“Oh that they were wise…that they would consider their latter end” (Deuteronomy 32.29.)
Introduction. Man tries hard to put reminders of death from his sight. Perhaps no subject so important is so little thought of. A celebrated author named Drelincourt wrote a valuable piece of work on Death, but it commanded no sale. Men would not trouble themselves with death’s cross-bones. The old Egyptians were wiser. Their custom at feast-time was to place a skeleton at the head of the table to remind them that there was an end of life. Our text tells us that we would be wise to consider our latter end. It would cool our fever for wealth, keep us from evil acts, and maybe set our thoughts on God and convince us to prepare ourselves to meet him. Let’s walk arm in arm with Death—that skeleton teacher. May the Holy Spirit bend our thoughts downward to the tomb.
(1) Let us Consider Death. Why must I die! So wonderfully made by God, only to return to dust? To have dominion over the earth, and then to waste away? Death is a penalty. If Adam had remained sinless, our life would be endless. Sin is the mother of death! Adam has dug all our graves! Death is certain. Die I must! I may run like the deer, but the dogs of Death will get me yet. The Arabs tell us that there is a black camel upon which Death rides, and that must kneel at every man’s door. My time of Death is already appointed, and the means thereof. It is known to God, unknown to me. From the present spot I stand in, there is a straight path to my grave. A sliver of hair is thicker than our thread of life. Let us then prepare to meet our God. Dying is terrible. To joke about it is no laughing matter. This awful moment of dying is what hell is like, for the second Death is a continual dying. Death is a leaving all you have and all you love. On the other side there is glory and reunion for the believer in Christ, but blackness and howling for the unconverted. There is no chance of repenting after Death.
(2) The Warnings Death has Given Us. Brothers and sisters, Death has invaded some of our families. It is a warning for us to prepare to meet God. A few weeks ago we were shocked to learn that this captain who had sailed through many a storm died in calm waters. Then we heard about a mill in America that fell over and killed hundreds. Then we heard of passengers on a train, fully at ease in conversation, suddenly snatched from time as the iron horse came off the track. This last week a judge was carried right from his court and whisked away to a greater judgment-seat. Death is doing marvels at home, abroad, and on the sea. O Death! will you never be still? But Death is closer to us than this. You talk of a rotten tooth: it is just part of a rotting man. This is Death presenting its warrant. But Death gives a more thundering sermon: fever, cholera, and still you carelessly live in sin. Death says, “Lord, let me slay him.” The Lord replies, “Spare him a little longer.” What will become of you when Death is finally allowed to let fly his arrow?
(3) Picture Yourself as Dying. Imagine your last day has come. Loved ones are gathering around your bed. A relative pleads with you to receive his Redeemer. Your lips refuse to speak. You can’t move. Someone whispers, “Is he dead?” There is a hush in the room. What must your sensations be in that solemn moment! Your soul looses from your body. Maybe you are then brother to the angels, if you believed in and loved Jesus. Or maybe the doctor has made it easy for your unbelieving soul to be damned by drugging you to sleep.
Selection from Conclusion. “The way of salvation is plain: ‘He that believeth and is baptised, shall be saved: he that believeth not, shall be damned.’”
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