Topic: “Death: The way of all the earth”
Text:I Kings 2:1-4 “When the time drew near for David to die, he gave a charge to Solomon his son. 2 “I am about to go the way of all the earth,” he said. “So be strong, show yourself a man, 3 and observe what the LORD your God requires: Walk in his ways, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and requirements, as written in the Law of Moses, so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go,”
We thank the God of Christ Apostolic Church for He is good and His mercies are countless. We appreciate everyone present here for the outing service of our departed Mama, Mama Kaa Esther Ubas Mapur. We commiserate with our indefatigable General Secretary and all members of this family on the passage of their dear mother to glory at the ripe age of 100 years.
We also send our apostolic greetings to the Governor of Plateau State, His Excellency Governor Simon Lalong and other Government functionaries for their strides in governance. We commiserate with him and the people of Plateau State for the unfortunate loss of lives and properties in recent times through reprehensible acts of terrorists and fanatics who commit atrocities against the good people of this State. We motivate the Governor not to rest on his oars but redouble his efforts to ensuring a perfect state of serenity.
We also commend the Monarch of Bokkos for his tenacity and audacious reign despite challenges from within and without. We encourage you never to be despondent but forge ahead in your bid to ensure peace and hold on firm to your God. He will not leave nor desert you and I pray that your reign will be peaceful and your days shall be fulfilled in Jesus’ name. Amen.
So also we commiserate with Daffo Zone on the onslaught against them by marauders and other CAC assemblies. The God of our fathers shall console and restore all you have lost in manifold.
The topic I want to discuss is “Death: The way of all the earth.”
Things we should know about death: (1) Death is inevitable (2) Death is spiritual and physical (3) Death is a state.
(1) Death is inevitable:
Death is a biological necessity, but men do not die simply as the animals die. Paul tells us that sin came into the world through one man and death through sin (Rom. 5:12) and again that the wages of sin is death. (Rom. 6:23).
(2) Death is spiritual and physical:
It seems better to understand death as something that involves the whole man. He dies as a spiritual and physical being. (Rev. 2:11; 20:6; 21:18). That death is a divine penalty. This is a very important truth. It enables us to see the full horror of death. And at the same time, paradoxically, it gives us hope. Death was as a result of sin committed by Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. (Gen. 2:16; 3:19).
(3) Death is a state:
The second death (Jude 12; Rev. 2:11): But our living God has given a way out of eternal death through Jesus Christ. Once we accept him as our Lord and Saviour we are free from eternal and spiritual death. From the fact above, we can see the impossibility of the impenitent being saved without Christ. For salvation a man must pass from death into life that is, being born again through Christ. (Jn. 5:24). It was through death, as the Hebrews passage indicates, that Jesus defeated Satan. It was through death that He put out sin. The death He died to sin, once for all. (Rom. 6:10). Apart from Christ, death is the supreme enemy, the symbol of our alienation from God, the ultimate horror. But Christ has used death to deliver men from death. He died that men may live. It is significant that New Testament can speak of believers as ‘sleeping’ rather than as dying. (1 Thess. 4:14). Therefore for those who are ‘in Christ’ death has been transformed so that it is no more than sleep.
Victory is sure over death:
The extent of the victory over death that Christ won is indicated by His resurrection. Christ being raised from the dead will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. (Rom. 6:9). And His victory is made available to His people. Death’s destruction is certain. (1 Cor. 15:26, 54 ff; Rev. 21:4). The second death has no power over believers. (Rev. 2:11; 20:6).
For the believers in Christ, not only there is a glorious future, there is a glorious present. The believer has already passed out of death unto life (Jn. 5:24; 1 Jn. 3:14). He/she is free from the law of sin and death. (Rom. 8:2). Death cannot separate him from God. (Rom 8:38 ff) “Jesus said, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.” (Jn. 8:51). Such words do not deny the reality of biological death but it indicates that Christians shall not die spiritually. He/she is brought into a new state, which is aptly characterized as life. Hence, the death of Jesus means victory over death for His followers.
