Series: Psalm
Title: Death, Then What?
Text: Psalm 16: 11
Date: September 29, 2013
Place: SGBC, New Jersey
What
happens after a believer dies? That is our subject. Our text is found in Psalm 16. This Psalm was
penned by David but it is the word of David’s Lord, Christ Jesus.
Mr. Spurgeon points out that sometimes the Psalms seem to be the
voice of David and sometimes the voice of Christ. And even that fact shows us
that Christ and his people are one—what may be said of them may be said of him.
Brethren,
we ought to think about that often. It
is a very comforting thought to know that we are one with Christ, inseparably
one with Christ, all by the grace of God.
One of
the verses that reveals this Psalm is about Christ is verse 10, “For thou wilt
not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see
corruption.”
Every
other person who goes to the grave sees corruption but not Christ’s body. Christ went to the grave. His body lay in the grave for three days. But
Christ saw no corruption.
And
because we are one with Christ, what we read in Job is true of us, “though
after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:” (Job
19: 26)
Then
what happened to our Savior? I want to
know because whatever happened to Christ is sure to happen to us. What happens after a believer dies?
Psalm 16:11: Thou wilt shew me the path of
life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures
for evermore.
This is
what happens after a believer dies. Believer, do you trust that your salvation
is all of God by his grace in Christ? Then you can say these words of yourself.
Psalm 16: 11: Thou wilt shew me the path of
life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures
for evermore.
Proposition:
One day God shall raise each believer from the dead to the path of life, where
we shall enjoy the fullness of joy in his presence and pleasures forevermore at
his right hand.
Divisions:
I. Assurance concerning the path of life—Thou
wilt shew me the path of life; II. Assurance
concerning where that path shall lead—in thy presence, at thy right hand;
III. Assurance concerning the joy at the
end of that path of life—fullness of joy; pleasures for evermore.
I. ASSURANCE CONCERNING THE PATH OF LIFE—Thou
wilt shew me the path of life;
God Will Show
Who
will do the showing? God will,“Thou
wilt.” This is the confidence Christ
Jesus had in the faithfulness of God the Father. God the Son knew the
faithfulness of his Father because the Son of God is a mirror image of his
Father’s faithfulness.
Hebrews 1:3: Who being the brightness of his glory, and
the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his
power…
So
Christ had this confidence, “Thou wilt show me the path of life.” Therefore, Christ’s last words were, “Father,
into THY HANDS I commend my Spirit.” (Lu 23: 46) He knew the Father would take him to glory
because the Lord Jesus told the thief on the cross, “Verily I say unto thee, To
day shalt thou be with me in paradise.” (Lu 23: 43)
Christ
was certain of God the Father’s promise to him because Christ finished the work. Christ put an end to the
transgression, an end to sin. He
brought in everlasting righteousness for each individual child for whom he
died. Christ knew the Father was
well-pleased.
The Path of Life
What
will God show me?—“the path of life.” On
the 3rd day, the Father reunited our Lord’s spirit and his
body. The stone over the tomb was rolled
back and the Savior came forth.
Let me
point out something to you in John 11. Do
you remember how Lazarus came forth from the tomb? Christ spoke and raised Lazarus from the
dead.
John 11:44: And he that was dead came forth, bound hand
and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus
saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.
Now
turn to John 20. Notice the difference in how Christ came forth from the grave.
John 20: 6: Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and
went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie, 7: And the napkin,
that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together
in a place by itself.
When
the Holy Spirit entered Christ, Christ calmly took off his grave clothes, took
his time folding them up, then folded up the napkin and placed them in separate
places. Then he came forth from the
grave with none of the grave clothes Lazarus came forth with. Why this difference?
Lazarus
was only raised from the dead. He would
die again. He pictured a sinner
regenerated by God who yet wears lots of graveclothes in our old man of flesh. But
Christ conquered death so that not he—nor anyone in him—can ever be held by
death.
Acts 2:24: Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the
pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.
