100:00:00,980 –> 00:00:04,900It struck me as so surprising that a woman200:00:04,900 –> 00:00:08,400who had the courage to go on her own up the Caeber pass,300:00:08,400 –> 00:00:11,400something I would never do,400:00:11,400 –> 00:00:16,799could be so unnerved by the funeral of a relative she had never even met.500:00:16,799 –> 00:00:23,799But death has a way of making us lose our nerve.600:00:23,799 –> 00:00:28,299Welcome to Open the Bible with pastor Colin Smith, I’m David Pick.700:00:28,299 –> 00:00:32,400How nice to have you join us today and Colin this is just a little snippet of a story.800:00:32,400 –> 00:00:34,599Yeah and the rest of its in today’s message.900:00:34,599 –> 00:00:36,000But this was a lady that I met.1000:00:36,000 –> 00:00:37,799She had been all over the world.1100:00:37,799 –> 00:00:39,599She was in her early 20s,1200:00:39,599 –> 00:00:44,299had been fearlessly in some of the most dangerous places of the entire world1300:00:44,299 –> 00:00:49,099and came to a funeral that I was conducting with just a very few other people,1400:00:49,099 –> 00:00:50,799a relative she had never met,1500:00:50,799 –> 00:00:52,200and she grabbed my arm.1600:00:52,200 –> 00:00:54,000She said I’m terrified.1700:00:54,000 –> 00:00:57,400And why do you think it is that some people are terrified of death?1800:00:57,400 –> 00:00:57,900Well I guess one thing1900:00:57,900 –> 00:01:01,299was that perhaps she had never come anywhere near it.2000:01:01,299 –> 00:01:04,000She’d never experienced a funeral before2100:01:04,000 –> 00:01:05,699and there’s something unnatural about it.2200:01:05,699 –> 00:01:08,500You know the separation of the soul and the body.2300:01:08,500 –> 00:01:10,000We don’t want to think about that,2400:01:10,000 –> 00:01:11,900want to push that to the outside2500:01:11,900 –> 00:01:15,400and yet here’s a great reality that affects every one of us2600:01:15,400 –> 00:01:18,400and the Bible speaks to us about it very very plainly.2700:01:18,400 –> 00:01:23,000So that’s what we hear today the inside story of your future life.2800:01:23,000 –> 00:01:26,000We look at what happens at the other side of this life.2900:01:26,000 –> 00:01:26,500Yeah3000:01:26,500 –> 00:01:30,099and particularly that there are actually only two ways to die.3100:01:30,099 –> 00:01:31,900I mean people die in many many different ways3200:01:31,900 –> 00:01:35,599in accident old age and illness and so forth3300:01:35,599 –> 00:01:37,800but ultimately there are only two ways to die.3400:01:37,800 –> 00:01:41,500Either you die in your sins or you die in the Lord.3500:01:41,500 –> 00:01:44,599We’re going to look at both and they are radically different3600:01:44,599 –> 00:01:47,300and both of them point to our need for Jesus Christ3700:01:47,300 –> 00:01:49,000and what he’s able to accomplish for us3800:01:49,000 –> 00:01:50,699and we’re going to look at one of those today.3900:01:50,699 –> 00:01:53,699Our message is entitled Dying in your sins.4000:01:53,699 –> 00:01:55,800It’s based on John and chapter eight4100:01:55,800 –> 00:01:57,400and here is pastor Colin.4200:01:57,900 –> 00:02:00,879Some years ago, I came to know a man4300:02:00,879 –> 00:02:04,400who had emigrated from England to South Africa.4400:02:05,400 –> 00:02:07,699He came from time to time to the church4500:02:07,699 –> 00:02:11,899that I served in London when he was visiting his elderly mother4600:02:11,899 –> 00:02:15,199who was in a nursing home in the area.4700:02:16,000 –> 00:02:18,199The old lady had lost her memory4800:02:18,699 –> 00:02:21,600and she hardly knew who her son was.4900:02:22,399 –> 00:02:26,500One day this man phoned me from South Africa.5000:02:26,500 –> 00:02:28,399My mother has died, he said,5100:02:29,399 –> 00:02:31,399I wonder could you take the funeral?5200:02:32,399 –> 00:02:35,300He said, I’ve made so many trips while she was living,5300:02:35,300 –> 00:02:38,199I really can’t handle the expense of coming again.5400:02:38,199 –> 00:02:40,199If, if you could do this for me,5500:02:40,199 –> 00:02:42,199if the church could serve me in this way,5600:02:42,199 –> 00:02:43,500I would be really grateful.5700:02:44,399 –> 00:02:46,699He said, someone from the nursing home will come5800:02:46,699 –> 00:02:49,300and perhaps you could get a few friends from the church.5900:02:49,300 –> 00:02:51,399There probably won’t be anyone else6000:02:51,399 –> 00:02:54,199there. He said, but I should tell you6100:02:54,199 –> 00:02:55,100that I have a daughter.6200:02:56,300 –> 00:02:57,699And she’s on the road.6300:02:57,699 –> 00:03:00,600She’s working her way on a kind of tour around the world.6400:03:01,800 –> 00:03:04,300The last I heard he said she was in Europe.6500:03:04,399 –> 00:03:07,199If I can get word to her, it might just be possible6600:03:07,199 –> 00:03:08,000for her to come.6700:03:09,600 –> 00:03:11,500She’s a bit different he said.6800:03:12,600 –> 00:03:13,199You’ll see.6900:03:15,300 –> 00:03:16,100Well sure enough.7000:03:16,100 –> 00:03:19,800I arrived a few days later at the cemetery to take7100:03:19,800 –> 00:03:23,399this service. There were about half a dozen friends7200:03:23,399 –> 00:03:25,100who had come from the church.7300:03:25,100 –> 00:03:28,399There was indeed a lady from the nursing home.7400:03:28,399 –> 00:03:31,899And the man’s daughter who I met at the gate of the7500:03:31,899 –> 00:03:33,300cemetery for the first time.7600:03:33,300 –> 00:03:34,399Torn jeans.7700:03:34,399 –> 00:03:39,399Spiky hair. In the style of a punk rocker.7800:03:39,399 –> 00:03:42,300Which was kind of in vogue in those days,7900:03:42,300 –> 00:03:44,199if that conveys something to you.8000:03:44,199 –> 00:03:47,500Well in this very very large cemetery we had8100:03:47,699 –> 00:03:52,800about half a mile to walk together with her being8200:03:52,800 –> 00:03:54,100the only family member.8300:03:54,100 –> 00:03:57,199It was for her to walk with me and for me to walk8400:03:57,199 –> 00:03:59,300with her and the few folks from the church and the8500:03:59,300 –> 00:04:02,600lady from the nursing home following along behind8600:04:02,600 –> 00:04:06,000as we went to the appropriate spot in the8700:04:06,000 –> 00:04:09,000cemetery. Half a mile the two of us are walking8800:04:09,000 –> 00:04:11,800together. Me in my dark suit.8900:04:11,800 –> 00:04:14,300We must have looked quite an odd couple.9000:04:14,300 –> 00:04:15,100I think.9100:04:15,600 –> 00:04:18,700I began a conversation. I said is really9200:04:18,700 –> 00:04:20,299good. You were able to come today.9300:04:21,200 –> 00:04:23,500Well, I didn’t have much choice was the rather9400:04:23,500 –> 00:04:24,200short answer.9500:04:25,700 –> 00:04:27,700Did you ever meet your grandmother before?9600:04:28,600 –> 00:04:29,200Nope.9700:04:30,700 –> 00:04:33,000Talking about the family was obviously the wrong9800:04:33,000 –> 00:04:36,299direction and I wasn’t getting anywhere.9900:04:36,299 –> 00:04:38,799So I decided on asking her about our world tour.10000:04:38,799 –> 00:04:39,600I mean here’s a woman.10100:04:39,600 –> 00:04:43,200Maybe 23, 24, 25 years old and she’s traveling10200:04:43,399 –> 00:04:45,600around the world beginning in South Africa.10300:04:45,600 –> 00:04:47,299And I said to her tell me about it.10400:04:48,500 –> 00:04:49,799Suddenly our eyes brighten.10500:04:49,799 –> 00:04:51,000She was interested in this.10600:04:51,000 –> 00:04:54,200She told me about how she had been diving on10700:04:54,200 –> 00:04:57,700the barrier Reef trekking in the Himalayas.10800:04:57,700 –> 00:05:01,799And would you believe this hitchhiking alone up10900:05:01,799 –> 00:05:04,500the Khyber Pass, unbelievable.11000:05:06,100 –> 00:05:08,200She had been to places around the world of11100:05:08,200 –> 00:05:09,600unusual danger.11200:05:09,799 –> 00:05:14,000She had explored them alone, sleeping rough11300:05:15,299 –> 00:05:17,399and finding temporary work just long enough11400:05:17,399 –> 00:05:18,799to pay for the next ticket to keep her11500:05:18,799 –> 00:05:21,399moving on to the next country or the next Continent.11600:05:22,000 –> 00:05:22,899Fascinating!11700:05:24,700 –> 00:05:25,600When you’re going to get home?11800:05:25,600 –> 00:05:26,600I ask her?11900:05:26,600 –> 00:05:27,100I don’t know.12000:05:27,399 –> 00:05:29,200Probably in about next year.12100:05:31,600 –> 00:05:33,399What motivated you to do this?12200:05:35,100 –> 00:05:36,700I wanted to see life.12300:05:36,700 –> 00:05:38,299She said with great conviction.12400:05:39,899 –> 00:05:44,200I said, well, I guess, in a way, you’re seeing part of it today.12500:05:46,299 –> 00:05:50,200I’ll never forget what happened when we got within sight of the grave.12600:05:50,200 –> 00:05:52,299She had never been to a funeral before12700:05:53,000 –> 00:05:57,000and something about it just seemed to make this courageous woman12800:05:57,000 –> 00:05:57,600freeze.12900:05:58,700 –> 00:06:01,640She grabbed my arm as if she was confiding in me13000:06:01,640 –> 00:06:02,700as an old friend.13100:06:02,700 –> 00:06:06,100I’ve got to tell you, she said, this really freaks me out!13200:06:07,100 –> 00:06:09,899I never had to face anything like this before.13300:06:11,399 –> 00:06:12,700It struck me as so surprising13400:06:12,700 –> 00:06:16,299that a woman who had the courage to go on her own up the Khyber Pass,13500:06:17,299 –> 00:06:18,899something I would never do,13600:06:20,100 –> 00:06:25,700could be so unnerved by the funeral of a relative she had never even met.13700:06:27,700 –> 00:06:33,500But, death has a way of making us lose our nerve.13800:06:33,899 –> 00:06:39,700By the way, and I want to be very practical and pastoral13900:06:39,700 –> 00:06:42,299with the Lord’s help in what I say today,14000:06:42,299 –> 00:06:46,200it is a very good thing to take your children to a funeral14100:06:46,200 –> 00:06:50,000especially a funeral of someone they don’t know well or may not even know at all14200:06:50,000 –> 00:06:56,000and