Sudden Death
I used to be a real sports fanatic. Yes, I’m embarrassed to say that 20 to 25 years ago, I’d be the guy chewing out the referee at a basketball game. Red faced, veins popping out in my neck. Even though I’m nothing like I used to be, I do still like sports. Some sports have what is called sudden death, as in sudden death playoffs. In golf for example, if two or more golfers are tied at the end of a tournament, those players start playing again and the first person to score the lowest on a hole first, wins the tournament.
If you are a sports fan at all, then you have probably heard of sudden death playoffs or sudden death overtimes. But today, I want to talk about a different sudden death. I want to literally talk about sudden death; about people that die suddenly. I’ve known people over the years that died immediately from a heart attack or stroke. A friend years ago got up one morning just like every other morning, took a shower and didn’t make it out of the shower. He died right there, immediately from a heart attack. His death shocked his wife, his family and his friends.
Stroke Or Brain Aneurysm
I’m sure you’ve known people that have died from a stroke or a brain aneurysm. A blood vessel in your brain can burst at any moment and you could be dead before your body even hits the floor. Other people die immediately in car accidents or a variety of what we call freak accidents. Some people go to sleep and they just never wake up. They die sometime during the night.
You may be wondering why I’m talking so much about death today, but there is a purpose. Have you ever thought about the fact that God gives each of us life? Almighty God gives you every breath that you take. One day, you will breathe your last. Each and every one of us are born to die. You have a birth date and one day you and I will have a death date. None of us can cheat death. We are going to die someday and God is in control of our lives. He determines when we are born, who are parents are and He also decides when we take our last breath.
God Is In Control
God is in control and I’m talking about sudden death today because the Bible talks about it. He, that being often reproved hardens his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy (Proverbs 29:1). For man also knows not his time: as the fish that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falls suddenly upon them (Ecclesiastes 9:12). For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction comes upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape (1 Thessalonians 5:3).
All three of these verses speak of sudden death and they all are referring to God being in control. You can exercise, eat right and do all the things that they recommend you do to lead a healthy lifestyle, but none of these will keep you from dying. None of us can cheat death.
And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment (Hebrews 9:27). We are all going to die some day and there’s no way around this. You cannot escape it. The great magician Houdini was certain that he would come back from the dead, but he did not. You and I are going to die one day and we aren’t coming back as ghosts or an animal.
Overly Worried About Dying
I’m not trying to get you to be overly worried about when you are going to die or how you will die, but it is good for all of us to realize that we have our death day coming. Every breath we take is one breath closer to our last. But the purpose for bringing this up isn’t to cause you to become paranoid and freak out about it. The purpose of bringing it up is to get you to think about what happens next.
What happens after you die? Where will you go? What determines where you end up? These are some of the biggest questions of life. Where did we come from? Why are we here? Where are we going? Do you know where you are going after you die? Are you sure? Do you know with all certainty what will happen to you after you die?
I’m 100% positive about where I’m going. You may think, well none of us know for sure. But I do know and I’m looking forward to eternity. I’m glory bound. I’m headed for Heaven. This is just as sure of fact as me standing on this sidewalk in front of Planned Parenthood because this Bible I hold in my hand tells me so. God’s word is tested, trustworthy and true.
Where Are You Going After You Die?
You can know for certain where you are going after you die and it’s really quite simple to know for sure. There are only two possibilities. You will either spend eternity in the torments of Hell if you die in your sins as an unrepentant sinner or you will go to Heaven and spend eternity there if you have repented from your sins and surrendered your life to Jesus.
It’s one or the other. There is no middle ground and there are no third options. It’s Heaven or Hell. Jesus is your Lord and Savior today or He will be your eternal Judge if you die without repenting and trusting Him. Either Jesus has paid your sin debt for you or you still owe the debt to God, because we’ve all sinned against God and the wages of sin is death.
The Lord may decide to take your life one day in a sudden death. Or He may let you linger for years in pain and agony. We live in a sinful, fallen world, so there are no guarantees. So, whether you go quickly from God’s immediate judgment like He did poured out upon Sodom and Gomorrah or He may be merciful to you in a very general sense by letting you live a long life. But one day you will die. Where will you go? Who or what are you trusting in today? Jesus is the only Savior of mankind. It’s utter foolishness to trust in anyone or anything else.
