Intro: The setting of this passage is the time just after Amnon, King David’s son, had raped his sister Tamar. Then Absalom, one of David’s other sons, killed Amnon for committing this evil deed. For the murder David was greatly angered against Absalom, and he fled from the face of his father David. But after some time when he had not come back home again, David’s heart was heavy for Absalom. Still David would not send for him to come home. David’s head servant Joab saw this heaviness in David’s heart. He devised a plan to get Absalom home. He got a woman to dress in rags of mourning and go in to the throne beseeching help from David. Her illustration helped David to see his own desire to get Absalom home again.

But I want to preach from the portion in the midst of her speech in verse 14 on this thought, Will It Do When You Are Dying.  There is one thing in life that is certain beyond any other, and that is death. Life is unsure, but death is certain. Just as sure as you have lived, you will die (Heb 9:27). You can not schedule, postpone, or escape this event. You will die. Death does not come to people by accident, but by providence. Our text states that we are like water spilt on the ground that can’t be gathered together again. You will die. When it comes to dying:

1. There are no favorites: “neither doth God respect any person.” Every man will face death. Young, Old. Big, Small. Rich, Poor.

2. There is no famine in the land: “we must needs die.” Every community has a graveyard and a funeral home.

3. There is no future hope to impact your life here: “we are like water spilt on the ground.” Nothing you can do after death will change what you did when you were alive. As the tree falleth, so shall it be. No priest, no church, no preacher or candle light service can change the destination of eternity for your soul. It’s Fixed!

The Question for us to consider today is not if you will die, or even when you will die, but it is will the way your living do when you’re dying? When the rider of the pale horse (Rev. 6:8) puts his icy fingers of eternity around your throat extracting your last breath of life, will the way you have lived be sufficient at the time you die? I want us to see from the scriptures some people in death, and ask you where you will be:

I.       The Man Who Lived Sumptuously But Died in Rags: Luke 16, when the rich man died, he was buried. All that great wealth that faired sumptuously in everyday was left behind, and he opened his eyes in hell! He had five brothers on their way to hell, but all the money he left them in inheritance would do nothing to stop them from going the same path he went! If we could interview this man, we would ask these questions:

A.    What Are the Conditions really like in Hell? Torment! No mercy! No water! Hot!

B.     What’s The Future Hold? More of the same. Remembering! Weeping w/out tears!

C.    What’s Your Message For Us? Don’t Come Here! Go Tell My Brothers!

II.    The Man Who Was Saved But Died In Rebellion: Lot had a righteous soul (II Peter 2:8), but he went to Sodom. He lost his wife, and his daughters were drunken whores. He became a sot drunkard, and laid up with his own daughters bearing illegitimate boys that would afflict God’s people for generations. As best we find, he died with things just like they were in the cave. When he died:

A.    His Family Wondered If He Was Really Saved. If Peter had not told us that he was righteous, I would think for sure that Lot was in Hell today.

B.     His Friends Could Not Recall A Time When He Told Them Of the Gospel.

C.    His Foes Mocked His Life, His Death, and His Family, Because of His Testimony. The preacher probably came to the funeral saying nice things and kind words, but they weren’t true!

III. The Man Who Was Stoned But Died Rejoicing: Acts 7:56, Stephen died in the work of God. He died right because he lived right. The Bible says that just before his death:

A.    They Saw his face as the face of an angel.

B.     They Heard him testify before the court.

C.    They Heard Him Pray.

D.    They Watched him Die.

Conclusion: In order to die right, you’ll have to live right. Will the way you’re living do when you’re dying? Have you ever been saved? Have you lived as a witness? When was the last time somebody saw the love of God in your countenance? When was the last time you testified? When was the last time your children, spouse, or friends heard your pray, really pray? When they watch you die, will the way your living give them hope when you’re dying? When you meet God, will the way you’re living satisfy him when you’re dying?