then use the opportunity to talk to them about death.14300:06:56,000 –> 00:06:57,200Do this while your kids are young.14400:06:58,700 –> 00:07:03,200When your children are old enough for you to talk about sex to them,14500:07:04,200 –> 00:07:07,100they are old enough for you to talk about death to them14600:07:07,100 –> 00:07:08,899and it’s very important that you do14700:07:08,899 –> 00:07:12,299and in fact you should think of the two together.14800:07:12,299 –> 00:07:17,200Your son is suddenly becoming aware of his strength14900:07:17,200 –> 00:07:19,500and he’s beginning to want to lift weight15000:07:19,500 –> 00:07:24,299because he’s interested in developing this body that he’s discovering15100:07:25,700 –> 00:07:31,100and he very much needs to know that one day all this strength will be gone15200:07:31,399 –> 00:07:36,000and one day this body will lie in a grave.15300:07:36,000 –> 00:07:39,200Your daughter becomes aware of her looks.15400:07:39,200 –> 00:07:41,700She begins putting on makeup.15500:07:41,700 –> 00:07:45,799She learns that way of smiling for a camera.15600:07:45,799 –> 00:07:49,700She needs to know that one day these looks will be gone15700:07:49,700 –> 00:07:52,399and her body will lie in a grave.15800:07:53,700 –> 00:07:56,700It is the responsibility of a Christian parent15900:07:56,700 –> 00:08:00,399to help your children in this world16000:08:00,399 –> 00:08:02,399that is obsessed with the body16100:08:03,500 –> 00:08:06,500to see that caring for your body is important16200:08:06,500 –> 00:08:10,000but caring for your soul is more important by far.16300:08:11,100 –> 00:08:12,799Every person should attend a funeral16400:08:12,799 –> 00:08:14,000at least once a year.16500:08:15,399 –> 00:08:17,100Going to a wedding reminds you16600:08:17,100 –> 00:08:19,700that the marriage bond is sacred.16700:08:20,700 –> 00:08:22,500Going to a funeral reminds you16800:08:23,299 –> 00:08:26,600that life is very short and, one day, yours will be gone.16900:08:28,899 –> 00:08:31,000Every time I hear an announcement in church17000:08:31,000 –> 00:08:32,400that someone has died,17100:08:33,900 –> 00:08:37,200I try, along with thanking God for their life,17200:08:37,200 –> 00:08:38,900to remember that, one day,17300:08:38,900 –> 00:08:42,200someone will make that announcement about me,17400:08:43,200 –> 00:08:45,599and I have to be jolted into living17500:08:45,599 –> 00:08:47,700in the light of that reality.17600:08:49,599 –> 00:08:51,099See, our culture today17700:08:51,099 –> 00:08:54,700has all kinds of ways from keeping us17800:08:54,700 –> 00:08:57,500from seriously thinking about death.17900:08:59,200 –> 00:09:01,000You know, a generation ago,18000:09:01,000 –> 00:09:03,200people would not have said the word sex.18100:09:03,200 –> 00:09:05,000They would find euphemisms.18200:09:05,000 –> 00:09:06,500They would say, you know,18300:09:06,500 –> 00:09:07,599the birds and the bees.18400:09:10,000 –> 00:09:13,099But now, the S word is everywhere.18500:09:13,900 –> 00:09:15,299If I said the birds and the bees,18600:09:15,299 –> 00:09:16,799you’d say, oh, isn’t he quaint?18700:09:18,599 –> 00:09:20,400But in our culture today,18800:09:21,000 –> 00:09:24,599nobody wants to say the D word.18900:09:25,200 –> 00:09:26,500In fact, even among Christians,19000:09:26,500 –> 00:09:27,900it’s very common in our culture19100:09:27,900 –> 00:09:29,299we don’t say he died.19200:09:30,200 –> 00:09:31,700We’re discombobulated by it.19300:09:31,700 –> 00:09:33,299We want to say he passed away.19400:09:33,299 –> 00:09:34,299Well, there’s nothing wrong with that.19500:09:36,099 –> 00:09:39,099But I prefer to look this enemy in the face19600:09:40,599 –> 00:09:43,400because Christ has triumphed over it19700:09:45,700 –> 00:09:48,400and to say my grandma died19800:09:48,400 –> 00:09:54,000and she is with Christ awaiting the day of the resurrection.19900:09:55,700 –> 00:09:57,500Now, we have to help the younger generation20000:09:57,500 –> 00:09:58,700in regard to this,20100:09:58,700 –> 00:10:00,000those of us who are older.20200:10:01,400 –> 00:10:03,000We have to learn to be candid.20300:10:04,599 –> 00:10:07,299We have to learn to live in reality.20400:10:07,299 –> 00:10:09,500See, we’re surrounded by Hollywood20500:10:09,500 –> 00:10:12,400sentimentalizing death with weepy movies20600:10:12,400 –> 00:10:17,000and The Card Company’s following suit20700:10:17,000 –> 00:10:20,900with empty slogans and poetic mush.20800:10:22,599 –> 00:10:24,359And we come to the word of God20900:10:24,400 –> 00:10:27,099and it brings us into the world of reality21000:10:27,099 –> 00:10:29,500that every human person faces.21100:10:30,900 –> 00:10:32,599Oh thank God for what it is21200:10:32,599 –> 00:10:36,599to be in a position to face reality together today.21300:10:36,599 –> 00:10:38,299Death is the great reality21400:10:38,299 –> 00:10:41,200towards which all of us are moving21500:10:41,200 –> 00:10:43,900and if your pastor does not once in