Deal with it.

And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation. - Hebrews 9:27-28

I've heard so many sermons on verse 27 in the Baptist churches I've attended and so little sermons on it in the Methodist church.  I do crave for a good 'ole fashioned sermon sometimes on a verse like this instead of the "high brow" preaching.

Hey, it's pretty straightforward.  You're going to die and be judged because you are a human being.  Deal with it.  No amount of money, success, failure, right works, wrong works, good attitude, bad attitude, or theology will get you out of it.  It's going to happen.  Christ Himself died once and so will you.  No matter how much you love the people around you, or hate the people around you; no matter how much you love life, or hate life; no matter how much you love your stuff, or long for stuff; no matter what you've accomplished, or didn't accomplish; YOU WILL DIE and BE JUDGED. ...  Again I say, deal with it.

As an eternal being in a physical body, you have the opportunity to live eternally with God or not too.  It's your choice and the judgment is solely based on that choice.  Believe in something you cannot see but can experience and feel inside your being and know is as real as the world you see.  Or refuse to believe it.  Believe in Jesus and all that He did as the Messiah, our Savior, sacrificing Himself for all our sins or don't believe it.  Upon that your judgment rests and the sentence of that judgment is your eternity.  The choice is ours.

There is also a daily choice for those of us who believe upon Jesus through faith.  Is our Savior still alive or is He dead?  Is it Friday for us and Jesus is on the cross crucified, physically dead?  Is it Saturday for us and is Jesus dead in the tomb?  Or is it Sunday for us and Jesus is resurrected and living?  Where is your Jesus?  Is He alive in your life?  Are you trusting Him for your everything today?

What is the insurmountable problem in your life?  Is it your career?  Is it a relationship that won't heal?  Is it a need to be accepted and feel equal to others?  Is it unforgiveness for yourself for things you've done?  Is it exercise?  Is it a weight problem?  Is it pride? ... What is that "thing" in your life? ... Is Jesus dead or alive for you today?  If He's alive and you have put your trust in Him for your very salvation, is there some reason you aren't trusting Him in these other areas and trusting Him for deliverance from them also?  If we don't do that, aren't we saying that we really don't won't Him completely?  He is resurrected and living!  May we not put Him back in the grave!

I declare that we shouldn't wait until we physically die to die.  We should seek that we should die today to whatever we are refusing to allow Jesus to save within us.  Only Jesus can save that which is lost.  I have some lost things inside of me and I need Jesus to save me; only He can wash them clean or set them in order; only He can clean the house and make it usable.  "To live is Christ and to die is gain."  I pray that I die today and I know that my Christ is living.