PREPARE TO MEET THY GOD! [Amos 4:12]

Michael Jeshurun

David Bowie, (just like John Lennon, Freddie Mercury, Bon Scott, Michael Jackson and a host of other Rock musicians) made a carrier by blaspheming God and His Christ! The BBC today broadcasted that Bowie died a “peaceful death surrounded by family members.”

Is it a ‘peaceful death’ to one who blasphemes God and does not love His Christ? “If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha!” [1Cor 16:22] which in Greek means – “Let him be accursed!”  “THERE IS NO PEACE, saith the LORD, unto the wicked!” [Isa 48:22]

Here is an account of what the Scripture says happens to those who die out of Christ –

“The rich man shall lie down, but he shall not be gathered: he openeth his eyes, and he is not.

Terrors take hold on him as waters, a tempest stealeth him away in the night.

The east wind carrieth him away, and he departeth: and as a storm hurleth him out of his place.

For God shall cast upon him, and not spare: he would fain flee out of his hand.

Men shall clap their hands at him, and shall hiss him out of his place!”  [Job 27:19-23]

Below is an excellent meditation from Spurgeon on HOW one can prepare to meet their God . . . .

PREPARE TO MEET THY GOD [Amos 4:12]

C.H. Spurgeon

It pains me to think of it; as I sat last night about eight o’clock, revolving in my mind a subject for this hour’s discourse, there came a knock at my door, and I was earnestly entreated by a father to hasten to the deathbed of his dear girl. I wanted much of my time for preparation, but as the dear one was in such a case, and had long been a constant hearer of the word in this tabernacle, I felt it my duty to go whether I could prepare a sermon or not. Glad I was to hear that sick one’s testimony! She told me with what I fear was her dying breath, that she was not fully assured of her interest in Christ, but she left me no room to doubt when, between spasms and convulsions, she said, “I know I love Jesus; and that is all I know.”

Yes, and I thought it IS ALL I NEED TO KNOW; if any one of us always knows that he loves the Savior, what more does he require of testimony as to his state? But my mind was sorely oppressed then as it is now with the thought that SO MANY OF YOU ARE NOT PREPARED TO DIE AT ALL! I often see my sermons in sick rooms, and I come to think of preaching sermons in a different light from what many do. I will try to preach sermons which will suit your most solemn hours and most serious circumstances; I would gladly deliver sermons which shall haunt your sickbeds, and accuse you unless you yield to their persuasions and believe in Jesus!

When you lie on the borders of the spirit world, you will count all religious trifling to be cruel mockery; so let me say it affectionately, but very earnestly to you, “Prepare to meet thy God,” for I am afraid many of you are quite unprepared! You have seen others die; they preach to you from their graves, and they say, “So to the dust must you also come, my friend; be you ready, for in such an hour as you think not, the Son of Man will call for you.” You have had sicknesses in your own body; you are not now the strong man you once were; you have already passed through many perils. What are all these but voices from the God of mercy saying, “Consider your ways”? [Haggai 1:7]

You are not such a simpleton as to think that you shall never die; YOU KNOW you will! Neither are you so insane as to think that when you die, your death will be that of a horse or a dog; you know THERE IS A HEREAFTER, and a state of being in which men shall be judged according to the deeds that they have done in the body, whether they are good, or whether they are evil; and so I therefore press upon your earnest recollection and your intense consideration at this present moment, the exhortation of the text, “Prepare to meet your God!”

“The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death!” [Prov 14:32]

Thank you Lord Jesus for dying for us and making us meet to be partakers of your rest!

“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid!” [John 14:27]