a while21600:10:43,900 –> 00:10:46,200speak with candour from the Bible about this21700:10:46,200 –> 00:10:48,700he is neither faithful to Scripture21800:10:48,700 –> 00:10:50,400nor is he helpful to you.21900:10:51,200 –> 00:10:52,599You’re listening to Open the Bible22000:10:52,599 –> 00:10:53,799with Pastor Colleen Smith22100:10:53,799 –> 00:10:56,000and a message called Dying in Your Sins.22200:10:56,000 –> 00:10:58,299It was originally part of a series called22300:10:58,299 –> 00:11:00,599The Inside Story of Your Future Life22400:11:00,599 –> 00:11:02,599and it’s been one of the most popular22500:11:02,599 –> 00:11:06,000and most requested downloads of the past 12 months.22600:11:06,000 –> 00:11:09,200We’ve bundled it and all the other popular requests22700:11:09,500 –> 00:11:12,900into our Listener Favourites 2026.22800:11:12,900 –> 00:11:15,299If you’ve missed any of the messages in the series22900:11:15,299 –> 00:11:17,900you can easily catch up, or go back and listen again23000:11:17,900 –> 00:11:19,700by coming to our website23100:11:19,700 –> 00:11:22,500that’s at openthebible.org.uk23200:11:22,500 –> 00:11:24,799You can also find them as a podcast23300:11:24,799 –> 00:11:27,000and those are on all the main podcast sites23400:11:27,000 –> 00:11:29,000and you can find them by searching for23500:11:29,000 –> 00:11:30,500openthebible.uk23600:11:30,500 –> 00:11:32,500or follow the link from our website.23700:11:32,500 –> 00:11:34,099Back to our message now,23800:11:34,099 –> 00:11:36,500here again is Pastor Colleen.23900:11:36,500 –> 00:11:38,400Some time ago I came across24000:11:38,400 –> 00:11:40,700a powerful message preached by24100:11:40,700 –> 00:11:43,599Martin Lloyd-Jones on these verses.24200:11:45,000 –> 00:11:48,700The year of this message was 196024300:11:49,700 –> 00:11:53,400when the whole world was in the grip of fear24400:11:53,400 –> 00:11:57,099at the prospect of nuclear holocaust.24500:11:57,099 –> 00:11:59,599We’re talking about just before the Cuban Missile Crisis24600:11:59,599 –> 00:12:01,700that some of you remember.24700:12:03,299 –> 00:12:04,900and there were marches going on24800:12:04,900 –> 00:12:07,400in all the major cities of the world24900:12:07,400 –> 00:12:08,700in the early 60s25000:12:08,700 –> 00:12:10,400and they were all around this theme25100:12:10,400 –> 00:12:12,400Banning the Bomb.25200:12:13,400 –> 00:12:15,900We can’t have25300:12:15,900 –> 00:12:20,2991000s and perhaps even millions of people dying25400:12:20,299 –> 00:12:24,900from such atrocious weapons.25500:12:25,900 –> 00:12:28,799and Lloyd-Jones made this observation25600:12:29,799 –> 00:12:32,900Here he said are thousands of people25700:12:32,900 –> 00:12:34,400on the streets25800:12:35,400 –> 00:12:37,400and they’re protesting25900:12:37,400 –> 00:12:39,900about the danger of26000:12:39,900 –> 00:12:44,400death coming through a nuclear bomb26100:12:44,900 –> 00:12:48,400They’re concerned about the mold of death26200:12:48,400 –> 00:12:51,400We cannot have people dying26300:12:51,400 –> 00:12:54,900in their thousands with a bomb26400:12:54,900 –> 00:12:57,900and they’re making a very important point26500:12:58,400 –> 00:13:00,400But here’s the question26600:13:01,400 –> 00:13:02,900How many people26700:13:02,900 –> 00:13:04,900who are rightly and passionately concerned26800:13:04,900 –> 00:13:06,900about the mode of death26900:13:08,900 –> 00:13:10,900are really thinking seriously27000:13:10,900 –> 00:13:12,900about the unavoidable reality27100:13:12,900 –> 00:13:14,900of death itself27200:13:16,900 –> 00:13:17,400Here are people who27300:13:17,400 –> 00:13:18,400have something to say27400:13:18,400 –> 00:13:19,900about the mode of death27500:13:19,900 –> 00:13:21,400It cannot come in this way27600:13:21,400 –> 00:13:22,900It cannot come through a bomb27700:13:22,900 –> 00:13:24,900We must be free from the bomb27800:13:26,400 –> 00:13:26,900But what do they have27900:13:26,900 –> 00:13:28,400to say28000:13:28,400 –> 00:13:29,900was his question28100:13:30,400 –> 00:13:32,900about the unavoidable reality28200:13:32,900 –> 00:13:34,400that it is coming to all of us28300:13:34,400 –> 00:13:36,400at some way, in some place28400:13:36,400 –> 00:13:37,400and at some time28500:13:38,900 –> 00:13:40,400People die in many ways28600:13:41,400 –> 00:13:42,400Some in war28700:13:42,900 –> 00:13:44,900Some through an act of violence28800:13:44,900 –> 00:13:46,400Some through an illness28900:13:46,400 –> 00:13:48,400a heart attack, a cancer29000:13:48,900 –> 00:13:50,900Others die through old age29100:13:50,900 –> 00:13:52,900People die at different times29200:13:53,400 –> 00:13:55,900Some people die relatively young29300:13:55,900 –> 00:13:57,400Others live long29400:13:57,400 –> 00:13:58,900into old age29500:13:58,900 –> 00:14:01,400some beyond what God has promised29600:14:03,400 –> 00:14:05,400These things are important29700:14:06,900 –> 00:14:07,900But friends29800:14:07,900 –> 00:14:08,900they are not29900:14:08,900 –> 00:14:11,400the ultimate things30000:14:12,900 –> 00:14:14,400Whether I were to die soon30100:14:14,400 –> 00:14:15,400in an accident30200:14:15,400 –> 00:14:16,900or through an illness30300:14:16,900 –> 00:14:18,400or whether I were to live30400:14:18,400 –> 00:14:19,900into old age30500:14:20,400 –> 00:14:22,900The moment that I close my eyes30600:14:23,400 –> 00:14:25,400in death30700:14:25,900 –> 00:14:27,900I am ushered into the presence30800:14:27,900 –> 00:14:29,400of the Lord Jesus Christ30900:14:29,400 –> 00:14:30,400and have awakened31000:14:30,400 –> 00:14:31,400into a world of light31100:14:31,400 –> 00:14:31,900and love31200:14:31,900 –> 00:14:32,900and joy31300:14:32,900 –> 00:14:33,400and peace31400:14:33,400 –> 00:14:35,400where Jesus is31500:14:37,900 –> 00:14:40,400So the timing of death31600:14:40,400 –> 00:14:41,900The mode of death31700:14:41,900 –> 00:14:43,900is important of course31800:14:43,900 –> 00:14:44,900But it is not the thing31900:14:44,900 –> 00:14:45,900of ultimate importance32000:14:45,900 –> 00:14:46,900What is the thing32100:14:46,900 –> 00:14:48,900of ultimate importance?32200:14:49,400 –> 00:14:51,400And here it is32300:14:51,400 –> 00:14:53,400Whatever the mode of death32400:14:53,400 –> 00:14:54,400there are ultimately32500:14:54,400 –> 00:14:55,400only two ways32600:14:55,400 –> 00:14:57,400in which people die32700:14:57,900 –> 00:14:59,900One is what Jesus32800:14:59,900 –> 00:15:01,400refers to here three times32900:15:01,400 –> 00:15:03,400He speaks about people33000:15:03,400 –> 00:15:04,400who die33100:15:04,400 –> 00:15:06,400in their sins33200:15:07,400 –> 00:15:09,400The other is in Revelation33300:15:09,400 –> 00:15:10,400chapter fourteen33400:15:10,400 –> 00:15:11,400in verse thirteen33500:15:11,400 –> 00:15:12,400which God willing33600:15:12,400 –> 00:15:14,400we’ll look at next week33700:15:14,400 –> 00:15:15,400where the Lord speaks about33800:15:15,400 –> 00:15:16,400those who die33900:15:16,400 –> 00:15:18,400in the Lord34000:15:18,400 –> 00:15:19,900Ultimately34100:15:19,900 –> 00:15:20,400whether a person dies young34200:15:20,400 –> 00:15:21,400or old34300:15:21,400 –> 00:15:22,400whether they die34400:15:22,400 –> 00:15:24,400in what we call an accident34500:15:24,400 –> 00:15:25,400or through an illness34600:15:25,400 –> 00:15:27,400whatever the mode of death34700:15:28,400 –> 00:15:29,400there are actually34800:15:29,400 –> 00:15:30,400ultimately34900:15:30,400 –> 00:15:31,400only two ways35000:15:31,400 –> 00:15:33,400in which a person dies35100:15:33,400 –> 00:15:34,400a person either35200:15:34,400 –> 00:15:35,400dies in their sins35300:15:35,400 –> 00:15:36,400or they die in the Lord35400:15:36,400 –> 00:15:37,400that’s the thing35500:15:37,400 –> 00:15:38,400that ultimately matters35600:15:39,400 –> 00:15:40,400That’s the thing35700:15:40,400 –> 00:15:41,400that you should be35800:15:41,400 –> 00:15:42,400most concerned about35900:15:42,400 –> 00:15:43,400That is the thing36000:15:43,400 –> 00:15:44,400that every person36100:15:44,400 –> 00:15:45,400has to give serious36200:15:45,400 –> 00:15:46,400consideration to36300:15:46,400 –> 00:15:47,900So let’s look at36400:15:47,900 –> 00:15:48,400what Jesus says36500:15:48,400 –> 00:15:49,400about the first here36600:15:49,400 –> 00:15:50,400I’m looking at verse twelve36700:15:50,400 –> 00:15:51,400let’s begin there36800:15:51,400 –> 00:15:52,400Jesus said36900:15:52,400 –> 00:15:56,400I am the light of the world37000:15:58,400 –> 00:16:00,400I’m the light of the world37100:16:01,400 –> 00:16:02,400In other words37200:16:02,400 –> 00:16:03,400you have37300:16:03,400 –> 00:16:04,400him to thank37400:16:04,400 –> 00:16:05,400for everything37500:16:05,400 –> 00:16:07,400good in your life37600:16:07,400 –> 00:16:08,400and for everything37700:16:08,400 –> 00:16:09,400good in the world37800:16:09,400 –> 00:16:10,400anything that qualifies37900:16:10,400 –> 00:16:11,400as light38000:16:11,400 –> 00:16:12,400anything that is good38100:16:12,400 –> 00:16:14,400comes ultimately from him38200:16:14,400 –> 00:16:16,400and without him38300:16:16,400 –> 00:16:18,400there is in this world38400:16:18,400 –> 00:16:19,400or the next38500:16:19,400 –> 00:16:20,400no light38600:16:20,400 –> 00:16:21,400no hope38700:16:21,400 –> 00:16:22,400no peace38800:16:22,400 –> 00:16:23,400take him away38900:16:23,400 –> 00:16:26,400and everything is darkness39000:16:26,400 –> 00:16:27,400he says39100:16:27,400 –> 00:16:30,400I am the light of the world39200:16:30,400 –> 00:16:32,400then notice what he says next39300:16:32,400 –> 00:16:34,400whoever follows me39400:16:34,400 –> 00:16:35,400will not39500:16:35,400 –> 00:16:36,400walk39600:16:36,400 –> 00:16:37,400in39700:16:37,400 –> 00:16:40,400darkness39800:16:41,400 –> 00:16:42,400now imagine this picture with me39900:16:42,400 –> 00:16:43,400let’s imagine that all of us40000:16:43,400 –> 00:16:44,400in this congregation40100:16:44,400 –> 00:16:45,400here today40200:16:45,400 –> 