Title Think of Death / Luke 12:13-21
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Subject: Think of Death
Bible: Luke 12:13-21
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Since last year, we have been experiencing a series of major events, and we feel a very great risk to the safety of our lives. No planes, no ships, no trains, no subways, nothing is safe. Just because you're on the ground, you can't guarantee that you're safer than under the ground. Big things happen when you think I'll be safe. No one knows when, where, what will happen, and who will lose their lives.
As a result, many people have accidents and have neurosis. It's about finding a safe zone where you can somehow preserve your life. However, such an attitude only makes the mind more anxious, and cannot actually escape the danger.
What attitude should people of faith have in these situations? Even if everyone else gets into an accident, should we pray for the lives of those who believe? It won't be. Believers should be able to hear God's request silently communicated through these tragic events. Through this situation, we are saying that we should be able to hear God's request to think about death.
This terrifying fact that there is no safe zone anywhere in the country we live in paradoxically asks us to always think of death and live. Death is inevitable. In fact, as Martin Luther said, we are living in the midst of death. Death can come at any time. It is not something that can be avoided by avoiding it. However, you will discover the surprising fact that living always conscious that you can die at any time, this is the attitude of life that our Lord requires.
Let's look at today's parable. Why did this rich man become a fool? That was one reason. that death was forgotten. He thought his life would last forever. That was the cause of his stupidity.
If this wheat is reversed, it means that the person who lives consciously of death and who acknowledges that the ruler of life is God is the true wise person. In this way, a series of recent major events make us wise. A wise man humbly acknowledges that he can die at any time and lives like such a person. When you live like this, two important changes can happen.
First, there is a change in our relationship with God.
The rich man in today's parable did not have death in mind. As a result, he did not think about God at all. Thinking only of this land, I thought that life could enter a safe zone by securing property.
The thought that we can die at any time makes our relationship with God more precious and desperate. What would a person facing death do right now? If you don't believe, you don't know, but if you are a believer, wouldn't you be interested in your relationship with God first? I'm busy now, so I can't think of going to find God later if I have time. Even if my life ends right now, I will continue to maintain a relationship where I can become one with God.
Second, there is a change in relationships with neighbors.
We mistakenly believe that our neighbors will always be with us. When we think like that, we naturally neglect to love our neighbor. Think about it. Leaving home in the morning, can you guarantee that you will definitely come home in the evening? Just imagine that if you leave now, you may never be able to come back home. The way you look at your wife is new, and the way you look at your children becomes new.
That's right. We can love each other only as long as we are alive. After either side dies first, even if you want to love, you cannot love. No one knows when the hour of death will come. So, we can't afford to spend time hating and envying each other. While we still have time, we should do our best to love.
In today's parable, the foolish rich man did not think of death, thus ignoring his relationship with God, and going one step further, neglecting to love his neighbor. Had he thought he could die tonight, this rich man would not have been so foolish. With what he had, he would have used it for the sake of his neighbours, not just for his own boat.
We believers should live like a ephemera. Don't make promises for tomorrow, live as if today is everything, and do your best. We must do our best in the presence of God. I will do my best today, while I still have time, to love those around me. We do not know how much time we have, but by striving to live each day in this way, we secure true life and we have true eternity. We are 'ephemerals living forever'. Living like this is the secret to getting a true 'safe zone' within the pit of death.
□ Example Tue 1. Recognition of death
When I was in high school, a senior I was very close to died from briquette gas. I have heard a lot about gas accidents, but after the senior who was next to me died, the thought that I could die at any time became urgent. Because our house was also burning briquettes. After the death of that senior, the outline of my prayers every night was like this. “Lord, receive me even if I cannot open my eyes tomorrow.”
This was the first time I had an experience that the awareness of death made my relationship with God desperately needed.
□ Yes Tue 2. When you can love
It is the scream of a woman who lost her middle school son during the Daegu subway bombing in April. "I was going on a picnic, and I begged him to buy sushi. I didn't have any money, so I packed up kimbap and sent it. I was complaining on my way out in the morning, so I sent it out with my soul. But she died like this. This Emmy who made me go down the path to death 's heart is pounding indefinitely." Love is only possible while you are alive.
□ Prayer
Father in charge of our life and death, we entrust everything we have to you. Do your will through our lives. As long as you live, don't lack in being one with the Father, and open your heart to love everyone. Please appreciate the time you are given each day and live your life to the fullest. I pray in the name of the Lord. Amen.