DO WE HAVE AN APPOINTED TIME OF DEATH? AND, WILL WE REMEMBER OUR EARTHLY LIVES WHEN WE ARE IN HEAVEN? FIRST THING FIRST! Do We Have An Appointed Time Of Death? The Bible tells us that “ALL THE DAYS ORDAINED FOR ME WERE WRITTEN IN YOUR BOOK BEFORE ONE OF THEM CAME TO BE” (Psalm 139:16). So, yes, God knows exactly when, where, and how we will die. GOD KNOWS ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING ABOUT US (Psalm 139:1-6). So does this mean our fate is sealed? Does this mean we have absolutely no control over when we will die? THE ANSWER IS BOTH YES AND NO, depending on the perspective. The answer is YES FROM GODS PERSPECTIVE because GOD IS OMNISCIENT—He knows everything and knows exactly when, where and how we will die. NOTHING WE CAN DO WILL CHANGE WHAT GOD ALREADY KNOWS WILL HAPPEN. The answer is NO FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE because WE DO HAVE AN IMPACT ON WHEN, WHERE, AND HOW WE DIE. Obviously, a person who commits suicide causes their own death. A person who commits suicide would have lived longer had they not committed suicide. Similarly, a person who dies because of a foolish decision (i.e., drug use) “EXPEDITED” THEIR OWN DEATH. A person who dies of lung cancer from smoking would not have died in the same way or at the same time if they had not smoked. A person who dies of a heart attack due to a lifetime of extremely unhealthy eating and little exercise would not have died in the same way or at the same time if they had eaten healthier foods and exercised more. YES, OUR OWN DECISIONS HAVE AN UNDENIABLE IMPACT ON THE MANNER, TIMING, AND PLACE OF OUR DEATH. How does this affect our lives practically? WE ARE TO LIVE EACH DAY FOR GOD. James 4:13-15 teaches us, “Now listen, you who say, Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money. WHY, YOU DO NOT EVEN KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN TOMMORROW. What is your life? YOU ARE A MIST THAT APPEARS FOR A LITTLE WHILE AND THEN VANISHES. Instead, you ought to say, IF IT IS THE LORDS WILL, WE WILL LIVE AND DO THIS AND THAT.” We are to make wise decisions about how we live our lives and how we take care of ourselves. AND ULTIMATELY, WE TRUST GOD THAT HE IS SOVEREIGN AND IN CONTROL OF ALL THINGS. AND SECOND Will We Remember Our Earthly Lives When We Are In Heaven? Isaiah 65:17 tells us, “FOR, BEHOLD, I CREATE NEW HEAVENS AND A NEW EARTH: AND THE FORMER SHALL NOT BE REMEMBERED, NOR COME INTO MIND.” Some interpret Isaiah 65:17 as saying that we will have no memory of our earthly lives in Heaven. However, one verse earlier, in Isaiah 65:16 the Bible says, “…FOR THE PAST TROUBLES WILL BE FORGOTTEN AND HIDDEN FROM MY EYES.” It is likely only our “PAST TROUBLES” that will be forgotten – NOT ALL OF OUR MEMORIES. Our memories will be CLEANSED, REDEEMED, HEALED, AND RESTORED - NOT ERASED. There is no reason why we could not possess many memories from our earthly lives. The memories that will be cleansed are the ones that involve sin, pain, and sadness. Revelation 21:4 declares, “HE WILL WIPE EVERY TEAR FROM THEIR EYES. THERE WILL BE NO MORE DEATH OR CRYING OR PAIN, FOR THE OLD ORDER OF THINGS HAS PASSED AWAY.” Some point to the story of Lazarus and the rich man (Luke 16:19-31) as proof that the dead remember our earthly lives. THE RICH MAN ASKED ABRAHAM TO SEND LAZARUS BACK TO EARTH TO WARN THE RICH MAN BROTHERS NOT TO COME TO HELL. SO HE REMEMBERED HIS RELATIVES. He must have also remembered his own life of sin because he never asked to be released from hell, nor did he ask why he was there or claim there had been some kind of mistake. HE REMEMBERED ENOUGH ABOUT HIS EARTHLY LIFE TO KNOW THAT HE DESERVED HELL. But this is no proof that those in heaven remember their earthly lives. THE RICH MANS REMEMBRANCE WAS PART OF HIS MISERY. If we have memories in heaven, THEY WILL ONLY BE OF THE THINGS THAT WILL BRING US JOY. THANK YOU HEAVENLY FATHER FOR THE WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING OF YOUR TRUE LIVING WORD THE BIBLE, IN JESUS CHRIST HOLY NAME. AMEN!
Posted on: Sun, 09 Mar 2014 15:34:18 +0000
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