This may be the darkest or gloomiest thing I have ever written. But that is okay. Death is not something every Millennial thinks about. It’s no surprise, really. These days, people 18 to 30-something are focused on bills, tuition, student loans, a mortgage, or some other form of debt. But all the bills involve a debt we are expected to pay by a certain date.
Meanwhile, political figures have been saying for years that we “knuckleheads” think ourselves invincible with no need for health insurance. Why then would we give any thought to death, right? The thing is, we should be aware of death because it is a part of life. Scripture says death is a bill, a debt, that we owe (Romans 3:23, 6:23) and there is nothing we can do it about it.
There Is A Time To Die
Ecclesiastes is one of my favorite books of the Bible. In it we learn that we are to fear and respect God and keep His commandments. Why? It is the duty of mankind (Ecclesiastes 12:13). Earlier in the book, we learn there is a season for everything. This includes a time to be born, and a time to die (Ecclesiastes 3:2). To be sure, there are times for other things good and bad, but the time to die remains. And seeing as how we are all sinners, our transgressions must be paid for (Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23). That may not seem fair in the eyes of some readers, but life is not fair. God, however, does not owe us anything.
God Is No Respecter of Persons
The Bible tells us that God created the world and everything in it. Who are we then to tell our Creator what is right and wrong? Would you want something you built or sculpted to break down or mess up and then blame you for how things might be from that point forward? It’s the same way with the Almighty, and He does not play favorites.
“Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, ‘Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons’” (Acts 10:34).
“For there is no respect of persons with God” (Romans 2:11).
“But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy” (James 3:17).
These are all New Testament verses. There are some seemingly contradictory verses in the Old Testament that might be used to counter the argument that God does not play favorites:
“…And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering, but unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect.” (Genesis 4:4-5).
“And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect unto them” (Exodus 2:25).
“For I will have respect unto you, and make you fruitful, and multiply you, and establish my covenant with you” (Leviticus 26:9).
These are but a few examples, but it is important to point out that God’s ways are not our ways, and He still judged Israel for its behavior or wrongdoing (Isaiah 55:8). The captivity in Babylon and Persia is one example. Still, that’s not to say that Israel’s sins were any worse than other nations or people groups. All men are sinners, whose righteousness is as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6).
“There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.
And Jesus answering said unto them, ‘Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?
'I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
'Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?
'I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.’” (Luke 13:1-5)
Meanwhile, it is safe to say that even Bible heroes suffered horrible deaths. These include John the Baptist, a man in which Jesus said there was none greater (Matthew 11:11). As for Stephen, a man described as being full of faith and the Holy Ghost, had a vision of Jesus standing on the right hand of God moments before he was stoned to death (Acts 6:5, Acts 7:55-60).
God Offers The Same Grace To Everyone
Jesus tells us that we will all perish. That, again, is because the wages of sin is death. The good news is that we all have the opportunity for salvation through Jesus. He is the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6). Jesus is the Son of God, and anyone who believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16). All you have to do is believe in him and invite Jesus into your heart to be your Lord and Savior (Acts 16:30, Romans 10:9-13).
Whatever you are doing today to get in God’s good graces will not work. That’s because works do not win your salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9). This is why Jesus came to earth, lived among men, taught them and corrected them, went to the cross, and died for our sins. On the third day He rose from the grave and His resurrection paves the way for us to have life after death. If I could tell unsaved Millennials just one thing this Easter, it is this: You need to get right with God. You need to trust Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. God loves you. He wants that for you. May His will be done on earth, as it is in Heaven.