Only Jesus Saves
Only Jesus saves. He saves those who turn from their sins and turn to Him. Jesus said you must be born again. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus said unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto you, Ye must be born again (John 3:3-7).
When You Repent
When you repent from your sins and put your faith in Jesus, then it doesn’t matter whether you die suddenly or not. I personally hope I know a little in advance when I’m going to die because I have message in mind to bring right before I die.
But that’s just my thought and my desire. God is sovereign and He is in total control. I could be killed in a car accident today. This may be the last message I ever preach in the open-air. But even so, come quickly Lord Jesus. Again, I know where I’m going and I know in whom I trust for my eternal salvation.
I’m ready to spend eternity in Heaven with Jesus my Lord. I can’t wait to see Jesus, the one who died for me. The one who took my sins, that paid the sin debt that I owe. Oh, I can’t wait to see Jesus in Heaven and fall at His feet and worship Him. Worthy is the Lamb who was slain. Jesus is worthy of all praise, honor and glory. He is the sinless Son of God. He is the only one who ever perfectly kept the 10 Commandments. Only Jesus walked this earth without ever sinning. He did not sin one time, not in His thoughts, words or actions.
You Can Be Sure Of Going To Heaven
Yet He was brutally beaten, hung on the cruel cross while God poured His righteous anger out over sinful man upon His own precious Son. Jesus died on the cross, was buried and rose victoriously from the grave three days later. Jesus defeated sin, death, Hell and Satan. You can be sure of going to Heaven if you truly repent over your sins with godly sorrow and submit your life to the Lordship of Jesus.
You can be saved. The Son of man came to seek and save the lost. Jesus came to save His people from their sins (Matthew 1:21). Your sins can be forgiven. You can be saved from eternal damnation and everlasting torments. But you must repent. You must repent from your sins and surrender your life to Jesus. It’s a matter of stepping off the throne of your life and bowing down to King Jesus. He is the King of Kings. Jesus is the Lord or Lords. Repent and trust Jesus Christ and be saved.
Another reason why bringing a message about sudden death makes sense here at Planned Parenthood is because Planned Parenthood is a very efficient killing machine. Planned Parenthood kills 900 babies a day around the country. Over 3,000 babies are murdered every day in America, but Planned Parenthood is the largest organization that does this. It makes sense to talk about death at a place of death. 900 little babies die every day at the hands of Planned Parenthood.
Sudden Death Or Long Life
So, whether God takes you suddenly or your live a long life, there is Hell to pay for your sins and that payment never ends. Hell is eternal. Jesus said that it’s a place where the worm dies not and the fire is never quenched. He said Hell is a place where there’s weeping and gnashing of teeth. It’s a horrible place and I don’t want you to die in your sins and go there.
If God is convicting you today over your sins, do not resist the Holy Spirit. Jesus said all liars will have their part in the lake of fire and brimstone (Revelation 21:8). Hell is full of liars, thieves, adulterers, fornicators, homosexuals, drunkards, drug addicts and so forth. It is full of people who thought they were good, but in reality, lived their whole lives in rebellion against God. Hell is full of people who wouldn’t bow their knee and confess with their tongue that Jesus Christ is Lord.
Oh, they know it now, but it’s too late. Jesus told about the rich man who died, buried and in Hell lifted up his eyes and begged for mercy because he is being tormented in Hell. It’s so awful there, that he pleaded for someone to go to his brothers and warn them about it. You see, people in Hell are very evangelistic minded.
What People In Hell Would Say To You
If they could talk to me, they’d say do more to warn people to flee from the wrath of God. If they could talk to you, they would warn you how awful of fate awaits you. Yes, Jesus talked about degrees of Hell and common sense tells you that baby murderers will be punished far worse than liars and thieves. Heed the warning today. The blood on your hands cannot be washed away with soap and water, but it can be washed away by the shed blood of Jesus Christ.
You can be forgiven. Your guilty conscience can be cleared. You can receive forgiveness from your sins. If, and only if, you repent from your sins and surrender your life to Jesus. This means you can no longer support murdering little babies in the womb. You must come out of this dark place and into the light. Jesus is the Light of the world, so repent and put your trust in Jesus Christ. Be saved today. Repent and believe the Gospel.
(This message was proclaimed in front of Planned Parenthood on August 11, 2017)