Text: Ecclesiastes 12:1-8
1 Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;
2 While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain:
3 In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened,
4 And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of musick shall be brought low;
5 Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets:
6 Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern.
7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
8 Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity.
THE SOUL AFTER DEATH
Memory verse: Hebrews 9:27 “It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.”
This life is like a school exam. While you are alive, you are preparing, studying, and making choices. But when you die, the test is over, and your results are final. That is what the Bible means when it says, “After death comes judgment.”
Your soul the real “you” inside your body, it does not die when your body dies. Your soul keeps on living and immediately stands before God. This moment is called the Particular Judgment. It is when God, who sees everything, decides where your soul will go based on how you lived and whether you truly followed Him.
There are three possible outcomes:
- Heaven This is like finally going home after a long journey. It is where God lives, full of peace, joy, and love. People who trusted in Jesus and lived for God are welcomed here forever. There is no pain, fear, or sadness, only perfect happiness.
- Hell this is being forever separated from all light, love, and comfort. That is what the hell is. It is not because God sends people there out of anger, it is because they chose to live without Him. It is like choosing to leave the light and sit in the dark. God honours that choice, even though it breaks His heart.
- Purgatory (Catholic belief) This is like a cleaning room. If someone dies loving God but still needs to be purified from sin, they stay here for a while. It’s not punishment, but preparation, getting ready to enter Heaven clean and whole.
Your choices now matter forever. Just like a farmer plant seeds and later reaps the harvest, the way we live today decides what we will receive after death. We do not get another life to try again. That is why it is so important to know God, believe in Jesus, and live a life that pleases Him. Do not wait. Your soul is like a traveller with a ticket, you must choose the right destination before the journey ends.
COVENANT GATE HYMNALS 38: SS & S 616: TAKE MY LIFE, AND LET IT BE
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- Take my life, and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee;
Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in ceaseless praise.
- Take my hands, and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love ;
Take my feet, and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee.
- Take my voice, and let me sing
Always, only, for my King ;
Take my lips, and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee.
- Take my silver and my gold ;
Not a mite would I withhold :
Take my intellect, and use
Every power as Thou shalt choose.
- Take my will, and make it Thine ;
It shall be no longer mine :
Take my heart—-it is Thine own,
It shall be Thy royal throne.
- Take my love : my Lord, I pour
At Thy feet its treasure store :
Take myself; and I will be
Ever, only, all for Thee.
Today’s Prayer
- Lord Jesus, help me to live with eternity in mind.
- Cleanse my heart and prepare my soul to be with You forever.
- Help others around me make the right choice too.
