EXPOSITION:

1. In First Corinthians 10.11 the apostle Paul informed the Corinthian Church members that the things that are found in the Hebrew Scriptures of the Old Testament "are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come."

2. And since "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness," Second Timothy 3.16, you should understand that the details of God’s truth in the Old Testament have been preserved by God for your benefit.

3. With that in mind, turn to Isaiah 14. As you turn, allow me to introduce you to the prophetic nature of the book of Isaiah, referred to by some as "the Bible in miniature."

4. There are 1,292 verses in the book of Isaiah, containing 111 separate predictions, according to The Prophecy Study Bible. The 111 separate predictions take up no less than 754 verses, or an astonishing 59% of the book!

5. The particular passage that we will look at is a part of a series of predictions in which God’s judgment on the nations of Assyria, Babylon, Moab, Philistia, Egypt and Ethiopia are described. Nestled between predictions, first, about the destruction of the king of Babylon and, then, the kingdom of Babylon, is a very well known prophesy about the fall of Lucifer, which many of you are familiar with.

6. Since you are almost certainly in Isaiah chapter 14 by now, stand as we read together verses 12-17:

7. No doubt, you noticed the five proud "I wills" of Lucifer that led to his downfall and which will eventually lead to his complete ruin in "the sides of the pit." But few take note of the fact that Lucifer will someday be so reduced that people will be amazed that he was the one who once wrought so much destruction. To be sure, God’s judgment upon His enemies is complete and is utterly effective. Lucifer will end up a nobody.

8. Before you are seated, let us also read verses 18-20, which refers to the downfall of the king of Babylon, and has direct application to anyone who is not a Christian:

9. Please be seated. Remembering that these things were written for our admonition, please observe that while other kings are honored at their deaths by elaborate state funerals, God’s prediction for the king of Babylon was for him to be "cast out of thy grave like an abominable branch." As well, he was to be "as a carcass trodden under feet."

10. I fear for you, my friend. I am gravely troubled. For you see, what God said of Satan will be true of you. And what God said of the king of Babylon will also be true of you. You people, listen carefully this morning. As well, try really hard to do something that is easier for those here who are much older than you are. Try to think years and years ahead, when you are old.

11. Someday you will die. You will surely die. After all, "it is appointed unto man once to die." You’ve never known anyone who hasn’t died or who will not die. And when you die you will be "trodden under feet,"either in a grave, or after your dead body has been cremated and scattered. You will someday be trodden under foot. People will walk on what’s left of you. They will step all over you.

12. What will it be like at that time, when you die and it’s time to dispose of you? That will be the subject of my sermon after brother Isenberger comes to lead us in a song.

INTRODUCTION:

1. Will they give you an honorable funeral when you die? My text for this morning is Psalm 18.42, in which David, the psalmist, writes: "I did cast them out as the dirt in the streets." In David’s day the garbage, the trash, the refuse, was just thrown outside, where it would be eaten by dogs and other scavengers.

2. This is a Messianic psalm, with one verse from this Psalm quoted by Paul in his letter to the Romans and another verse quoted in Hebrews, and both of the citations indicated to be the words of Jesus. So, not only do we read here of David recounting God’s great deliverance of him from his troubles, but we also see One greater than David in these words.

3. Those things said, I turn to you and what will happen to you. Unless you’ve been in another country, or completely isolated from radio, television and newspaper advertisements, you realize that Americans are increasingly turning to cremation as a method of disposing of their dead. The Neptune Society, and others.

4. Why so? Because burning up a guy’s dead body is cheaper and easier than the traditional way of buying a piece of ground and buying a box to bury him in. You see, people can usually save five or six thousand dollars, or the approximate cost of a down payment on a car, by cremating you and scattering your ashes, by burning up your dead body and tossing the ashes somewhere.

5. And if the Forest Lawn Mortuary advertisements are any indication, more and more bodies are being disposed of in our day without so much as a memorial service. I myself have been approached and asked if I would be willing to preside over funerals at several cemeteries. I indicated that I would. But I have never once been called to do so.

6. Why not? Because fewer and fewer memorial services are conducted, and not just because sour and bitter old people claim they don’t want a memorial service. Oftentimes it’s because of the surviving family member’s greed to save a little money, and their desire to "get it over quick," so they can scatter your ashes, and quickly forget about you as they spend what little money you left behind.

7. Do you doubt what I say? When was the last time you were at a funeral service? Did you notice that almost no one bothered to honor the deceased with appropriate clothing? The funeral of the guy who lived across the way from me was conducted by a pastor wearing a plaid shirt and a leather jacket. Men frequently wear old blue jeans, these days. And they are certainly without so much as a white shirt or a tie. And the women? They who wear dresses wear dresses that make them look more like cocktail waitresses in a bar than grieving friends, loved ones, or family members. But at least these are funerals. More and more rare as time goes on.

8. Understand that this lack of care for you when you are dead is a judgment from God on the wicked in our nation. God says, "I did cast them out as dirt in the streets," Psalm 18.42. That’s what most funeral services are these days, the casting out into the street as dirt of those who have died.

9. You will die someday, as will I. As you ponder and consider your own eventual death, and what will happen immediately after you die, I want you to consider this question: Will you have an honorable funeral?

CONCLUSION:

1. To have a good funeral you must prepare now. And you kids need to listen to this, because this applies to you, as well.

2. To have a good funeral you need to get into this Church, make close friends here, and stay here no matter what happens.

3. Then, you must have a good family. You’ll not have a good family to give you a good funeral unless you are part of a good Church like this one, and unless you stay here no matter what happens.

4. Finally, you must have real, converting faith in Jesus Christ. When you are a real Christian the pastor who conducts your funeral will be able to give hope to your friends and relatives who are left behind.

5. Get into this Church every time the doors are open. Get saved. Make sure you know Jesus Christ. He died on the cross to pay for your sins. He arose physically from the dead to give you life.

6. Throw yourself on Jesus. Believe on Him, and you will not only have a good funeral, you’ll also have eternal life. Because your sins have been washed away in the Blood of Jesus Christ, Who is alive, at the right hand of God, in Heaven, even as I speak.