Bulletin Inserts by Dr. Hoyt W. Allen, Jr.

“ARE YOU DYING?”

By Dr. Hoyt W. Allen, Jr.

Whether we like it or not -- we all are dying physically. Our bodies grow stronger as an infant, then childhood, and adulthood. Then, we begin to grow weaker and go the other way. We start toward the grave.

If we have a normal childhood and adulthood, we are very fortunate. Many die before they reach the prime of life!

Now -- the big question is not whether we live to be eight or eighty, but while we live, do we realize that our Creator is providing us with the air in our lungs, the food we eat, the water we drink, and the earth upon which we walk? Do you understand this?

Are you aware that your chest cavity contains a blood pump (heart)? I ask you to right now, take your hand and feel your heart beating.

3) It pumps 5 quarts of blood in 60 seconds. In one year’s time it pumps up to 1,600,000 gallons. This is enough to fill 200 railroad tank cars each containing 8,000 gallons.

4) This huge amount of blood is pumped through 100,000 miles of blood vessels. This is the distance equal to five round trips between New York and Sydney, Australia. (Ill. Former military man said it took him 27 straight hours to fly this one way, while in the military.

5) Let’s do all we can to take care of this vital organ which God has given to us as a gift. (Many heart diseases)

Now -- one can attempt to ignore the fact that death is coming. But, just as one can ignore preparing an income tax prior to April 15th and act as though “the deadline” is not going to arrive, down deep one knows that it (death) is coming.

Constantly -- we are confronted with obituaries in the local newspaper, (Continued)

and the neighborhood funeral chapel. One can not drive on very many highways or country lanes without seeing a burial place (cemetery) of the dead.

Now -- brother/sister, it makes no difference if you take your vitamins regularly, eat well balanced meals, and brush your teeth following every meal. You can exercise until you have a string of ribbons, certificates, medals, and honors, but you still are headed for the grave.

This can be very depressing, if one sees a dark hole in the ground as the end of life. The Apostle Paul said, “If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men” (I Cor. 15:19). You see dear friend, the Christian (follower of Christ Jesus) does not have to look at the end of physical life as a “dead end street.” The Christian knows that to depart from this life (physical death), he can go to be with Jesus (II Cor. 5:8; Phil. 1:21-24).

It is a real shame for a person to have to go through a crisis (accident, sickness, “close call”, death of a close acquaintance, etc.) before he starts to look to his Creator. Romans 2:4 states that the kindness (goodness) of God should lead one to repent. Of course, if one allows Satan to blind them to God’s kindness -- one will never recognize how good God really is.

Well, no matter what our race is or to which political party we belong, the fact still remains, everyone is going to die. You and I both must face this. Thus, one should make plans right now to prepare for physical death. By this, I am talking about more than making a trip to the local funeral parlor and to the cemetery to purchase burial plots and to make plans for your funeral.

When you obey the above steps of salvation, the Lord will add you to His Church (Acts 2:47). If you are not a Christian, please do not linger any longer! If we can assist you, just contact us! Please, this is very, very important. You will not regret that you did.