00:16:46,400are in a long40300:16:46,400 –> 00:16:48,400dark tunnel40400:16:48,400 –> 00:16:50,400it’s several miles long40500:16:50,400 –> 00:16:52,400and you cannot see the end40600:16:52,400 –> 00:16:53,400from the beginning40700:16:53,400 –> 00:16:55,400it is just dark40800:16:56,400 –> 00:16:57,400and the man40900:16:57,400 –> 00:16:59,400comes towards us41000:16:59,400 –> 00:17:01,400and he has a light41100:17:01,400 –> 00:17:02,400and as he comes41200:17:02,400 –> 00:17:04,400closer to us41300:17:04,400 –> 00:17:06,400the light becomes41400:17:06,400 –> 00:17:08,400very bright41500:17:08,400 –> 00:17:09,400and he is passing on his way41600:17:09,400 –> 00:17:10,400through the tunnel41700:17:10,400 –> 00:17:11,400passed this place41800:17:11,400 –> 00:17:12,400where we are all41900:17:12,400 –> 00:17:13,400sitting down42000:17:14,400 –> 00:17:16,400if we follow him42100:17:16,400 –> 00:17:18,400we will walk42200:17:19,400 –> 00:17:21,400but if we stay where we are42300:17:21,400 –> 00:17:22,400and we do not follow him42400:17:22,400 –> 00:17:24,400as he comes past us42500:17:24,400 –> 00:17:25,400then his light42600:17:25,400 –> 00:17:26,400will get further42700:17:26,400 –> 00:17:27,400and further42800:17:27,400 –> 00:17:28,400and further away from42900:17:28,400 –> 00:17:29,400us and eventually43000:17:29,400 –> 00:17:30,400we will be in43100:17:30,400 –> 00:17:31,400complete and total43200:17:31,400 –> 00:17:33,400and utter darkness43300:17:34,400 –> 00:17:36,400that’s the picture43400:17:37,400 –> 00:17:38,400I am the light43500:17:38,400 –> 00:17:39,400of the world43600:17:39,400 –> 00:17:40,400Jesus is43700:17:41,400 –> 00:17:42,400and whoever43800:17:42,400 –> 00:17:43,400follows me43900:17:43,400 –> 00:17:44,400will not walk44000:17:44,400 –> 00:17:45,400in darkness44100:17:45,400 –> 00:17:46,400because I am the light44200:17:46,400 –> 00:17:47,400he says44300:17:48,400 –> 00:17:49,400now that is true44400:17:49,400 –> 00:17:50,400in this world44500:17:51,400 –> 00:17:52,400and it becomes44600:17:52,400 –> 00:17:53,400even more clearly44700:17:53,400 –> 00:17:54,400true in the world44800:17:54,400 –> 00:17:55,400to come44900:17:55,400 –> 00:17:56,400because beyond this world45000:17:57,400 –> 00:17:57,40045100:17:57,400 –> 00:17:58,400where Christ is45200:17:58,400 –> 00:18:01,400and because there is a place45300:18:03,400 –> 00:18:05,400where Christ is45400:18:05,400 –> 00:18:06,400that place is a place45500:18:06,400 –> 00:18:07,400a world of light45600:18:07,400 –> 00:18:08,400and of peace45700:18:08,400 –> 00:18:09,400and of joy45800:18:10,400 –> 00:18:13,400and of love45900:18:13,400 –> 00:18:14,400but the Bible46000:18:14,400 –> 00:18:15,400makes it clear46100:18:15,400 –> 00:18:16,400that beyond this world46200:18:16,400 –> 00:18:17,400there is also46300:18:17,400 –> 00:18:19,400a place where Christ is not46400:18:20,400 –> 00:18:21,400and because Christ46500:18:21,400 –> 00:18:23,400is not in that place46600:18:23,400 –> 00:18:25,400it is a world of darkness46700:18:25,400 –> 00:18:26,400and of hate46800:18:26,400 –> 00:18:28,400and of turmoil46900:18:28,400 –> 00:18:29,400and of misery47000:18:30,400 –> 00:18:31,400now hear what he says again47100:18:31,400 –> 00:18:34,400I am the light of the world47200:18:34,400 –> 00:18:36,400whoever follows me47300:18:36,400 –> 00:18:37,400will not walk in darkness47400:18:37,400 –> 00:18:40,400but will have the light47500:18:40,400 –> 00:18:41,400of life47600:18:42,400 –> 00:18:43,400now Jesus says these things47700:18:43,400 –> 00:18:45,400and as you have the Bible open47800:18:45,400 –> 00:18:46,400I hope in front of you47900:18:47,400 –> 00:18:48,400it’s immediately obvious48000:18:48,400 –> 00:18:49,400when he says this48100:18:49,400 –> 00:18:51,400that the audience is not with him48200:18:51,400 –> 00:18:54,400and so they begin to pick holes48300:18:54,400 –> 00:18:56,400in what qualifies him to speak48400:18:56,400 –> 00:18:57,400and so forth and so on48500:18:57,400 –> 00:18:58,400while you’re bearing witness48600:18:58,400 –> 00:19:00,400to yourself they say48700:19:00,400 –> 00:19:01,400or as folks would put it today48800:19:02,400 –> 00:19:03,400that is just your opinion48900:19:03,400 –> 00:19:04,400but how do we now that it is true49000:19:04,400 –> 00:19:05,400and so forth and so on49100:19:06,400 –> 00:19:07,400well this debate49200:19:07,400 –> 00:19:09,400that doesn’t go anywhere49300:19:09,400 –> 00:19:10,400as so often is the case49400:19:10,400 –> 00:19:12,400runs on from verse 1349500:19:12,400 –> 00:19:14,400through to verse 2049600:19:14,400 –> 00:19:16,400and then Jesus cuts through49700:19:16,400 –> 00:19:17,400all the theoretical talk49800:19:17,400 –> 00:19:18,400and he says this49900:19:18,400 –> 00:19:19,400it must have been an electric moment50000:19:19,400 –> 00:19:21,400in the conversation50100:19:21,400 –> 00:19:23,400he says now I am going away50200:19:23,400 –> 00:19:25,400verse 2150300:19:25,400 –> 00:19:26,400and you