## How Will You Die?

## Hebrews 9:27

In light of the unusual circumstances here this past week, in that we had two church members die within hours of one another, I thought I would address the subject of death.

Everyone in this room will die sooner or later. When I use the title of "How Will You Die"? I am not talking about how you will die as much as the state or condition in which you'll die. In other words, how will you meet God?

In nearly every instance, a person dies the same way they lived. Most people die in a hospital, and at the time of death they are under very heavy sedation, and most of the time, they are not in their right mind; therefore they cannot make a death bed repentance. If you are planning on a death bed experience with God, forget it. I won't happen. You will be making the biggest mistake of your life if you wait until your death to choose your eternity. You will go out into eternity unprepared to meet God.

I. Some People Will Die Unprepared

(Luke 16:22) "And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;"

A. The Rich Man Died And Went To Hell.

1. He didn't go to hell because he was rich.

2. He didn't go to hell because he ignored the needs of the poor. (Lazarus.)

B. He Went To Hell Because He Ignored The Message Of God.

1. He waited until tomorrow. That one attitude alone sends most people to hell. Waiting until tomorrow.

2. He wanted freedom to do what he wanted today.

3. He made no preparation to meet God.

C. The Lord Warned Israel To Prepare To Meet God.

(Amos 4:12) "Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel."

1. Failure to prepare to meet God prepares one to go to hell.

2. Failure to prepare to meet God insures one of going to hell.

3. When a person does not prepare to meet God in this life, then there is no other recourse but hell.

D. The Rich Man Had Prepared Himself With Temporal Matters, But He Failed To Realize That These Did Not Prepare Him To Meet God.

1. Going to heaven is not determined by who dies with the most toys.

2. He Died The Way He Had Lived, Without God.

3. If a person leaves God out of their life they will go to hell.

4. The average person has no time for God. Felix said, "Some other time; not today."

E. There may be some here who are not prepared to die.

1. No one goes to heaven without preparing for heaven.

2. God desires that each of us would come to know Him personally.

3. 2 Cor. 6:2, "....behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation."

II. Some Christians Will Die Unclean Acts 5:1-5

A. Ananias Died Unclean.

1. He was saved.

2. He went to heaven.

3. But he died in shame.

4. His life didn't count for God.

5. He lived a life of lies.

6. His life was characterized by his disobedience to God.

B. He Died Prematurely.

1. A Christian cannot sin and get by with it.

2. "The wages of sin is death". That goes for the saint as well as the sinner.

(1 John 5:16) "If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it."

C. He Died A Shame To God.

1. He was trying to imitate full surrender to God while living in the flesh.

2. To attempt such a life is to shame the name of Christ.

3. If our life is unclean, when we die we will stand before God, embarrassed, unclean, and not ready to meet God.

(1 John 2:28) "And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming."

4. Annanias died the way he lived: Unclean, disobedient, and a shame before God.

III. Some Christians Will Die Unafraid and Unashamed

A. Stephen Died Unafraid. cf Acts 7:54-60

1. Think of the way he died.

2. He stood before the high priest and preached unto his own death.

3. By the time we get to the end of Acts 7 we see them with weapons in hand and on the march to execute Stephen.

4. He was unafraid to die.

5. He was prepared.

6. He was obedient to the Lord even though it meant death for him.

7. Stephen died as he lived.

B. Paul Died Unashamed. 2 Timothy 4:1-8.

1. "For I am now ready to be offered."

2. He had fought a good fight.

3. He had been faithful to the end.

4. He had finished what God had sent him to do.

5. He died unashamed.

The question again is this, how will we die? Perhaps there are some in this room who are only a heartbeat away from God taking your life. You have shamed Him over and over. You have ignored His warning again and again. You keep on going your own way, and doing your own thing. God keeps prompting you that you need to get things right, but you won't.

(Gal 6:7) "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap."

Will we die unprepared? There is no need to do so, God has made preparation for you to spend eternity with Him if you will but trust in His Son Jesus Christ.

Will we die unclean and disobedient? There is no need to do so, God has made a way for us to return to Him and live the rest of our lives for Him. Will you come home and be reconciled?

God's desire is that each of us die unafraid and unashamed. Can that be said of us today?