THROUGH THE BIBLE IN THREE YEARS
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A tourist asked the man at the filling station, "What's the death rate out here?"
The man thought a moment and answered, "Same as where you're from, I reckon. One per person."
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Gen 25:7-10
7 And these are the days of the years of Abraham's life which he lived, an hundred threescore and fifteen years.
8 Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years; and was gathered to his people.
9 And his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, which is before Mamre;
10 The field which Abraham purchased of the sons of Heth: there was Abraham buried, and Sarah his wife.
KJV
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Life is brief and uncertain. Even 175 years is a short time. As my friend, Troy Fore says, "The old must die, and the young do die." Death, sooner or later, comes to all of us. Are you prepared to go NOW?
Notice the phrase "gave up the ghost." The Hebrew is literally "breathed out his breath." According to Genesis 2:7, we are given existence by God's breath. We are bodies of clay, with a spirit (person) inside. When it is time for us to die, God simply calls back His breath from our bodies made of clay, and our bodies return to dust again.
Isaiah said, "But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand." (Isa 64:8)
Even though our bodies return to be dust, the "spirit" (or the person) returns to God for determination of our eternal existence. Solomon described this poetically in Ecclesiastes 12:6-7, "6 Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern. 7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it."
Isaac and Ishmael came together and buried Abraham's body in the cave where Sarah had been buried earlier. They were united in celebration of Abraham's life, and in mourning of his death.
Two great emotions come together at the death of a parent. Death of a parent should be celebrated, because they were part of God's plan which gave us life. Death of a parent is mourned for two reasons:
First, we have lost the physical comfort of someone we loved deeply;
Secondly, we mourn because we are reminded that "the wages of sin is death." (Romans 6:23).
But, for the Christian, we celebrate death for another wonderful reason. In Christ, we are assured of a resurrection! One day, He will return and call all bodies from the graves. They will be rejoined with their spirit (person), "For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality." (1 Cor 15:53)
Physical death is not "the end." It is simply the door which opens to eternity. Be sure that you have the assurance of a resurrection to "LIFE!"
Love ya,
Bruce