Death and Taxes

by Greg Quinn

July 28th, 2022

We have all heard it said that "nothing is for certain but death and taxes". Well, that's half right.

Death is certain. We are all going to die. But there are a lot of jail cells that have long-term tenants that didn't pay their taxes.

Hebrews 9:27
27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

So it's better to say "nothing is certain but death and judgment". That, my friends, is a true statement.

I write this sermonette today, July 28, 2022. My father's birthday. Dad would have been 85 years old today. We of course didn't want Dad to die, but he died at his appointed time. God decided to bring Dad home to Heaven on April 29, 2011. Eleven years ago. So Dad spent 74 years here on earth, carrying out his calling, living his life. Dad pastored churches for almost 50 years. He delivered countless sermons. He led many people to the Lord and opened the door for them to Heaven. He raised 4 hard-headed boys. Most of them turned out pretty good. Dad faced his judgment 11 years ago. For this past 11 years Dad has been REALLY living. Enjoying his reward for his work here. He worked 74 years on earth for a reward in Heaven that he's been enjoying for 11 years already and one that will last for eternity. To me, that seems to be a good trade.

My brother Jeff died July 27, 2020. Two years ago yesterday. He lived 61.5 years preparing for his judgment. Since Jeff accepted Jesus as his savior, according to God's Word, Jeff has been enjoying his Heavenly reward for 2 years ago yesterday. And it will continue as long as there is time.

My Mom left this earth on October 11, 2020. She worked on her reward for 83 years. She's been enjoying her reward for almost 2 years now. Mom was like a saint here so I know she's going to be celebrating her better life in Heaven for eternity. What rewards she must be enjoying now! She's most likely has a special place just for raising us 4 challenging boys!

Heaven is a place of perfect peace. No sickness, no pain, no sorrow, no suffering. Eternity with the God who created us and His Son Jesus who redeemed us from our sins. The door to Heaven is through accepting Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord, believing him to be the only Son of God, believing through faith that he died in your place, took away your sins, and prepared for you a place in Heaven. No, we don't work our way into Heaven. We only get to Heaven through our faith in Jesus. 

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. 

John 14: 1-3
14 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. 

Neither you nor I know when our last day on earth will be. We don't know WHEN our appointed time to die here on earth will be. We do not know the day of our judgment, other than it is when we draw our last breath here. We may not know when we will die. But we do know that we WILL die. That is for certain. And we have no determination as to when that will be.

However, we CAN determine WHERE we go after we die here on earth. We can decide today what the judgment will be. We can decide to spend eternity with God in Heaven, or we can decide to die forever in the agony of Hell.

Romans 10:9-10
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. And, we CAN also determine what our eternity will be like. We can work to bring others to Heaven and enjoy rewards in Heaven. We can live a good life as an example to many here on earth and get the benefit for eternity in Heaven.

Luke 6: 20-23
20 And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God. 21 Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh. 22 Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake. 23 Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets. 

My brothers Boge and Anthony and I miss our Mom, Dad, and brother Jeff. Yet we know they are enjoying for as long as time exists their rewards in Heaven for making the right choices while here on earth. Were they perfect? No. That doesn't matter. God doesn't ask for perfection. He asks for your surrender. Make the right decisions now for the best eternity for all your tomorrows.

Life on earth is tough. Life in Heaven is wonderful beyond our imaginations. Life in Hell is more awful than we can ever imagine. We don't get to choose WHEN we go, but we do get to choose WHERE we go. And we get to choose the REWARDS we will receive for eternity when we are in Heaven, by how we life our life here during our years on earth.

What is certain? Death and rewards.

As the Keeper told Indiana Jones from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, "choose wisely".

Your eternity depends on it.

Greg Quinn