Weekly Devotional 6-3-13 It is Appointed
“27And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27-28 KJV ). C.I. Scofield, D.D. expounding on this verse wrote, “Physical death is a consequence of sin (Genesis 3:19) and the universality of death proves the universality of sin (Romans 5:12-14). Physical death affects the body only, and is not cessation of existence or of consciousness (Luke 16:23; Revelation 6:9-10). All physical death ends in the resurrection of the body (Job 19:25-26). The soul and spirit of man live on independently from the body when it dies.”
The quoted verses:
Genesis 3:19 “In the sweat of thy face shall you eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it was taken: for dust you are, and unto dust shall you return.”
Romans 5:12-14 “12Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: 13(For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.”
Luke 6:23 “And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.”
Revelation 6:9-10 “9And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: 10And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?”
Job 19:25-26 “25For I know that my redeemer lives, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: 26And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God.”
The blessing for the Christian is that the death of his body his spirit will immediately be in the presence of the Lord, having his sins paid for. Paul testified, “1For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: 3If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. 4For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. 5Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. 6Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:1-6).
Job, the ancient; Moses, and the apostles John and Paul expected their spirits to live on, should physical death come to them, but they all expected that their bodies would be resurrected. Job and Moses believed in the promise that God would justify them because of their faith in His promised Redeemer, the promise that told of their sins being placed on Him. John met this redeemer personally and Paul met Him by special appointment. They all knew that their sins had been judged and dealt with, but it is not so for those who will not believe God and turn to Him for salvation. Their sin must still be dealt with. This is why the writer of Hebrews wrote, “it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.”
This need not be. Join Job, Moses, John, Paul and millions of other who have put their faith in God’s promise! “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved” (Acts 16:31).
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