Is the  Greatest Cause of Death about to Overtake You?

© 2023 by Tom Boynton (editing by Kathy Boynton)

Chapter five of Genesis lists Adam and nine generations which proceeded from him.  For each of these individuals, except for two, this chapter’s description ends with the words, “and he died.”  The first of these two exceptions is Enoch of whom it is said,

“And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.” (Genesis 5:24)

In other words, God decided to take Enoch directly to Himself, thus, bypassing death.

The second of these two exceptions is Noah.  His death is not mentioned until Genesis chapter nine.  Scripture indicates that Noah was also a Godly man who walked with God.

“These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.” (Genesis 6:9)

Though Noah also walked with God, he did not escape death.  He did escape destruction from the flood in an ark which God told him how to build.  By means of this ark, Noah and his wife, as well as their three sons and their sons’ wives, were spared.  They lived to repopulate the earth after the flood.  However, Scripture points out, several chapters later, that, in spite of God’s mercy, Noah finally died.

“And Noah lived after the flood three hundred and fifty years.  And all the days of Noah were nine hundred and fifty years: and he died.” (Genesis 9:28-29).

What do we learn from this?  With very few exceptions, death is or shall be the common experience of mankind.  Putting it another way, the common experience of man is that the longer you live, the more certain it is that your death will come soon.  Thus, in a way, long life is the greatest cause of death.  Of course, there are other things associated with long life that God uses to bring death to a person.  Sickness and “accidents” become more probable as life progresses.  Scripture expresses the certainty of death as an “appointment.”

“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:  So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.” (Hebrews 9:27-28)

If you’re reading this, it’s an obvious indication that you’re still living in your body.  Though death is not restricted to old people, it is true that the longer you live, the closer you are to your “appointment” with death.  Are you prepared?  Are you looking for Him and trusting Him for the salvation that awaits those who love and follow Him?  Or, are you dreading your appointment because you don’t know Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, as your Savior?

Jesus paid the horrible penalty for the sins of His people.  He said:

“… I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6)