SOUTHSIDE CHURCH OF CHRIST

The Pathway to Death, Sunday 4 February 2001

Feb 02, 2001

Everyone is familiar with the idea of death. Death is something that is unavoidable and a part of life. In fact, the Hebrew writer tells us that, just as we make and keep appointments for everything we do on a day to day basis, so do we also have an appointment with death (Hebrews 9:27). Yet, physical death is meaningless and unimportant in the scheme of eternity in which the soul lives forever. It is another type of death, that concerns this eternity which is so much more important and worthy of our attention.

James writes in his letter that there is a path that leads to death. Such death is of a spiritual nature, and not physical. The first step towards spiritual death, according to the inspired writer is found in our own, personal desires. Each of us, from a young age, begin to look at what others have or what we see in society and think to ourselves, "I'd like to have that." We desire certain things. And, while we should desire those things that are good and right in the sight of God, we oftentimes look to those things offered by Satan and want them.

James writes that there is a relationship between the desires one has and temptation. He states that "each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed" (James 1:14). Such temptation is that which we must all combat. Yet, while dealing with a temptation is not optional for the Christian, it is not impossible to overcome those temptations put before us by Satan. Paul writes that there are no temptations that are too difficult to overcome and never a time when we are tempted that God does not provide a way of escape from the trap laid before us (I Corinthians 10:13).

Once the desires have taken hold and we do not seek the way of escape, sin is born (James 1:15). Sin is a separation from God (Isaiah 59:2) and as such, is very serious. When we choose to sin, it is up to us to change - that is, to repent and pray for forgiveness and Simon the Sorcerer was told to do (Acts 8:22).

If we do not remove the sin, it will bring forth death (James 1:15). This, again, is spiritual death, far more serious than the end of our physical existence on earth. We must guard ourselves against the kind of actions that allows sin to remain and death to take over. Jesus speaks of believing and baptism as the way to be saved. And, He states that without belief, one will be condemned (Mark 16:16). Such condemnation can mean nothing else than eternal death in hell, away from the love of God forever. Let's be sure that our lives are in the right and not filled with sin so as to avoid this horrible consequence.