If you've ever read the comic strips, there's a word you may recognize: "Argh!" It usually is uttered by a character that has just done something they wish they hadn't done. Technically it's not a word; it's more likely to be classified as a "guttural", a sound. But it communicates quite effectively. It's also a sound you could have heard me utter early this morning.
Part of my morning routine is to send out a publication called "Daily Focus", designed primarily for members of our church, present or past. I spend several minutes typing in prayer requests, news items, etc. This morning I was about halfway through the composition phase when I accidentally hit the "send" button. "Argh!," I exclaimed. My next impulse was to hit another button to stop the sending process. Alas, there is no such button. There is no return from hitting "send" in email.
Many have had a similar "Argh" experience when they accidentally flushed a wedding ring down their toilet. It's amazing to see how common this phenomenon is; just Google it for yourself. I just learned that the wife of Glen Beck (famous conservative TV commentator) had that happen earlier this year. Occasionally people retrieve jewelry lost in that way, but the "send button" on the commode is generally another example of "no return".
Navigating unfamiliar city streets also presents us with such scenarios. Be sure you want to turn onto that one way street! It may be awhile before you can get turned around in the proper direction.
There's one event in the Bible that can aptly be described as "no return", and that's the unpleasant subject of death. Because it is so unpleasant, some choose not to think of it at all. But that would be like asking your doctor not to give you any bad news. The best hope we have of dealing with bad news is to first know what we're facing.
Hebrews 9:27 is a succinct statement of the truth: "And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment." Contrary to those who believe in the concept of reincarnation (returning to life multiple times but in different bodies), the Bible affirms we only live on this planet once. Once we exit this life (death), there is no return.
Be sure to notice, however, that death is not the end of our journeys. "... but after this the judgment." Many passages in Scripture speak of Judgment Day. Take 2 Corinthians 5:10, for example: "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad." No one will evade this appointment.
The Bible also gives us good news regarding Judgment Day. Here's how John stated it: "Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so we are in this world" (1 John 4:17). If we are working to model our lives according to the example of Jesus, we can approach these fearful dates (death, judgment) with confidence.
Life is indeed a one-way street, so to speak. Our lives are moving surely toward the exit ramp, and there will be no return. That announcement should not leave us distressed, but determined to make Christ a central part of our lives. In doing so, we'll be ready for the inevitable.
Timothy D. Hall
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