When a lost man dies. By Charles Spurgeon. Mark chapter 8, verse 36. What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his soul?

When a lost man dies, his relatives scramble for his money, the worms scramble for his body, and the demons scramble for his soul. What a fearful and sobering picture this is. The world may dress death in velvet and flowers, but God reveals its true horror for the unregenerate soul.

The instant a man without Christ breathes his last, everything he loved is torn from him. His money is left behind, becoming a point of contention and greed among his relatives. The body he once adorned and pampered is claimed by corruption and decay. And his soul, the most precious part of his being, is cast into eternal hell.

The world's goods, its riches, its pleasures, its pomp, its fame, what are all these without Jesus? They are a painted pageantry to go to hell in. They are a mockery to an immortal spirit. They are like a mirage in the desert, diluting the traveler, but not yielding one substantial drop of joy.

I have seen all the things that are done under the sun. All of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind. Yes, this poor world is a heap of chaff. The only enduring treasure is to be found in Jesus. If you neglect him, you neglect all that is worth having.

For the lost, death is not an escape. It is the doorway to everlasting punishment. Jesus spoke more often of hell than of heaven, warning us with great compassion. Fear Him who, after killing the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear Him.

The man who lives for himself and dies without Jesus does not rest in peace. He awakens to eternal torment, where hope never dawns, and mercy is no longer offered.

Dear reader, do not be deceived. Life is short. Death is certain. Eternity is near. A golden coffin will be a poor compensation for a damned soul.

It is appointed unto man once to die, and after that the judgment. Hebrews chapter 9 verse 27.