“WILL IT DO WHEN YOU’RE DYING?”   II Samuel 18:5-15

Intro:  Death is certain.  The question is not IF you will die. 

The Bible says “It is appointed unto men once to die…” Heb. 9:27  

This is one appointment you can’t cancel, postpone, ignore, miss or change. 

It is going to happen.  In this story, we see a man named Absalom that has finally arrived at the day of his death.  His appointment with death has finally arrived, and needless to say, he dies.  On his dying day, he was clinging to some things that didn’t do him much good.  

Many people today are also headed toward their appointment with death holding on to some things. 

The question of the hour is this.  “Will what you’ve got do when you’re dying?? 

Is what you’re hanging on too sufficient? 

Let’s look at what many people have in common with Absalom.

I. WILL YOUR REPUTATION DO WHEN YOU’RE DYING? – 14:25

            A. He was Praised

            B. He was Pretty

            C. He was Perfect

            D. He was Popular

            E. He was Productive – vs. 27

II. WILL YOUR REBELLION DO WHEN YOU’RE DYING?

          His….

          A. Independence –vs. 28 He didn’t need anybody ruling over him. Authority issues.

          B. Image–15:1 He was obsessed with his image and impressing others

          C. Insolence–15:3  He thought he was the only one with any brains or wisdom

          D. Ignorance–15:4 He wanted to judge everybody else, but didn’t want to be judged.

III. WILL YOUR RELIGION DO WHEN YOU’RE DYING?

            A. A Sly Religion–15:7-10–False Impressions; Lies, Hypocrisy

            B. A Seductive Religion–15:12 Many People Believed Like Him; It Was Appealing

            C. A Sensual Religion–16:20-23 Made Him Feel Good, Enjoyable; Fun

IV. WILL YOUR RUNNING DO WHEN YOU’RE DYING?

            A. His Running was Fearful – 18:9 He Was Being Chased By The King’s Soldiers

            B. His Running was Foolish – on a mule?   He’s Going To Outrun Them On A Mule???

            C. His Running was Futile – His Foolish Choices (Mule) Led Him Right To The Slaughter!

CONCLUSION: Notice his running ended at a tree.  A tree that had him suspended between Heaven and earth.

In Luke 23:32-43, we see 3 other men hanging from a tree.  Two were guilty and one was innocent.  Of the two guilty, one refused to admit his mistakes, even in the face of death.  The other man, hanging from a tree, was sick of running.  He was sick of his rebellion, his reputation, and if he had any religion, it sure wasn’t doing him any good.  He was in a mess, and he knew it!!  He looked to the innocent man on the cross and begged for mercy and forgiveness, unlike Absalom.

Let me tell you something friend.  You can run, but you won’t run past the tree!!!  You will either run TO it and ask for mercy, or you will die in your sins and pay the penalty for your sins by refusing to accept HIS payment for your sins.  One day, you’re going to die.  You can run all you want to, but you won’t run past that tree that God put in your path!!!

 Is what you’ve got this morning going to do when you’re dying??