AFTER THIS LIFE

SERIES: LIVING BY FAITH.

TEXT: HEBREWS 9:27-28

The writer of Hebrews is telling us that Jesus Christ is a “better” sacrifice.

God in His divine plan has chosen that no person can come to Him without acceptable sacrifice. This is called the “way of approach.” The writer of Hebrews wants us to know that there is only one way of approaching God and that is the “way of the cross; the way of the blood of Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary.”

• He wants us to know that the salvation Jesus purchased when He died on the cross is real, powerful and perfect.
• He wants us to know that Jesus is better than the law with all its sacrifices offered since the dawn of time.
• He wants us to know Jesus is better than the 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep which king Solomon sacrificed at the dedication of the temple- 2nd Chron. 5:6.
• He wants us to know that Jesus Christ did not have to offer Himself “often”- V. 25. But just as men die “once”- v. 27. Jesus died “once”.
• He wants us to know that “one death” Jesus purchased eternal redemption for all those who will believe in Him.
• He wants to remind us that the Old Testament priest and worshipper under the old system offered millions of animals over the years and these millions of animals could “never take away sins”- Heb. 10:11.
• He wants us to know that when Jesus died, He “offered once sacrifice for sins forever.”
• He wants us to know that after that “once and for all” sacrifice, Jesus “sat down at the right hand of God”- Heb. 10:12.
• He wants us to know that “Jesus Christ finished the work of salvation.”
• He wants us to know that Jesus Christ is “the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world”- John 1:29.
• He wants us to know that for a sinner to be saved from the wrath of God, that sinner must believe on Jesus Christ and on His death and resurrection- Rom. 10:9.

Today we want to look at the phrase “After this” found in V. 27.

This phrase “AFTER THIS” reminds us that this life we have is fleeting and very brief indeed.

• Jams 4:14- this life is like a vapor that appeareth for a little while and that vanisheth away.”
• Job 7:6-7- Job said that they are “sifter than a weaver’s shuttle” life is like “the wind.”
• Psalm 39:5- David said that God had made His “days as a handbreath.”
• David wanted God to help him, “remember how short my time is”- Psalm 89:47.
• In Psalm 102:3- David described his days “as smoke.”
• In 1st Peter 1:24- Peter said our days are as “the grass” which withereth and the flower thereof falleth away.”
• The writer of Hebrews wants us to know that we will not live in this world forever, but when this life is over, we continue to live elsewhere.
• That is why the phrase “After This” so important. Now let us look at the realities that present themselves in this passage.

These realities teach us the truth that life goes on “AFTER THIS”-Let us learn:-

AFTER THIS THERE IS AN APPOINTMENT- Hebrews 9:27 

• This word “appointed” is a very interesting word.
• It means “to fix a point.” It means “a non- elected point.”
• It means “a meeting arranged ahead of time.”
• The good writer is telling us that each one of us has a “meeting that has been arranged ahead of time for us by another, greater than us.”
• This is a meeting that we would not choose to attend if we had any say in the matter.
• This meeting we try to postpone through all means.
• That is why we go to the doctor, swallow these pills and try to take care of these bodies of clay.
• This meeting appointment does not care your rank- even four star generals, presidents, professors, rich business people, beauties, scientists, bishops, children, ladies and gentlemen, rich or poor.
• No matter what we do the day will come when we will keep our appointment.
• Let us keenly consider the nature of this appoint that has been arranged for us:-

1. The form of this appointment- “it is appointed unto man once to die.”

• The appointment we have is with something called “DEATH.”
• Death is not an end or cessation of life for man.
• Death for animals is the end, but for people death is something else entirely different!!
• When people die, their bodies return to the earth but their soul and spirit live on forever.
• There is a part of you that will continue to live on after your body dies.
• Death means “separation”- it is a separation from this world. People you love from this life with all its blessings and its sorrows.
• In death we live on but not on this earth.
• There are only two places where spirits live on after the death of the body- Heaven or Hell.
• For those who love Christ (saved)- Heaven- John 14:1-3. Heaven is where God is- Rev. 21:4.
• Those who rejected Jesus Christ, they will endure an eternity of torment and suffering because of their sins- 2nd Thess. 1:8-9.
• In other words there will come a day when you will “DIE” you will leave this world to either go to Heaven or to Hell depending on what you do with Jesus Christ- John 3:16, 18:24.
• That is the nature of this appointment.

