The Final Enemy

Three years ago, exactly one week after my birthday, came the death day of my 28-year-old daughter Jessica. I still experience occasional waves of grief. Death is the final enemy we all must face. Some flirt with death. Others make light of death by their obsession with skulls and skeletons. But when that unwelcome intruder finally comes it is a very serious matter.

Have you ever wondered why people die? Death is a result of sin. 

Sin came into the world through Adam our forefather. 

When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam's sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned. Romans 5:12

We are natural born sinners in a world that remains under a curse because of that first sin. So, death is the price we must pay for because we all descend from Adam. 

“…the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23

Some people have difficulty sleeping at night because they are afraid of death. Ancient explorers used to search for the Fountain of Youth. Today we do all sorts of things to prolong death and extend our lives, but no matter how long you live, death will ultimately come.

“…it is appointed to men once to die, but after this the judgment.” Hebrews 9:27

That is one appointment you will not break. Every man, woman, boy and girl will die and then we all will stand before the God who fashioned us within our mother’s womb.

I’ve only been a pastor since October 2011, and since then I have witnessed my fair share of death. I have performed 15 funerals in the past five years, including the death of my daughter. Funerals are difficult for me. You get to know someone personally, you do life together with them, and then you watch them face the final enemy. Those who reject God resist the scourge of death because they fear the unknown. Those who have surrendered their life to Jesus Christ welcome death with dignity and with the certainty of knowing where they are going.

We are confident and prefer to live away from this body and to live with the Lord. 2 Corinthians 5:8

Years ago, I was a reporter in New York and became desensitized to the tragic news that I reported each day. These days I observe funeral directors to see how they handle the constant exposure to death and grief. Many of them have become desensitized to death. Maybe it’s the only way they can deal with the continual interaction with mortality. However, as a pastor, I empathize with the sorrow and grief of the family, in order to offer comfort to them.

I just performed a funeral a few days ago, and will experience another one next week. Although I am clothed in the armor of God, every funeral I perform leaves a chink in my armor. Death can take its toll on you, but then I remember pastors who have to preach multiple funerals after natural disasters and that puts things into perspective for me.

The one joy that I find in funerals is in sharing the gospel. When confronted with our own mortality, that’s the best time to preach eternal life through Jesus Christ. Salvation comes through receiving Jesus as Lord, and accepting His sacrifice on the cross as the payment for your sins. We are all God’s creation but Jesus gives us the right to become God’s children.

“… to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” John 1:12

Unfortunately, too many believe the myth that you can earn your salvation through good works, but God’s word dispels this lie.

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8-9

Others believe that there are many ways to God, but Jesus was very clear when He said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

Those who receive Jesus Christ as Lord have hope beyond the grave. Although we grieve, our grief is mingled with hope. Our sorrow is blended with joy. We don’t fear because we know what is on the other side. For believers, death is simply a transition from this life to the next.

So we are always confident. We know that as long as we are living in these bodies, we are living away from the Lord. Indeed, our lives are guided by faith, not by sight. We are confident and prefer to live away from this body and to live with the Lord. Whether we live in the body or move out of it, our goal is to be pleasing to him. 2 Corinthians 5:6-9

Feed my lambs

When Jesus was arrested the night before His crucifixion, Peter followed behind at a safe distance. Although he boasted that he would never desert the Lord; that night he denied three times that he even knew Jesus. After Jesus had risen from the dead, He and Peter had some face time.

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. John 21:15-17

Jesus restored a repentant Peter to fellowship. He also commissioned Him to tend His flock, to feed his lambs and sheep. After Jesus ascended to heaven, a transformed Peter powerfully preached the very first gospel message on the day of Pentecost. He became a strong leader in the first mega-church. 

I find it interesting that God calls his followers sheep. Sheep are ignorant and defenseless and they need the protection and guidance of the shepherd. Jesus said, "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." And that’s exactly what He did for us. Now He has gifted pastors and teachers to equip the saints for the work of the ministry. The lambs and the sheep need feeding and leading and that is the task of the spiritual shepherd. What an awesome responsibility! 

Our adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour. He wants to destroy the shepherd and the flock. Unfortunately, too many pastors have been defeated spiritually, physically or emotionally.

There are times when shepherds feel overwhelmed and under-appreciated. Some grow tired and weary and regrettably give up the fight all too soon. Peter learned what it was like to shepherd the flock and he wrote these verses to encourage all of God’s under-shepherds who would follow in his footsteps.  