will seek me50400:19:28,400 –> 00:19:31,400and you will die in your sin50500:19:32,400 –> 00:19:34,400for where I am going50600:19:34,400 –> 00:19:37,400you cannot come50700:19:39,400 –> 00:19:40,400now remember he’s speaking50800:19:40,400 –> 00:19:41,400to a group of people50900:19:41,400 –> 00:19:43,400who are absolutely certain51000:19:43,400 –> 00:19:45,400that they’re all going to heaven51100:19:45,400 –> 00:19:46,400just by the way51200:19:46,400 –> 00:19:47,400as most Americans51300:19:47,400 –> 00:19:48,400are quite certain51400:19:48,400 –> 00:19:49,400that they’re going to heaven51500:19:49,400 –> 00:19:50,400in our culture today51600:19:50,400 –> 00:19:53,400the vast majority51700:19:53,400 –> 00:19:54,400and so they say, in effect51800:19:54,400 –> 00:19:56,400well now this is how they reason51900:19:56,400 –> 00:19:57,400Jesus says52000:19:57,400 –> 00:19:58,400where I’m going52100:19:58,400 –> 00:19:59,400you cannot come52200:19:59,400 –> 00:20:00,400well we know52300:20:00,400 –> 00:20:01,400we’re going to heaven52400:20:01,400 –> 00:20:02,400so if we can’t come52500:20:02,400 –> 00:20:04,400where he’s going52600:20:04,400 –> 00:20:05,400must be he’s going52700:20:05,400 –> 00:20:06,400to the other place52800:20:06,400 –> 00:20:07,400and so they say52900:20:07,400 –> 00:20:10,400maybe he’s going to kill himself then53000:20:10,400 –> 00:20:14,400too Jesus says, verse 2353100:20:14,400 –> 00:20:18,400you are from below53200:20:18,400 –> 00:20:21,400I am from above53300:20:21,400 –> 00:20:23,400you are of this world53400:20:23,400 –> 00:20:26,400I am not of this world53500:20:26,400 –> 00:20:28,400do you see what he’s saying53600:20:28,400 –> 00:20:32,400look, earth is your home53700:20:32,400 –> 00:20:35,400you don’t belong in heaven53800:20:35,400 –> 00:20:38,400heaven is my home53900:20:38,400 –> 00:20:41,400you don’t belong on earth54000:20:41,400 –> 00:20:43,400there’s all the difference in the world you see54100:20:43,400 –> 00:20:46,400between us and Jesus54200:20:46,400 –> 00:20:49,400so, Jesus says, verse 2454300:20:49,400 –> 00:20:54,400I told you that you would die in your sins54400:20:54,400 –> 00:20:58,400far, unless you believe that I am He54500:20:58,400 –> 00:21:01,400you will die in your sins54600:21:01,400 –> 00:21:03,400which must have completely shocked them54700:21:03,400 –> 00:21:05,400with their absolute certainty54800:21:05,400 –> 00:21:07,400that all of them were headed for heaven54900:21:08,400 –> 00:21:12,400really, ultimately, only two ways in which any human being dies55000:21:12,400 –> 00:21:15,400we either die in our sins55100:21:15,400 –> 00:21:18,400or, we die in the Lord55200:21:19,400 –> 00:21:21,400well, unfortunately,we’ve run out of time today55300:21:21,400 –> 00:21:25,400so, we have to pause the message until our next broadcast55400:21:25,400 –> 00:21:28,400the message is call, Dying in Your Sins55500:21:28,400 –> 00:21:29,400originally, part of a series called55600:21:29,400 –> 00:21:32,400THE Inside Story of Your Future Life55700:21:32,400 –> 00:21:35,400it’s been a popular and requested download55800:21:35,400 –> 00:21:37,400for the last 12 months55900:21:37,400 –> 00:21:38,400and we’ve included it56000:21:38,400 –> 00:21:40,400and all the other most popular broadcasts56100:21:40,400 –> 00:21:44,400in our series, Listener Favourites,202656200:21:45,400 –> 00:21:46,400and you can find all of them56300:21:46,400 –> 00:21:49,400on our website at56400:21:51,400 –> 00:21:52,400join us again in our next broadcast56500:21:52,400 –> 00:21:55,400for the second half of this message56600:21:55,400 –> 00:21:56,400reminder here that56700:21:56,400 –> 00:21:58,400Pastor Collins Teaching is also available56800:21:58,400 –> 00:22:01,400in a 2-3 Minute daily reflection form56900:22:01,400 –> 00:22:03,400we call it, Open the Bible Daily57000:22:03,400 –> 00:22:05,400you can get it on our website57100:22:08,400 –> 00:22:09,400also on your favourite podcast site57200:22:09,400 –> 00:22:12,400by searching for Open the Bible UK57300:22:12,400 –> 00:22:14,400that’s, Open the Bible Daily57400:22:16,400 –> 00:22:17,400Many of us love reading57500:22:17,400 –> 00:22:18,400but our busy lives57600:22:18,400 –> 00:22:20,400don’t allow much time for that57700:22:20,400 –> 00:22:21,400so we often listen to57800:22:21,400 –> 00:22:22,400audiobooks and podcasts57900:22:22,400 –> 00:22:24,400maybe when we are driving58000:22:24,400 –> 00:22:26,400or out for a walk58100:22:26,400 –> 00:22:27,400so we have a new podcast58200:22:27,400 –> 00:22:29,400starting this month58300:22:29,400 –> 00:22:30,400and it’s called58400:22:30,400 –> 00:22:32,400Hike Through the Bible58500:22:32,400 –> 00:22:34,400yeah and the Hike through the Bible Podcast58600:22:34,400 –> 00:22:35,400will take you on a journey58700:22:35,400 –> 00:22:37,400through the entire Bible story58800:22:37,400 –> 00:22:38,400giving you the option of58900:22:38,400 –> 00:22:40,400listening or watching59000:22:40,400 –> 00:22:41,400rather