Hebrews 7:16: Who is made, not after the law of a carnal
commandment, but after the power of an endless life. [this is why Rom 6: 14
says, “sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but
under grace.]
Revelation 1:18: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and,
behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
Romans 6: 9: Knowing that Christ being raised from the
dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. 10: For in that he
died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
The
strength of sin is the law and Christ fulfilled the law for his people.
Hebrews 10:12 But
this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the
right hand of God; 13 From henceforth
expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. 14 For by one offering he
hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
He
destroyed not only death—but the devil who had the power of death. (Hebrews 2:14-15: And “delivered them
who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” We
cannot die, the law cannot charge us, and Christ shall show us the path of life
when we die. This is why it is said,
Hebrews 7:25: Wherefore he is able also to save them to
the “uttermost” them that come unto God by him, seeing he “ever liveth” to make
intercession for them.
Those
disciples stood there and watched as our Savior ascended up into heaven out of
sight. Can’t you just hear the heavenly
host cry out, “Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye
everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in;” (Ps 24: 7)
So my
brethren, let’s live as one that really is raised from the dead and alive unto
God because it is true for you believer.
Romans 6: 11: Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be
dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. 12: Let
not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the
lusts thereof. 13: Neither yield ye your members as instruments of
unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are
alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
Through
our whole life our God shall show us the path of life. He will do it just as if you were the only
one needing to be led. God our Savior promises to devote his wisdom and
strength to you, believer.
When
Emma was a baby she would walk along beside me but sometimes she would stray
off the path. I would take her by the
hand and gently turn her and hold her up while she made her way back to my
side. Then I would lead her along.
When
the way is dark and you feel like you are about to stumble out of the way,
Christ will reach forth and take you by the hand, and lead you, just like a
father leads his little child. He will be gentle. He will be patient with you.
When you start to turn out of the way, he will say, “This is the way; walk thou
in it.”
We want
to help those we love. But there will
come a day when it’s out of our power to be of any help whatsoever. They will close their eyes in death. But there God will be, Christ our Savior,
come down to take them by the hand—to show them the path of life.
Christ is the Path of Life
Sinner,
do you know what path I am speaking of? You who are in the broad way that leads
to destruction—do you have any idea that the path of life is a person? Christ is the Way and he said,
Matthew 7: 13: Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide
is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there
be which go in thereat: 14: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way,
which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Your
wisdom will lead you astray—submit to Christ the Wisdom of God. I remember being a teenager and thinking that
old preacher doesn’t know what I’m facing.
Christ does. Do you realize
Christ was a teenager once? He went
through puberty. Scriptures say, “He was
touched with the feeling of our infirmities, yet without sin.” That means he knows exactly the temptations
you face and the path you are on and the hardships. Believe on Christ and he will lead you in the
right way. I can assure the path through this life gets wider, more dangerous,
more sorrowful. You don’t want to tread it alone. At death when you face your
greatest adversary—then the Path of life will lead you in the path of
life. Enter in at the straight gate
now—believe on Christ and follow him.
II. ASSURANCE OF WHERE THIS PATH LEADS—V11: in
thy presence, at thy right hand;
We
shall one day go into God’s presence and behold Christ seated there at God’s
right hand and we ourselves be given the choicest seat in God’s kingdom. God’s right hand signifies a place of favor
and honor and security. Remember, when
the Son of man comes in his glory—“he shall set the sheep on his right hand but
the goats on his left.” (Mt 25: 34) The
right hand signifies security, favor and honor.
Every
saint will receive the choicest seat of honor and favor and security. Our Victorious King says, “To him that
overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame,
and am set down with my Father in his throne.” (Rev 3: 21)
Heaven
is not like earth, with the sinful desires to have more than others, to be
recognized above fellow brethren, there will be no envy and no jealousy.
Revelation 21: 27: And there shall in no wise enter into
it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a
lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
So God
is not going to put one away in some dark corner of his courts and exalt
another before all. Instead, he will put
each of his saints in the place of honor—in his presence, at his right hand.