To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed: Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. 1 Peter 5:1-4

Unity brings maturity

If you've ever whacked your finger with a hammer, you know the sensation of pain shoots through your entire body. Immediately the body rushes into action to begin the process of healing. The platelets in your blood come to the rescue. They stick together to form a clot so that the bleeding stops. A scab forms and new skin cells multiply to repair the wound. Damaged blood vessels are repaired and the white blood cells attack any germs that may have gotten underneath the skin. God designed the body to work together with such amazing precision that we don't even have to stop and think, in order for the healing to occur.

He who created the body knows that there is no division in our bodies. So it's interesting that God uses the body as an analogy for the church. He says that, "Christ is the head of the body, the church." Colossians 1:18

We are all members of the body of Christ and although each one has a different function, the goal is to work together as one body. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Romans 12:4

Every Christian has been given at least one spiritual gift by God. Some may have several spiritual gifts. The idea is to use your gift for the good of the body.

Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines. Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 1 Corinthians 12:7, 11-12

We are supposed to use that spiritual gift so that the body can function properly. Each member of the body plays an important role. The point is to know your gift and to exercise it. You wouldn't want to be without an eye, a hand or a foot. Nor would you desire to live without your liver, kidney or a lung. Those inner unseen members are no less important than the outer members who get all the attention.

The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!”  On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. 1 Corinthians 12:21-24

God uses the analogy of the body to show us how the church should operate together in unity with no division among its members. We share our joys and pains.

God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.  If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. 1 Corinthians 12:24-27
  
Our enemy Satan still causes division within the body of Christ. He prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. With thousands of years of practice, he's good at what he does. We fall into his trap when we promote our own selfish interest or escalate petty differences. We fail to see that people are not the source of the difficulties. We are involved in spiritual warfare with the powers of darkness.

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12

God's design is that we who proclaim the prophetic message should equip the saints to do the work of the ministry. In turn his people are to encourage one another, build up unity within the body, until we become mature and complete in Christ.

So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Ephesians 4:11-13
 

Good God

George Barna writes in his book Maximum Faith that only one out of every ten Christians is truly sold out to God. Only 10% of all Christians ever get to the point of total transformation and experience God’s best.

People are afraid to sell out to God. What I mean is total surrender, total submission, wholehearted obedience to His will, His plans and His purpose. We fear total submission to God because we don’t know what God will require. We fail to realize that God is good. He has dreams and plans for you and His way is better than anything that you could ever imagine.

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

God is good by nature. He is the highest and greatest good, and He is the source of everything good. It’s His nature to be loving, gracious, merciful, and generous. Because God is good, He’s promised to meet all our needs. 

 

He has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies… Ephesians 1:3

God has given us everything we need for life and godliness… 2 Peter 1:3

Every good thing we enjoy comes from Him. Nothing good has ever existed that doesn't come from God.

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, who does not change like shifting shadows James 1:17

God's goodness is seen in His creation. Seven times in Genesis God said what He made was good. “And God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good” Genesis 1:31. How can anyone observe the beauty of God’s creation and not say it is good? His goodness is reflected in majestic mountains, vast blue oceans, green grass, purple flowers, golden sunrises, orange sunsets and amber waves of grain.

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Psalm 19:1 “The earth is full of the goodness of the LORD” Psalm 33:5. 

Then there is man, the pinnacle of God’s creation. God gave us eyes to behold the beauty of nature, ears to hear its delightful sounds, nostrils to enjoy its pleasant aromas, taste buds to savor its infinite variety of edible delights, a sense of touch to feel or communicate love, and a mind to comprehend it all. 

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Psalm 139:14

He gives us the bright warmth of sunlight, the joy of family and friends, the satisfaction of hard work, the refreshment of a good night’s sleep, provision for our daily needs, and so many others things that enrich our lives.

God's goodness is bestowed on everyone, not just believers.

The Lord is good to all and his mercy is over all that he has made. Psalm 145:9

He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” Matthew 5:45.

People today still challenge God’s goodness. How can a good God allow evil to exist in His world? How can He allow disease, pain, suffering, poverty, hunger, racism, crime, war, murder and natural disasters. They say, either He is not very good or He does not have the power to stop it.

Remember, God in His goodness created Adam with the ability to choose good or evil. He chose evil, and his sin affected all of creation. All of the pain and suffering in this world today are the direct result of Adam’s choice. These are the consequences of living in a world affected by sin.

We don't know why God in His goodness allows these things. Many times God uses crises to get our attention. He sees the big picture and we are myopic. We know that somehow it's going to work out for our good and His glory.

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. Romans 8:28

God is good. If Jesus is your Lord and Savior, your life is not your own. He asks you to surrender completely. He can be trusted with your life.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

 

You trust God with your past for salvation, you trust Him with your future for eternal life, so why not trust Him with the present? He wants to maximize your potential and conform you into the image of Christ. He wants to give you the best He has to offer.

Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:1,2