They say there are two things that we cannot escape in this world--taxes and death! This thought has been in my mind ever since I have lost many loved ones these past two months. My brother Jugal Kishore slept in the Lord on 24-April-2010. On 14-June-2010, my mother, Mary Benjamin, slept in the Lord. The loss of loved one is a difficult burden to bear. For the Christian, death brings mixed feelings. For a few days we go around in a vacuum. There seems to be no one to really comfort us. But the Lord certainly knows our grief. Indeed, God can be a wonderful source of comfort. As I reflected on my mother's passing, I found myself thankful for His many comforts.  As Christians, we grieve, but not like the unbelievers who have no hope (1Thes.4:13-18) In Messiah, we have the hope of resurrection and reunion. We have a blessed hope awaiting them. (John 14:1-3). This hope is a wonderful source of comfort.

When a Christian leaves this life to be with Messiah, he has not gone to purgatory or some other place where there is uncertainty. He has gone to be with the Lord. He has gone to a far better place (Philippians 1:23). The Bible says, "To be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord" (2 Corinthians 5:8). And to die in the Lord is something very precious. "Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints" (Psalm 116:15).

You and I do not enter heaven by our good deeds, but by simple faith in Messiah. Our salvation is solely based on the work of God. Having heard and understood the Gospel, we must acknowledge that we are sinners, we must confess our sins, we must repent from them, we must ask Messiah for forgiveness and we must receive Him to be our personal Lord and Savior. In so doing, we have passed from death to life (John 5:24).

The truth is, God never made us to die. Death of the body was not God's original plan. It is the result of sin. When Adam and Eve committed the first sin (disobedience to God), sin entered into this world; as a result of it, every single one of us will face death at sometime. When we die, we will also face judgment before God. "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment" (Hebrews 9:27). The Bible speaks of death as an enemy. 1 Corinthians 15:26 says, "The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death." In this world we are seeing death all around us: death by old age, disease, murder, suicide, accidents, disasters, famine and war. All these have come on mankind because of sin. Death produces fear, suffering, agony, grief and heartache. There is only one way that we can overcome both death and the fear of it and that is through the One who conquered death and the grave. The death, burial and resurrection of the Messiah has made a way for us to conquer death. Rom. 8:37: "Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us."
John 11:25.  Messiah said unto her (Martha), “I am the resurrection and the life, He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live”. Meaning that he was able to raise men from death to life, and that he could do it now, as well as at the general resurrection.
When God, by his grace and providence, is coming towards us in ways of mercy and comfort, we should, like Martha, go forth by faith, hope, and prayer, to meet him.
John 5:24,’ Verily verily, I say unto you, he that heareth my word and believeth on him that sent me; hath everlasting life and shall not come into condemnation”.  he does not say that believes on me, but that believes on him that sent me, that is, on the Father only in the purpose of God, and in the covenant of his grace, and in the hands of , and in faith and hope;

Jas.4:14, ‘for what is your life? It is even a vapour that appreareth for a little time and then vanisheth away’. Our days in this world are few. Psalms. 90:10,’The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow, for it is soon cut off, and we fly away’.
In this short life, how are preparing ourselves for the kingdom of God (Yahweh)?
Doing good works cannot save you. Salvation is not of works, lest any man should boast. (Eph.2:9). Romans 3:10 says that there is none righteous. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Yahweh). Some believe that living according to every word of the laws of Moses would save them. But it says in John.1:17,’for the law was given by Moses but grace and truth came by Messiah.’ By grace are ye saved through faith. Salvation is a gift of God (Yahweh). Eternal life is a free gift.
You cannot save yourselves. We are all unclean. Our righteousness is as ‘filthy rags’. Matt.7:2-23,”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? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”
We cannot take our chances. The Bible says,” and it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Heb.9:27).  We really do not know how much of our time is left. Jas.4:13-14 tells of a one who wishes to go to a new place and establish his business there. He dreams of making much profit in that place. But the word cautions us in v.14,” Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow.”  Our life is like a vapour. It appears for a while and then it is gone, vanished.
Salvation is free to all. ‘Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Rom.10:13) There is salvation in no other name. (Acts.14:12) The whole message of the Bible is to bring man close to his Maker. The very first message that Messiah (Yahshua) preached was a call to repentance. (Matt.4:17) The first message Peter preached on the day of Pentecost was a call to repentance and baptism. (Acts.2:38). If we wish to enter into that eternal kingdom, if we wish to meet the Saviour when he returns, if we want to meet our loved ones in the resurrection, it is time to prepare. Repent and be baptized, confess that Messiah (Yahshua) is the Son of God (Yahweh) and we will be saved. We will enter into the Eternal Kingdom.

If we do not get saved, the Bible warns, ‘the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever, and they have no rest day nor night’ (Rev.14:11) The wages of sin is death (Rom.6:23)
Accept the free gift of eternal life God (Yahweh) is offering you, before it is too late.