Our Guarantee
Our
first, guarantee that we shall be raised into his presence at his right hand is
because this is where Christ is and where every elect child of God is in him.
1 Peter 3:22 Who
is gone into heaven, and is on the right
hand of God; angels and
authorities and powers being made subject unto him.
Ephesians 2: 6: And hath raised us up together, and made
us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
Secondly,
our guarantee is because Christ prayed for his people to be with him,
John 17:24: Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast
given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast
given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.
Thirdly,
our guarantee that he shall show us the path of life and we shall sit there
with him is the Lord Jesus promises you and I who believe,
John 14:19: Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no
more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.
One day
every believer shall be raised up with a new body and in our bodies in person
we shall go where Christ our forerunner has gone and be in God’s presence, at
God’s right hand. Try to imagine that!
III. ASSURANCE OF JOY AT THE END OF THIS
PATH—in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures
for evermore.
Fullness of Joy and Pleasures
Think
about this phrase “FULLNESS of JOY.” On this earth, if you heaped every joy you
and I have ever known and put them all together, they would not come to close
to “FULLNESS OF JOY.
Mr.
Spurgeon: Called this life “the grace life” and the life to come “the glory
life.” Believer, don’t you find that
there are times when your heart just overflows with joy and pleasure by the
Lord’s presence even now? For example:
He shows
you in the scriptures that he chose us—by his grace—apart from anything in
us. He makes us to behold how great it
is that our sin can never separate us from Christ because nothing about us put
us in Christ to begin with. And you just
find your heart full of joy—that our God chose us by his sovereign, free,
electing grace and loves us everlastingly without change.
He
shows you how complete Christ accomplished our redemption—that as God said, “My
righteous servant justified many.”—you hear God say, “Your sin and iniquities I
remember no more.”—you hear God say, “Sin, disobedience to the law, shall never
be charged to you because you are no longer under the law, you are under grace.
You have fulfilled and established the whole law when Christ did it for you. So
the law from now till the day you die is fulfilled for you.” And your heart overflows.
He
reminds you that “even when we were dead in sins”—unable to will, unable to
deal, unable to strike a bargain, unable to give us life—“even when we were
dead HE quickened us together with Christ….By grace are ye saved through faith
and that not of yourselves it is the gift of God. Not of works lest any man
should boast.” And our heart just bursts
with joy.
If that
is the case in this “grace life” where we see through a glass darkly, just
imagine what fullness of joy we will have in God’s presence when we enter into
the “glory life” and we see him as he is!
In
eternity you shall be so full of joy that you could not be more full of
joy. You will have reached the summit of
joy and pleasures. We will be so full of joy there will be no room left for
sorrow of any kind, no room left for a doubt, or a wish, or even a sad
memory. The Spirit of just men made
perfect are right now enjoying fullness of joy in his presence and pleasures at
his right hand.
What is this Joy and These Pleasures?
He
tells us what this fullness of joy and these pleasures will be—IN THY PRESENCE, AT THY RIGHT HAND.
John saw them all “fall down and worship HIM” (Rev 5: 14). The joy and pleasures of heaven will be seeing
our triune God in the face of Jesus Christ.
We shall see him in every word in scripture, every type, every shadow—I’ll
bet we will be amazed how little we see of him in it now. Then we shall see how he worked in every
detail of our lives—to protect us, to provide the best for us in every
situation when we were totally unaware.
Ephesians 2:7: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding
riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
Psalm 17:15 As for
me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I
awake, with thy likeness.
That is
something else that will make this joy and these pleasures full. We will be
able to see and worship our Redeemer conformed perfectly to his image with the
absence of sin. Imagine realizing your salvation perfected; imagine being fully
aware that you are “without fault before the throne of God.”; imagine never
growing weary of hearing of God and his Christ, never weary of singing praises
to him; imagine perfectly delighting for him to have all glory and being able
to give him that glory perfectly.
