“And just
as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment, so also
Christ was offered once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of
many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring
salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him.” (vv.27-28)
In spite of medical progress in prolonging life and improving
its quality, the death rate remains unchanged, one death for every birth. The scriptures
confirm this in many places; "It is
appointed for men to die once" (v.27), because "all have sinned"
(Romans 3:23), “Adam’s sin brought death” (Romans 5:12) and "the wages of
sin is death" (Romans 6:23).
Since there is no escaping this fact, an unblemished sacrifice was essential in paying the price
for man's redemption. Only the spotless Lamb, God's well-beloved Son, could
atone by shedding His blood. For "Without shedding of blood is no remission,"
and it is "the blood that makes atonement for the soul. “God therefore “gave
His only begotten Son”, so that no other sacrifice would ever be required.
Therefore, it is essential to live with the right
perspective—that death follows life, and that after death comes the judgment.
Everyone who trusts Christ for salvation will come forth from the grave
"to the resurrection of life," but everyone who rejects Him will come
forth “to the resurrection of condemnation" (John 5:29). For unbelievers,
death seals their doom. But for believers, death leads to glory, thanks to the “great
sacrifice.”
“Wise is the person who faces up to the certainty of death. And
wiser still is the one who prepares for it.” -Richard De Haan
The Truth
“For the
wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is
eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)
