Text, Theme, Big Idea
Bible Text: Hebrews 9:27
Theme: Seeing death through Heaven’s eyes
Big Idea: What we see as an end, God sees as a glorious beginning.
I. Remembering a Life Well Lived
a. It is appointed unto men once to die — every one of us has an appointment we will keep.
b. Knowing that doesn’t make it easy when a loved one passes — but it helps us see life in perspective.
c. I remember visiting Mr. Hulett — we talked about family, faith, and making a living — the things that define a good man.
d. You can tell a lot about a person by what they talk about and what they value.
e. A man who raises good children, lives by faith, and works hard is a man worth honoring.
II. How Heaven Sees Death
a. From our point of view, death is separation and sorrow.
b. From Heaven’s point of view, death is reunion and fulfillment.
c. 2 Corinthians 5:8 says, “To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.”
d. That tells us death for the believer isn’t an ending — it’s a homecoming.
e. Heaven celebrates what we mourn; God calls it gain when His children come home.
III. Jesus’ Words About Death
a. As Jesus carried His cross to Calvary, He told the weeping women, “Weep not for me, but for yourselves.”
b. From Heaven’s view, the dying have it better than the living — because their pain is over.
c. This world is full of heartache, sickness, and sin — Heaven is free from it all.
d. What we see as loss, God sees as liberty — a soul set free from the burdens of this life.
e. Death is not the worst thing that can happen to a believer; it is the beginning of real life.
IV. Glory Beyond Comparison
a. Romans 8:18 says, “The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory to come.”
b. Paul suffered much, yet he called his death not a glorious end, but a glorious beginning.
c. When a good man dies, we mourn the ending; Heaven celebrates the beginning.
d. When we depart from this world, pain and labor are behind, and eternal joy is before us.
e. What a difference between our view of death and Heaven’s — we see loss; God sees gain.
V. God of the Living
a. Jesus said in Luke 20:38, “He is not a God of the dead, but of the living.”
b. To God, no one truly dies — His children simply pass through the doorway to eternal life.
c. For those in Christ, death is only a transition — not an end.
d. I can almost hear God say, “Come on home, it’s suppertime.”
e. In heaven we are more alive than we ever was here — home with the Lord.
VI. A Life Well Finished
a. Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 4:6-7, “I am now ready to be offered… I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.”
b. That’s the testimony of a man who knew where he was going and who was waiting for him.
c. When a mans fight is over, his race is run, and his faith is now seen by the world.
d. The question for the living is — are we ready when our time comes?
e. Can we say, “I’ve fought a good fight, I’ve finished my course, I’ve kept the faith”?
Illustration / Example
Like a ship disappearing over the horizon — we say it’s gone, but others on the far shore see its sails and shout, “Here she comes!” That’s Heaven’s view of death.
Alliterated Main Points
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Remembrance — A good man’s legacy endures.
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Reunion — Death brings us home to God.
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Release — Freed from pain and sorrow.
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Reward — Glory beyond compare.
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Rest — The faithful enter eternal peace.
Conclusion / Invitation
We shed tears when a loved one passes, but Heaven rejoices.
When a mans race is finished, his faith is complete, and his crown awaits.
The best way to honor his life is to live one that pleases God — so that one day we, too, can say:
“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.”