Life and Death John 10:10

One of the funniest and most memorable commercials of recent years was one in which an elderly woman and her friends opened their hamburger buns and found them virtually bare. One lady asked the question, ``Where's the beef?'' Her response became a popular catchphrase for the multitudes.

We may not realize it, but most people ask the same question about life. They find themselves sandwiched between birth and death, and, unfortunately, they often find themselves in a sandwich without substance--a sandwich without any meat. Struggling to find identity, to find meaning in life, they ask, ``Where's the beef?''

All of the father's replies were reasonable, but none of them answered his son's question: "Is there more to life than what you have, who you know, and what you do?" Many people discover that life is like a touchdown scored after the whistle has blown. They score that touchdown, achieve their victory in life, only to discover that it doesn't count.

That's how Satan wants us to feel. Because he doesn't want us to find meaning and value in life, he is overjoyed when we feel confused, frustrated, and defeated. He works hard to set up imitations of life and is delighted when people are fooled into believing that they are genuine. He has tricked us into accepting an imitation as a substitute for real life. [3] The Word of God reveals the true nature of our enemy.

If money will corrupt, he'll provide money. If power will lead a believer astray, he'll give power. If a new job with a more attractive salary will move God's child away from the Father's will, then Satan will help him get the job. No matter what his method, his goal is simple: to keep the believer from finding the real meaning in life.

Intro: Where's the abundant life?

I. Does pleasure provide purpose?

II. What about Wisdom?

III. Is the answer in work?

IV. An Answer: Eternity in their hearts.

Do we want purpose in life? Do we want meaning in place of emptiness? Do we want to make our life count? Then we must put God first. The answer is that simple: God first. Without God, our life is just like the one Solomon described in Ecclesiastes-- vanity and emptiness.

(Eccl 12:13) "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man."

The Issue of Death:

The subject of "death" and what follows death is of interest to most people. Yet for so many it is a mystery. They speak of it as the "unknown" and refer to the "uncertainty" of a future life. [20] Praise God the Bible has a hope for every believer. When Christians die they are "Absent from the body, and...present with the Lord." Following that there is the glorious prospect of a new resurrection body.

I. What Does The Bible Teach

II. What Happens at Death.

III. Where are the dead?

IV. Will there be a conscious existence after death?

I know that I may not have answered all of the questions you may have about this topic. To be honest, there are some things that we must accept by faith not by sight. God in His infinite wisdom chose not to reveal everything about heaven and eternal life . But it will be marvelous!

"But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him." (1 Cor 2:9)