Title
Inevitable Death
Scripture
It is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.
(Hebrews 9:27)
Devotional
Here we have two inevitable facts of life: death and judgment. We will have to suffer at least one form of death. There is one death that may possibly release some from the others, the death of self that is experienced through salvation. There will be a time when those who are alive in Christ and dead to self will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air (the rapture of the church).[16] These will not experience physical death. However if the Lord tarries and we live out our appointed days, we will physically die. Those in Christ will only suffer a temporal death of the body and immediately be with the Lord.[17] However, those without the saving knowledge of Christ will suffer a second death: "The cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death."[18] Therefore, "We shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ."[19]