1. The fixer of this appointment.

• The one who determines when this appointment will take place is God Himself-Job 14:5. 14:14, 7:1; Psalm 90:12.

• There is a boundary set somewhere in the future that you will not pass.
• God has already determined the length of your life and He knows when this life will end.

1. The FOCUS of this appointment.

“As it is appointed unto MEN.”

• These words are written to people. God is not warning Angels, animals, birds and fish, He is warning MEN (male and female).
• God wants you and me to know that we are frail, fleeting flesh and that one day our time on earth will come to an end.
• What have you done with Jesus Christ?
• I challenge you to make the rest of your life the best of your life by determining in your heart to live every moment for the glory of God- 1st John 5:12; 1st Cor. 15:58.

1. The frequence of this appointment- “As it is appointed unto men ONCE to die.”

• With only a few exceptions, people die only ONCE.
• Lazarus, the son of the widow at Nain, Jairus daughter, Tabitha, Enoch, Elijah and those who will be raptured, have not seen death.
• Some died twice!! But that is a few exceptions- 1st Thess. 4:16-17; 1st Cor. 15:51-52.
• For most of us death will come and will come once.
• Heb. 9:27- there is an appointment that we all must keep, we have a date with death.
• Are you ready for that appointment” you can!! Today.
• “After this” there is an appointment.

“AFTER THIS” THERE IS AN ARRAIGNMENT- (JUDGEMENT) Heb. 9:27.

• After we die there is another appointment that we must keep.
• After we die, we will appear before the court of Heaven.
• We must all stand before God and face Him in judgement. Let us see:-

1. The timing of this arraignment.

• After we keep our appointment with death. There is another appointment after that.
• Death is not the end of life “but after this, the judgement.”
• The word “judgement” come from the word “crisis.”
• “Judgement” is a medical term that refers to “the turning point in a disease.” It is a moment of “crisis.”
• At this time the patient took a turn for better and lived or the patient took a turn for the worse and died.
• When a patient takes a turn for the worse, he/she is headed off to keep their appointment with death.
• After we die there will come a moment of “crisis.” We will face God with the deeds done in this life- 2nd Cor. 5:9-11; Rom. 14:10-12.
• Lost sinners will face Him- Rev. 20:11-15.

1. The terror of this arraignment- It is a “judgement.”

• We don’t like the idea of judgement.
• The saint will be judged in their works to receive a reward or loses- 1st Cor. 3:10-15.
• The lost sinners will be judged, only be cast into the lake of fire- Rev. 20:11-15.
• That is why St. Paul in Heb. 10:31 says, “it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”

1. The testimony of this arraignment- “After This.”

• Don’t presume on this life, this life will end and we will enter eternity with or without God.
• Are you ready to meet your maker?
• “After this” there is an appointment.
• “After this” there is an arraignment.

AFTER THIS THERE IS AN AMAZEMENT-Heb. 9:28

1. Amazement of a substitute.

• Just as people die once, the Lord Jesus Christ died once.
• He died on a cross, not because He deserved it. He died to “bear the sins of many.”
• The amazing thing is that you appear before God not because you deserved to be there (Heaven) but because Jesus Christ took our place and died to save us.

1. The amazement of our savior.

• “After this,” “He will appear unto them that look for Him.”
• Today the heart of every child of God longs to see the Lord who died for us.
• Very soon that desire will be fulfilled and we will look at His face.
• If you are saved Jesus is coming soon.
• The amazing thing is that our Savior has made us acceptable to God- Eph. 1:6.

1. The amazement of our salvation.

“He shall appear the second time without sin unto salvation.”

• When Christ comes again He will come with no reference to sin.
• He dealt with sin “once and for all” on the cross and in His resurrection.
• He is not coming for sinners, but for His saints.

CONCLUSION:

• What are you going to do “after this”- this life?
• Where will you spend eternity?
• Where will you be “After this?”