Proverbs of 42 yr old man.

The Second Death. But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death." Amen. The second death is a reference to the lake of fire, where those who are separated from God by their sin will dwell for eternity. This judgment is recorded in Scripture as a warning to unbelievers to seek the salvation that Jesus Christ provides. The coming judgment should also challenge believers to share their faith. There is a vast difference between the final destination of those who know Christ and those who do not. I want to take you to the scene on the Cross where Jesus is hanging there bearing the sins of the world. Let's focus on the conversation Jesus had with the two men one on each side of Him. Luke 23: 32-43 32 Two others, both criminals, were led out to be executed with him. 33When they came to a place called The Skull, they nailed him to the cross. And the criminals were also crucified, one on his right and one on his left. 34Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice. 35The crowd watched and the leaders scoffed. “He saved others,” they said, “let him save himself if he is really God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.” 36The soldiers mocked him, too, by offering him a drink of sour wine. 37They called out to him, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” 38A sign was fastened above him with these words: “This is the King of the Jews.” 39One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed, “So you’re the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself, and us, too, while you’re at it!” 40But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? 41We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” 42Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” 43And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Amen. Wow, mind blowing this exchange at the Cross. The Scriptures don't tell us their names or if they are on the left or right of Him. While both criminals deserve punishment for their crimes, we see two different hearts. I want to explore that. The first thing that jumped out to me was the final judgment in Matthew 25:31-36. 31“But when the Son of Mand comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. 32All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left. 34“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. 36I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’ Amen. Now let's jump to verse 41 to 43 when judgment is pronounced to the left where there are the goats. 41“Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons. 42For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink. 43 I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’ Amen. On that scene of the Cross, we see sheep and goats represented. Not talking about sides talking about hearts. The goat would say: “So you’re the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself, and us, too, while you’re at it! Also, they would say Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? The sheep would say: “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong. Also, they would say: But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’ Amen. I want to close with one more analogy about the second death topic. I remember watching a documentary of death row inmates. Obviously, they are there for heinous crimes done and were going to be executed soon. I saw sheep and goats there. I saw one inmate that literally all the evidence pointed to him and photos and DNA linked him. Anyone could see that the crime was done by him. But he denied it even to the end right before his execution. Claiming innocence and no guilt, no shame, no forgiveness, and no personal accountability. Calling out to humanity for this injustice and making their own peace with God. But there was another inmate I watched, and it was totally different. He understood that he deserved to die for his sin of murder. He tried to rehabilitate himself and became a better man through his relationship with Jesus. The state did not pardon and approve his clemency though. Justice and mercy were going to be carried out for the victim and the offender. On the day of execution, he was humble and asked for a modest meal. He asked for forgiveness to the family for the pain he had caused. And most of all he claimed the blood of Jesus that can wash away his sins! Oh, the audacity of Grace! Though he faced judgment in this life for the sins he committed, because of the Sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross, this inmate has eternal life! Just like the criminal on the Cross who realized his need for a Saviour and forgiver of his sins! 1 Peter 2:22-25 says to this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. 22“He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.”23When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 24“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” 25For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. Amen. God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. For everyone has sinned, we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he makes sinners right in his sight when they believe in Jesus. Amen. The second death is also mentioned in Revelation 20:14–15: “Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.” At the end of time, even death and the grave (Hades) will be thrown into the lake of fire. In addition, every person not included in the book of life will be thrown into the lake of fire. This condition will be final; the destination is permanent. Think about that. In this life you have consequences for sin. They will play out on different levels. But the Cross is there as a beacon of Light to shine forgiveness and grace in the midst of judgment and truth that is needed in this world. Though we all die once to face judgment. The second death is the final death of humanity. Just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment, so also Christ was offered once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him. Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death. Sober words to close: “Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell. The second death.

Reference

https://www.gotquestions.org/second-death.html