Those who are wise must finally die, just
like the foolish and senseless, leaving all their wealth behind. The grave is
their eternal home, where they will stay forever. They may name their estates
after themselves, but their fame will not last. They will die, just like
animals. This is the fate of fools, though they are remembered as being wise.
Like sheep, they are led to the grave, where death will be their shepherd. In
the morning the godly will rule over them. Their bodies will rot in the grave,
far from their grand estates. But as for me, God will redeem my life. He will
snatch me from the power of the grave. Psalm 49:10-15
Death comes
to all–the wise and the foolish.
For the wise can see where they
are going, but fools walk in the dark. Yet I saw that the wise and the foolish
share the same fate. Both will die. So I said to myself, "Since I will end
up the same as the fool, what's the value of all my wisdom? This is all so
meaningless!" For the wise and the foolish both die. The wise will not be
remembered any longer than the fool. In the days to come, both will be
forgotten. So I came to hate life because everything done here under the sun is
so troubling. Everything is meaningless—like chasing the wind. Ecclesiastes 2:14-17.
Solomon was
pessimistic about life and death when he wrote Ecclesiastes. All scripture is
inspired by the Holy Spirit…All Scripture
is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us
realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and
teaches us to do what is right. 2 Timothy 3:16.
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| Empty Boots - Snatched in Rapture or Death? |
Solomon was right about one thing…we all will
die someday—no matter who we are. There were a couple of exceptions. Ezekiel escaped death when God took him up
into Heaven in a chariot of fire. As they
were walking along and talking, suddenly a chariot of fire appeared, drawn by
horses of fire. It drove between the two men, separating them, and Elijah was
carried by a whirlwind into heaven. 2 Kings 2:11. And of course there was
Enoch. It was by faith that Enoch was taken
up to heaven without dying—"he disappeared, because God took him."
For before he was taken up, he was known as a person who pleased God. Hebrews
11:5. It is likely that we will die…unless the rapture happens soon. Only God
the Father knows when that will happen. Are you ready…for the rapture…or to
face God in death? I’ve been told that we need to keep a short account with
God. Ask for forgiveness for our sins on a daily basis…make that moment by
moment. I’d call that a short account. We know when we haven’t lived up to what
God expects of us…in thought, word or action. Foolish or wise—we all face the
same death, but as is written in Psalm 49 we are given a hope of redemption.
That redemption has been done by Jesus on the cross—the sacrifice for our sin.
Are you pleasing God by the way you live? Are you walking as Jesus walked—and abiding
with Him?
Prayer
~ Lord Jesus, Thank You for redeeming my life and giving me hope for the future—an
eternity with You. I can leave everything behind to know that as I walk in Your
ways now, I will walk with You forever. I praise You and humbly serve You.
© 2016 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.
All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT)
unless otherwise noted.
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