Hebrews 9:27-28 And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.
The word “escape” suggests the idea of fleeing or avoiding something. There’s an old saying that there are two things that are certain in our life if we live to be adults and those two things are death and taxes. You will pay your taxes. The IRS “THEIRS” will make sure of it and as we see in our first passage, this mortal flesh is not designed to last for eternity. We will die. There are all kinds of things we can avoid or escape. My plan is to go over four things that we cannot escape or avoid. It is important that we consider these things because it pertains directly to our soul and its destiny.
Ecclesiastes 9:5 For the living know they will die; but the dead do not know anything, nor have they any longer a reward, for their memory is forgotten.
Ecclesiastes 12:7 then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.
First, there is physical death. Allow me to speculate for just a moment in reference to the sin of Adam. If Adam and Eve had not sinned and been removed from the garden, they would have been able to partake of the tree of life. Yet, because of their sin, not only did that bring forth spiritual death (separation from God), but also physical death upon all of mankind. Physical death occurs when the spirit or soul of a man departs from the physical body. While the body is said to be dead, not the spirit. We all need to be reminded of the fact that we all must die but not all of us are prepared. Some say that “death is an officer that cannot be bribed!” The timing of death is unknown. It could be today, tomorrow, next month, year, or several years. Here is something to consider. We can be prepared for death. We have a choice as to how we die – prepared or unprepared.
John 5:28-29 “Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment.
1 Corinthians 15:42-44 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.
Secondly, there is the resurrection from the dead. While death is an “officer that cannot be bribed”, we can conquer it through Jesus Christ by means of the gospel of Christ.
Acts 17:30-31 “Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.”
2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
Thirdly, there is final judgment. We are told that there is a final judgment, but it is clear when it will take place. The final judgment will be at the second coming of Jesus Christ when he will judge ALL men. There has been a misunderstanding in the religious world, even in our own brotherhood, that somehow the destruction of Jerusalem was the final coming and judgment of Jesus. There are no passages that ever declares that as the truth. Was it a coming of Jesus and a sign? Yes, it was judgment and a final sign that the Law of Moses had ended. The Jews needed to stop seeking justification through the Law and they needed to submit themselves to Christ!
1 John 2:24-25 As for you, let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father. This is the promise which He Himself made to us: eternal life.
Jude 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.
Matthew 10:28 “Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Finally, after the final judgment, we face eternity. Prepared or unprepared, we will not escape eternity. We have a choice while living in the flesh as to what our eternal existence will be. Whether it is eternal life in heaven or in condemnation. Both are eternal, everlasting. Whether they be described in one setting as blessings or ruin. You have the choice to decide which one you will abide in.
We cannot escape physical death, the resurrection of the body from the dead, final judgment, or eternity. All of these appointments will be kept. The only option or choice that we have – by faith and obedience – gain everlasting life in heaven and escape punishment in hell – OR – choose to reject the gospel and face eternity in punishment. At death, our destiny is sealed. There will be no second chances. Now is the time to prepare for eternity. What is your decision? How will you respond to the gospel call while you still have time and opportunity? Jesus says, “Come”, Will you come and be given rest? If not, why not?
by Lee Elkins