David’s Admonition:
In the light of this, David admonished his son, Solomon to “Walk in his ways, and keep his decrees and his laws and requirements, as written in the Law of Moses, so that you go, and that the Lord may keep His promise to me: if your descendants watch how they live, and if they walk faithfully before me with all their heart and soul, you will never fail to have a man on the throne of Israel.” (1 Kings 2:2-4).
Back to our text, David, that great warrior was dying; he called his son, Solomon and declared him his successor. He was aged and not afraid of dying. He said “I go the way of all the earth.” He was telling his son that all humankind who dwells on earth are themselves earth and therefore must return to the earth. Telling him that death is a way that every human being must walk through not only a period of this life but a passage to a better or worst place.
David prescribed to Solomon the divine will of God to keep the charge of the Lord his God. David warned Solomon against backsliding because he knew that God loved obedient children. God will never delay or deny any obedient child his/her blessing. He talked about the covenant God had with him and which was extended to Solomon as a carry-over mandate even after Solomon but it was conditional that it depends on if they carefully obey the commandments of God. If Solomon, in his days, fulfilled the condition, he did his part towards realising of the promise gis descendants would have continued to reign over all the tribes of Israel. The condition is that he should walk before God in sincerity, with zeal and resoluteness. David’s admonition in following God showed that nothing was more necessary than caution and circumspection, so David charged Solomon to watch carefully.
My charges to the bereaved and all of us:
I want to believe that, all the Mama’s children and relatives knew that Mama lived a godly life, that is, Mama was a Bible based Christian. Therefore, I enjoined all of you again to follow suit so that Mama and yourselves will meet again. Even though David admonished his son, yet Solomon derailed. He did not take to his father’s admonition and went astray; all that God forbid him were his choice. He chose wives among the heathens, worshipped their gods, and made covenant with them which later affected his son.
Therefore, I want to remind all Mama’s children, kinsmen and all of us here to refrain from all things that may stand as stumbling block against our eternity with Christ. Small sins are just as great as the big ones in God’s eyes. God will reveal all atrocities or uncleanness. Sin contaminates everything it touches. Sin spreads like dirt because every un-confessed sin leads to another. Anyone who commits sin disobeys God and we are not called to a life of disobedience. When you make a mistake, don’t allow it to fester. We experience joy of forgiveness, the freedom from guilt, when we confess to God. There is great power in confession because the issue has already been settled by Jesus on the cross. Come to God and appropriate His grace.
In this wise, let us come to sincere studying and fulfilling the word of God. The Gospel of Christ is our strong tower. Let us turn to the word of God and not otherwise. David warned Solomon. Bible also warns us.
To this end, do not forget the exhortation of Paul to the Corinthians; “Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders (10) nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. (11) And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).
We are not preaching to the dead but to us who are alive. Therefore, for this reason our gathering here should not be to eat and make merriment alone, but also to have a sober reflection or retrospection or to think about our own future as well as the Psalmist says: “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may apply our hearts to wisdom.” (Psalm 90:12). Our own time will also come when people will gather like this to celebrate each person’s departure. When you appear before the Lord, will He say come unto your Kingdom or otherwise? “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. (Matt. 25:34).
On which side of the Lord are you? Is it left or right? The Lord chose those on His right side. Brethren, life is precious, precious gift indeed. So, don’t waste a single day. If you are holding any grudges, let them go. If you are not as close to Jesus as you ought to be, then get as close to Him as you possibly can. Life is too short to waste. Don’t waste it on foolishness, selfishness or sinful living. Get as close as you can to Jesus and you will enjoy life and fulfil your purpose for being here.
Finally brethren, work faithfully with God, your soul and heart will be kept pure, you will be fulfilled here on earth and eternity with Christ will be your place.