Zeuxis Died Laughing at the Picture of an Old Woman
The sermon highlights the unpredictability of life and the certainty of death, urging listeners to prepare spiritually for their eventual meeting with God.
Thomas Brooks emphasizes the brevity and uncertainty of life, illustrating how death can strike unexpectedly and without warning. He recounts various historical figures who met sudden ends, highlighting the unpredictable nature of mortality. Brooks urges listeners to recognize the certainty of death while acknowledging the uncertainty of life, encouraging them to prepare spiritually for their eventual meeting with God. The sermon serves as a poignant reminder of the need for readiness in the face of life's unpredictability.
Text
As the life of man is very short, so it is very uncertain.
Now healthy--now sick! Alive this hour--and dead the next!
Death does not always give warning beforehand; sometimes
he gives the mortal blow suddenly; he comes behind with his
dart, and strikes a man at the heart, before he says, "Have I
found you, O my enemy?"
Eutychus fell down dead suddenly, Acts 20:9.
Death suddenly arrested David's sons and Job's sons.
Zeuxis died laughing at the picture of an old
woman which he drew with his own hand!
Sophocles choked to death on the seed of a grape!
Diodorus the logician died for shame that he
could not answer a witty question.
Joannes Measius, preaching upon the raising of
the woman of Nain's son from the dead, within
three hours after died himself!
Ah! death is sudden in his approaches.
Nothing more sure than death!
Nothing more uncertain than life!
Though there is but one way to come into this
world--yet there are a thousand thousand ways
to be sent out of this world!
"Prepare to meet your God!" Amos 4:12
Sermon Outline
- I points: - The Uncertainty of Life - '{''A'': ''Life is short and unpredictable.'', ''B'': ''Examples of sudden deaths throughout history.''}'
- II points: - The Certainty of Death - '{''A'': ''Death is inevitable for all.'', ''B'': ''Scriptural references to sudden death.''}'
- III points: - The Importance of Preparation - '{''A'': ''Call to spiritual readiness.'', ''B'': ''Living with the awareness of mortality.''}'
- IV points: - Historical Examples of Sudden Death - '{''A'': ''Zeuxis and his ironic demise.'', ''B'': ''Sophocles and the unpredictability of life.''}'
- V points: - The Message of Amos - '{''A'': ''The urgency of preparing to meet God.'', ''B'': ''Reflecting on one''s life and choices.''}'
Key Quotes
“As the life of man is very short, so it is very uncertain.” — Thomas Brooks
“Nothing more sure than death! Nothing more uncertain than life!” — Thomas Brooks
“Prepare to meet your God!” — Thomas Brooks
Application Points
- Reflect on your life choices and their eternal implications.
- Live each day with the awareness that life is fleeting and death is certain.
- Take time to prepare spiritually for the inevitable meeting with God.