Well, it’s tax season. A season some people dread and others can’t wait for … all depending upon whether you expect to pay or to get a refund. But, as the saying goes, “In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” (Benjamin Franklin, 1789) So, some people dread death just as they taxes, depending upon how they view the outcome of that audit. And that’s the clincher.

The writer of the letter to the Hebrews states: “And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.” (Heb. 9:27-28) Christ has dealt with the sin issue through His crucifixion; now it comes to how people will be judged in light of it.

Those who are eagerly waiting for Him may or may not face death. Paul wrote that while people may die before the return of Christ, there will be those who are alive at His returning and will be caught up with the resurrected saints to meet Christ. (1 Thess. 4:15-17) So, we see that death is not certain for those who live in the very last days before Jesus comes back.

However, Jesus also said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.” (John 8:51) What was Jesus meaning here? This discourse begins in verse twelve with Jesus saying He is the “light of the world.” He then charges the Pharisees with not being able to follow Him past physical death. (v.21) They think that means they are going to heaven and Jesus not, but the opposite is true. So, Jesus is saying in verse 51 that those who believe Him and keep His word will have eternal life and not see the second death beyond the physical one. (Rev. 20:6, 14)

The certainty that remains from the Hebrews passage is judgement. We will all be judged before Christ. Firstly, we will be judged as to whether our names are in the Book of Life by having eternal life in Christ. Then our works will be judged: those who are alive in Christ to assess God’s rewards for them in eternal life; those who are dead to Christ to assess God’s wrath for them in the second death. (See Rev. 20:11-15; cf. 1 Cor. 3:9-15)

I trust that you are reading this having already made the choice for eternal life in Christ. If not, connect with me or someone else who has eternal life and repent and confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. Those who have done so have dealt with the problem of death and are simply eager to see Jesus.

Journeying with you all,

Pastor Merril