than reading59100:22:42,400 –> 00:22:43,400and in each episode59200:22:43,400 –> 00:22:44,400I’ll read a chapter of my book59300:22:44,400 –> 00:22:46,400Hike Through the Bible59400:22:46,400 –> 00:22:47,400and then I’ll discuss it59500:22:47,400 –> 00:22:48,400with some friends59600:22:48,400 –> 00:22:50,400I hope you’ll join me59700:22:50,400 –> 00:22:52,400in hiking through the Bible59800:22:52,400 –> 00:22:53,400you’ll grow in your faith59900:22:54,400 –> 00:22:56,400you’ll deepen your grasp of scripture60000:22:56,400 –> 00:22:59,400and you’ll come to love Jesus more60100:22:59,400 –> 00:23:02,400So, that’s the Hike through the Bible Podcast60200:23:02,400 –> 00:23:04,400and it’s not too late to get started60300:23:04,400 –> 00:23:07,400You’ll find the Hike through the Bible Podcast60400:23:07,400 –> 00:23:09,400wherever you get your podcasts60500:23:09,400 –> 00:23:11,400and there is a link on our website60600:23:11,400 –> 00:23:14,400at OpenTheBible.org.uk60700:23:14,400 –> 00:23:16,400You’ll also find more information60800:23:16,400 –> 00:23:19,400about the podcast60900:23:19,400 –> 00:23:21,400Well, as regular listeners will know61000:23:21,400 –> 00:23:23,400Open the Bible is supported61100:23:23,400 –> 00:23:25,400by our listeners financially61200:23:25,400 –> 00:23:27,400If that’s something you already do61300:23:27,400 –> 00:23:28,400then thank you so much61400:23:28,400 –> 00:23:30,400for your support61500:23:30,400 –> 00:23:32,400If you’re considering beginning to support61600:23:32,400 –> 00:23:33,400Open the Bible in the future61700:23:33,400 –> 00:23:35,400this month we’d love to say thank you61800:23:35,400 –> 00:23:37,400by sending you a copy of61900:23:37,400 –> 00:23:39,400Pastor Colin’s brand new62000:23:39,400 –> 00:23:40,40030 day devotional book62100:23:40,400 –> 00:23:42,400Grow In Love62200:23:42,400 –> 00:23:44,400Colin, who is this book for?62300:23:44,400 –> 00:23:46,400Well, people have very different62400:23:46,400 –> 00:23:49,400experiences of love62500:23:49,400 –> 00:23:51,400and perhaps you knew what it was62600:23:51,400 –> 00:23:52,400to grow up with62700:23:52,400 –> 00:23:55,400a Godly mother, a Godly father62800:23:55,400 –> 00:23:56,400who loved you well62900:23:56,400 –> 00:23:58,400and you’ve had all the benefits of that63000:23:58,400 –> 00:24:00,400but you still find63100:24:00,400 –> 00:24:02,400now you’ve come to adult life63200:24:02,400 –> 00:24:04,400that you want to know63300:24:04,400 –> 00:24:06,400how to grow in love yourself63400:24:06,400 –> 00:24:08,400and if that’s where you’re at63500:24:08,400 –> 00:24:10,400this book is for you63600:24:10,400 –> 00:24:12,400But there are other folks who have not had63700:24:12,400 –> 00:24:14,400the blessing of being loved well63800:24:14,400 –> 00:24:16,400And if that’s been your experience63900:24:16,400 –> 00:24:18,400you may find that you struggle64000:24:18,400 –> 00:24:20,400with some real questions64100:24:20,400 –> 00:24:23,400What does it mean to love another person?64200:24:23,400 –> 00:24:25,400What does real love64300:24:25,400 –> 00:24:26,400actually look like?64400:24:26,400 –> 00:24:28,400Where are you going to find it?64500:24:28,400 –> 00:24:30,400well, you’re not sure that you know64600:24:30,400 –> 00:24:31,400Well this book is for you64700:24:31,400 –> 00:24:32,400It’s going to show you64800:24:32,400 –> 00:24:34,400how receiving love64900:24:34,400 –> 00:24:36,400from God through Jesus Christ65000:24:36,400 –> 00:24:38,400can put you in the position65100:24:38,400 –> 00:24:40,400where you are able to give love65200:24:40,400 –> 00:24:42,400and receive love from others well65300:24:42,400 –> 00:24:44,400Well we’d love to send you a copy65400:24:44,400 –> 00:24:46,400of pastor Colin’s book65500:24:46,400 –> 00:24:46,40065600:24:46,400 –> 00:24:48,400When you set up a new direct65700:24:48,400 –> 00:24:50,400debit to the work of opening the Bible65800:24:50,400 –> 00:24:52,400in the amount of 5 pounds per month65900:24:52,400 –> 00:24:54,400or a one of gift of 60 pounds66000:24:54,400 –> 00:24:56,400or more this month66100:24:56,400 –> 00:24:58,400Full terms and conditions66200:24:58,400 –> 00:25:00,400and to give online, come to our website66300:25:00,400 –> 00:25:02,400openthebible.org.uk66400:25:02,400 –> 00:25:04,400and don’t forget66500:25:04,400 –> 00:25:06,400to leave your full name and address66600:25:06,400 –> 00:25:08,400so we can send you your free gift66700:25:08,400 –> 00:25:10,400For Open the Bible66800:25:10,400 –> 00:25:12,400and pastor Colin Smith66900:25:12,400 –> 00:25:14,400I’m David Pick67000:25:14,400 –> 00:25:16,400and I hope you’ll join us again next time67100:25:16,400 –> 00:25:20,400Music67200:25:20,400 –> 00:25:22,400What could you say67300:25:22,400 –> 00:25:24,400to encourage a friend or loved one67400:25:24,400 –> 00:25:26,400who is dying, if they’re not yet a Christian67500:25:26,400 –> 00:25:28,400believer? Find out next time67600:25:28,400 –> 00:25:30,400on Open the Bible