Not All Are In A "Better Place"

# 407 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from: 1Sa 31:6-10, “So Saul, his three sons, his armorbearer, and all his men died together that same day. 7 And when the men of Israel who were on the other side of the valley, and those who were on the other side of the Jordan, saw that the men of Israel had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook the cities and fled; and the Philistines came and dwelt in them. 8 So it happened the next day, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his three sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. 9 And they cut off his head and stripped off his armor, and sent word throughout the land of the Philistines, to proclaim it in the temple of their idols and among the people. 10 Then they put his armor in the temple of the Ashtoreths, and they fastened his body to the wall of Beth Shan. ( 1 Sam 31:6-10) War is never pretty is it? Saul is dead. David's beloved friend Jonathan is dead, along with two of Saul's other sons. His armor bearer, and his entire unit of men, all wiped out by the enemy. Saul's body and armor desecrated and put on grim public display. Note there is only mention of their bodies here and not of their souls. In Matthew Henry's commentary on these verse, he brings forth a very sobering thought. He says, “The Scripture makes no mention what became of the souls of Saul and his sons, after they were dead; but of their bodies only: secret things belong not to us. It is of little consequence by what means we die, or what is done with our dead bodies. If our souls are saved, our bodies will be raised incorruptible and glorious; but not to fear His wrath, who is able to destroy both body and soul in hell, is the extreme folly of wickedness. How useless is the respect of fellow-creatures to those who are suffering the wrath of God! While pompous funerals, grand monuments, and the praises of men, honour the memory of the deceased, the soul may be suffering in the regions of darkness and despair! Let us seek that honour which cometh from God only.” Mr. Henry reminds us to fear God's wrath! Not all who die are in a “better place.” Only those hearts and souls that belong to Jesus are in a better place. It is not our place to make that determination. God knows. But it IS our place to warn others and to point them to the only means of escape.....Jesus Christ. Father, guard us from the folly and wickedness of disregarding the reality of Your wrath. Help us to finish and help others to finish the race in the safety of the arms of Jesus.