One Second After Your Last Breath

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One Second After Your Last Breath 

Note: This text version of today's lesson takes about 10-1/2 minutes to read, whereas the Facebook Reel version is only about 7-1/2 minutes long.

Walking Through the Valley of the Shadow of Death With Jesus

Today's Scripture: Psalm 23:4; John 10:27–29; John 11:25–26; 2 Corinthians 5:6–8; Philippians 1:21–23

An I'm Well Done Bible Teaching

Have you ever stopped to consider what will happen one second after you take your very last breath?

Will everything simply go dark? Will you be afraid? Will you know what is happening? Will you be alone?

These are questions that nearly every human being will eventually consider, yet they are questions many people prefer to avoid.

We spend so much of our lives preparing for tomorrow. We make plans, save money, purchase homes, raise families, and prepare for retirement.

But how much time do we spend preparing for the one appointment that none of us can escape?

The moment we leave this earthly life and enter eternity.

The wonderful news is that Jesus has not left His children without hope.

1. The Valley of the Shadow of Death

Perhaps no passage of Scripture has brought more comfort to believers facing death than Psalm 23.

David wrote:

"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me." — Psalm 23:4 (KJV)

Notice something remarkable about these words.

David did not say, "If I walk through the valley."

He said, "Though I walk through the valley."

He understood that life's darkest valleys are real. And for every person whose earthly life comes to an end, death is a reality that must eventually be faced.

But notice something else.

David did not say that he would remain in the valley.

He said he would walk through it.

And why could he walk without fear?

Because he knew that his Shepherd was with him.

The greatest comfort in this passage is not the promise that we will never experience darkness, suffering, or death.

It is the promise of God's presence.

"For thou art with me."

Those five words can change the way we think about dying.

2. The Good Shepherd Knows His Sheep

Jesus gave us another beautiful promise in John 10:27–28:

"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand." (KJV)

Think about what Jesus is saying.

He knows those who belong to Him.

Not simply as names written on a list.

He knows us personally.

He knows our struggles, our disappointments, our fears, our prayers, and even the tears that no one else has seen.

And He promises eternal life to His sheep.

Jesus did not say, "I might give them eternal life if everything goes well."

He said, "I give unto them eternal life."

What an extraordinary promise!

The believer's security rests in the faithfulness and power of Jesus Christ, not in our ability to save ourselves.

And if our Good Shepherd has faithfully cared for us throughout our earthly lives, why should we imagine that He would abandon us at the very moment we need Him most?

3. What Happens One Second After Our Last Breath?

Here we must be careful to distinguish between what the Bible reveals and what we might imagine.

Scripture does not describe every sensation or experience of the first second after death.

But it does give us something far more important.

It gives us a promise.

The Apostle Paul wrote:

"We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord." — 2 Corinthians 5:8 (KJV)

Paul understood something that should bring tremendous comfort to every believer.

Our earthly bodies are temporary, but our relationship with Jesus Christ is eternal.

In Philippians 1:23, Paul spoke of his desire to depart this earthly life and be with Christ, which he described as "far better."

Imagine that!

Paul had experienced persecution, imprisonment, suffering, and tremendous hardship.

Yet when he considered leaving this world, he did not speak as a man without hope.

He looked forward to being with Jesus.

We should also remember that the Bible promises a future resurrection of the body. Being with Christ after death and receiving our resurrected bodies are related promises, but they are not the same event.

The important truth is this:

For the person who belongs to Jesus Christ, physical death cannot separate us from our Savior.

We may not know every detail of what that first moment will be like.

But we know whom we have trusted.

And we know His promises are faithful.

4. Death Is Not the End of the Believer's Story

When Jesus stood before Martha following the death of her brother Lazarus, He made one of the greatest declarations recorded in Scripture.

"I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live." — John 11:25 (KJV)

Notice that Jesus did not merely say He could provide resurrection.

He declared, "I am the resurrection, and the life."

Our hope of eternal life is not based upon a religious institution, our accomplishments, or the number of good deeds we have performed.

Our hope is found in a Person.

Jesus Christ.

The One who died for our sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day.

Because He lives, those who belong to Him have the promise of eternal life.

This is why the Gospel is such wonderful news.

We do not have to earn our way into Heaven.

We receive salvation through God's grace by faith in Jesus Christ.

And the same Savior who gives us eternal life calls us to follow Him faithfully throughout the days He has entrusted to us.

5. Learning to Walk With Jesus Before We Enter the Valley

Here is something I hope every reader and listener will seriously consider.

Why should we wait until the final moments of our lives to think about walking with Jesus?

Our earthly lives are opportunities to know Him, love Him, obey His Word, and become increasingly sensitive to His leading.

Every morning that we awaken is another gift from God.

Another opportunity to pray.

Another opportunity to encourage someone who is hurting.

Another opportunity to forgive someone who has wronged us.

Another opportunity to share the Gospel.

Another opportunity to invest our lives in things that will have eternal value.

Remember the words of Jesus:

"If ye love me, keep my commandments." — John 14:15 (KJV)

Our obedience does not purchase our salvation.

Rather, our love for Christ should produce a growing desire to please Him.

We are learning to walk with our Shepherd today so that when our earthly journey comes to an end, we can face that moment with confidence in the One who has promised never to forsake us.

6. Are You Prepared for Your Last Breath?

Now I want to ask you a very personal question.

If today were your final day on earth, would you be prepared to meet Jesus Christ?

Not because you have lived a perfect life.

None of us has.

Not because you have attended church regularly, given money to charity, or tried to be a good person.

Those things cannot save us.

The Bible says:

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." — Ephesians 2:8–9 (KJV)

Have you placed your faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?

Do you believe that He died for your sins and rose again?

Have you personally trusted Him for the forgiveness and eternal life that only He can give?

Jesus asked Martha a question after declaring Himself the resurrection and the life.

He said:

"Believest thou this?" — John 11:26 (KJV)

That same question deserves an answer from each of us today.

Because our eternal future is too important to leave to chance, assumption, or procrastination.

If you have never trusted Jesus Christ, you can turn to Him today.

Acknowledge your need for His forgiveness, believe the Gospel, and place your trust in Him.

You do not need to wait until you become a better person.

Come to Him as you are, trusting in what He has already accomplished through His death and resurrection.

7. The Final Journey Is Not the Final Destination

One day, unless Jesus returns first, our earthly journey will come to an end.

The possessions we have accumulated will remain behind.

The homes we have occupied will belong to someone else.

The responsibilities that once consumed our attention will be passed to others.

But the things we have done in loving obedience to Jesus Christ have eternal significance.

And for those who belong to Him, the end of earthly life is not the end of the story.

There is a promised resurrection.

There is an eternal home.

There is the joy of being with our Savior.

And there is the hope of hearing those precious words:

"Well done, thou good and faithful servant." — Matthew 25:21 (KJV)

Our earthly lives are opportunities to prepare for that glorious future—not by earning eternal life, but by faithfully responding to the grace we have received.

So when you think about that final breath, remember the words of David:

"For thou art with me."

And remember the promise of Jesus:

"I give unto them eternal life."

We do not need to know every detail of the journey ahead.

We need to know the Shepherd who has promised to lead us.

And if you belong to Jesus Christ, you can trust Him with your life, your death, and your eternity.

Are you ready to walk with Him today?