Imagine
living in the constant realization of perfect security. We will have no reason to fear death—death
will be no more; no reason to fear harm or damage of any kind to your person or
your body
Imagine
living free from every form of sin and evil.
We will have nothing to worry over: no weaknesses; no temptations, no
sin which is sorrow, only holiness which is happiness.
Imagine
having a body with no trace of sin but perfectly conformed to the image of God:
no sore muscles, no wrinkles; no pains of any kind; no puzzles too big for your
brain; nothing to leave you scratching your head in ignorance
Imagine
having perfect fellowship with your brethren.
Some do not think we will know one another in heaven. Moses and Elias were recognizable in the
mount of transfiguration. Some say but
if some of my loved ones are not there I will be sad. But in glory we will have a perfect delight
in God’s holy righteousness and justice.
There will be no sorrow over those who justly were cast out. In fact, in
Revelation they rejoiced. In heaven we
will have perfect holy and righteous fellowship with our brethren.
How Long Will This Last?
How
long? “For evermore.” This glorious fullness of joy and
pleasures will be infinite—a fountain with no end.
It is ridiculous
when men speak of God loving men today and casting men into hell the next. Our
salvation is by:
·
“Everlasting God” (Gen 21: 33)
·
“Everlasting covenant” (Gen 17: 19)
·
Heavenly Canaan will be an “everlasting
possession.” (Gen 48: 4)
·
“Everlasting priesthood” (Nu 25: 13)
·
By “everlasting arms” (Deut 33: 27)
·
“The mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to
everlasting upon them that fear him,” (Ps 103: 17)
·
His kingdom is an “everlasting kingdom” (Ps
145: 13)
·
Established on an “everlasting foundation”
(Pro 10: 25)
·
By one whose name is “Wonderful, Counsellor,
The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” (Is 9: 6)
·
“Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an
everlasting salvation:” (Is 45: 17)
A Word of Warning
Let me
give a word of warning: if you meet God without faith in Christ, hell will be
“everlasting damnation.” And the damnation will be separation from this great
good God of mine!
Matthew 7: 22: Many will say to me in that day, Lord,
Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils?
and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23: And then will I profess unto
them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
You
cannot enter into this path of life: by your wisdom, by your will or by your
works. Cast yourself on the mercy of God. He is able to show you the path of
life.
This came to me early this morning
just before I left to come here. This was
written by Matthew Henry and found after he died. He wrote,
“Would you know where I am? I am at home in my Father’s house –
in the mansion Jesus prepared for me there. I am where I want to be –
where I have longed and often desired to be. I am no longer on a stormy
sea – but in a safe and quiet harbor. My working time is done – I am
resting! My sowing time is done – I am reaping! My joy is as the
joy of harvest!
Would you know how it is
with me? I am perfect in holiness: grace is swallowed up in glory!
Would you know what I am
doing? I see God; I see Him as He is; not as through a glass darkly, but
face to face. The sight is transforming, it makes me like Him! I
am in the sweet enjoyment of my blessed Redeemer, whom my soul loved, and for
whose sake I was willing to part with all. I am here bathing myself at
the spring-head of heavenly pleasures and unutterable joys; and therefore, weep
not for me. I am here singing hallelujahs incessantly to Him who sits
upon the throne, and rest not day or night from praising Him!
Would you know what
company I have? Blessed company – better than the best on earth; here are
holy angels, and the spirits of just men made perfect. I am here with
Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of God; with blessed Paul, and
Peter, and James, and John, and all the saints. And here I meet with many
old acquaintances that I fasted and prayed with, who came here before me.
And, lastly, would you
consider how long this is to continue? It is a garland that, never
withers; a crown of glory that never fades away; after millions of millions of
ages, it will be as fresh as it is now; and, therefore, weep not for me!”
Psalm 16:11: Thou wilt shew me the path of
life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are
pleasures for evermore.
Amen!