me, then why should we change anything that the Word of God states as fact? Humans are the fallen species…we are the ones that commit sins and need to be forgiven of them through the blood of Jesus Christ on the Cross at Calvary! There is NO HUMAN that is able to do THAT for any of us…ONLY JESUS CHRIST.

The Pope is just a human, like you and me and so are all the other priests and religious leaders. Each one of us NEEDS Jesus Christ and only Jesus Christ. The “Name above all other names.” If you believe anything other than that statement, you are so headed for hell.

Let’s make this really simple: Get yourself a Bible and then begin to read it, from the first sentence to the last sentence, every single word…and then BELIEVE IT. IT IS THE FINAL WORD….STRAIGHT FROM GOD’S LIPS.