An Ancient Graveyard

Introduction:

There is much to learn by visiting a cemetery. The wise man Solomon said, “A good name is better than precious ointment. And the day of death than the day of one’s birth; Better to go to the house of mourning Than to go to the house of feasting. For that is the end of all men; And the living will take it to heart.” (Ecclesiastes 7:1-2) Several lessons can be learned about living and dying.

Text: Genesis 5:1-5

Body:

I. A Lesson about Learning

· Note the last three words, “and he died.” That phrase is used eight times in this chapter in Verses 5, 8, 11, 14, 17, 20, 27, and 31.

· The Bible informs us that when sin entered the world, death entered it also. (Genesis 2:17, Genesis 3:17-19, Romans 5:12-14)

· Even though the men mentioned in this chapter lived a long life, death still came. (Hebrews 9:27)

· Jehovah God has determined man’s days. (Job 14:1-5, Psalm 39:4)

· From the moment we enter this world, a countdown to our leaving it begins. We must make preparations for it. (Amos 4:12)

II. A Lesson about Living

· Note that the first person to die was a young man, Abel. (Genesis 4:8) This teaches us that life is very uncertain. (I Peter 1:24, James 4:13-16)

· Life passes by quickly. (Job 7:6, Job 9:25, Psalm 39:5, Psalm 89:47)

· We need to learn from the rich fool. (Luke 12:16-20)

· Only the foolish live without thinking about the end of their lives. (Proverbs 27:1) 

III. A Lesson about Looking 

· There is a bright, shining star in this chapter. (Genesis 5:21-24) Enoch walked with God; he walked by faith. (Hebrews 11:4-6)

· Enoch did not taste death. So it will be with the faithful who are alive when Christ returns. (I Corinthians 15:51-52, I Thessalonians 4:13-18)

· So each of us needs to be prepared for the arrival of our death or the arrival of our Lord.

Conclusion:

Let us be able to say like Revelation 22:20, “Even so, Come Lord Jesus!” 

Bobby Stafford,

April 6, 2014