The Way Of All The Earth
Moses led the Israelites out Egypt, but he died and did not enter into the promised land of Canaan. He died because he sinned while leading the Israelites in the wilderness for 40 years. Moses disobeyed God’s direct order, so he died for his sin and couldn’t enter into Canaan. But Joshua led the Israelites into Canaan and God delivered the Canaanites into his hand. When Joshua was 110 years old, he died. But before he died, he said, “I am going the way of all the earth.”
Joshua 23:1-3 states: And it came to pass a long time after that the Lord had given rest unto Israel from all their enemies round about, that Joshua waxed old and stricken in age. And Joshua called for all Israel, and for their elders, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers, and said unto them, I am old and stricken in age: And ye have seen all that the Lord your God hath done unto all these nations because of you; for the Lord your God is he that hath fought for you.
Then in Joshua 24:29 it says: And it came to pass after these things, that Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died, being an hundred and ten years old. But before Joshua passed away, he said: And, behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth: and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the Lord your God spoke concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof (Joshua 23:14).
I Am Going The Way Of All The Earth
Joshua said “I am going the way of all the earth.” The way of all the earth? What is the way of all the earth? It is death. Adam and Eve sinned in the garden of Eden and we have all sinned since then. The soul that sins, it shall die (Ezekiel 18:20). Joshua sinned and he died. Moses sinned and he died. You and I have sinned and one day will die. Every single one of us will one day go the way of all the earth. You cannot cheat death. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment (Hebrews 9:27).
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6:23). One day you will breathe your last. One day I will breathe my last breath. We will all go the way of all the earth and make no mistake, there is judgment after death for all who perish in their sins. Jesus said unless you repent, you will all likewise perish (Luke 13:3).
For those of us who have truly repented of our sins and put our faith in Jesus, we have no fear of judgment after death. Jesus paid it all. He suffered, bled and died on the cross in place of guilty sinners. For those who repent and trust Him. But if Jesus is not your Lord and Savior, then Judgment Day is coming. If this describes you, what will you do with your sins on Judgment Day? You will have no excuses; no one to blame and nowhere to hide. Be sure your sin will find you out (Numbers 32:23).
Fearful Thing To Fall Into The Hands Of The Living God
It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God (Hebrews 10:31). You know what the scariest part is about this Bible verse? The writer of Hebrews through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, wrote these words to Christians! If it’s scary for Christians to fall into the hands of the living God, what hope is there for the hopeless, for the unbeliever that dies in an unrepentant state? Absolutely none!
The problem is most people think they are good, but none of us are good. The only goodness in me is from the righteousness of Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior. Without Him, there is no hope. Without Jesus Christ being your Lord and Savior, you have no hope. Without Jesus there is only hopelessness. Without Christ as your Lord and Savior, then you only have death, judgment and eternal damnation waiting for you (Revelation 21:8).
Death Awaits You
Unrepentant sinners, death awaits you. To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted (Ecclesiastes 3:1-2). And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commands all men everywhere to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead (Acts 17:30-31).
Each and every one of us have fallen short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23). God’s standard is perfection and none of us are perfect. We’ve lied, stolen, lusted, coveted, disobeyed our parents and blasphemed God’s Holy name. We deserve to die. We deserve eternal damnation. All of us deserve to receive God’s righteous punishment for all eternity.
While We Were Yet Sinners
But God demonstrated His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). We are the ones who have sinned and rebelled against God. Each one of us have said no to God and yes to our own way. We have all sinned against the Lord God Almighty. All of us deserve to die and go to Hell. But God demonstrated His love by sending His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16).
We will all go the way of all the earth, but not all go to the same place after that. It’s Heaven or Hell. Which will it be for you? Are you still rebelling against God, thinking that you are basically a good person and that God should accept you the way you are? Or have you realized your sinfulness and God’s Holiness and cried out to Him to have mercy upon you? Are you saved and bound for glory or are you still spiritually dead in your trespasses and sins and headed for Hell? It’s one or the other. There is no middle ground.
The Lord Rose From The Dead
Jesus is the only Savior. Come to the Lord Jesus and be saved. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
But every man in his own order: Christ the first fruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death (1 Corinthians 15:20-26).
You And I Will One Day Go The Way Of All The Earth
You and I will one day go the way of all the earth, but Jesus Christ rose victoriously from the grave after he suffered, bled and died in the place of sinful men and women. Jesus defeated death! For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:53-57).
Do not die in your sins as an unrepentant sinner and split Hell wide open. Don’t do it. Repent of your sins and put your faith in Jesus. Trust in the One who defeated death! Join the Apostle Paul, myself and countless others who have repented and surrendered our lives to Jesus. Join those of us who have eternal life. Do not die in your sins. The sting of death is sin. Again, the soul that sins, it shall die. You and I die because we are sinners. Don’t face Jesus the Judge of all the earth in your unrepentant state when you die
Victory
There is victory and that victory is in Christ Jesus alone. Salvation is of the Lord. Do you hear the Savior calling? Is God convicting you over your sins and revealing His righteousness, His Holiness to you? If so, then you need repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 20:21).
God has no pleasure in the death of the wicked. Don’t die in your sinful, rebellious, wicked state. Almighty God will punish you for all eternity if you die in your sins. But He won’t be glad about it. Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord God. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.
Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye (Ezekiel 18:30-32).
Almighty God Does Punish Sin
God is Holy, righteous and just. Because He is these things, He must and does punish sin. God punished Adam and Eve. The great Creator God destroyed every human being and all created beings, except for the eight souls and all of the animals on the ark. The Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. He also punished the angels that rebelled against God and foolishly followed Satan. God has punished unrepentant sinners in the past and He will punish all unrepentant sinners who die in their sins. Their destruction will be everlasting.
I’m pleading with you tonight, turn and live. Why will you die in your sins? Don’t do it. Turn and live. Turn from your sins and turn to the risen Lord. Jesus is the only Savior, there is no other. The Lord said I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through Me (John 14:6).
Come to Jesus and be saved. Receive eternal life. Repent of your sins and put your trust in Jesus. The Bible says we are to put on the Lord Jesus. Put on the Lord’s righteousness. Recognize that you are a sinner and there’s nothing that you can do to save yourself. Cry out for God to have mercy on you. Repent and believe the Gospel. Submit your life to King Jesus. He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords. Repent and surrender your life fully and completely to Christ Jesus.
(This message was lifted up in downtown Springfield, MO on December 20, 2019)