Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his! NUM 23:10b.

Who does not covet the lot of the righteous, as death is either drawing near, or if some loved one has just been taken from our midst?

Its been said that "every one wants to go to heaven, but no one wants to die to get there." However, the question remains: You who want to die the death of the righteous, that your last end may be like his; do you want to live the life of the righteous, that your life may be like his?

We are admonished in Re 2:14 to beware of, " . . . the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel." So what was the doctrine of Balaam? He wanted to serve God and mammon! He wanted the reward of the righteous and the reward of sin, Ne 13:2.

Balaam was a man of great experiences, "And the Spirit of God came upon him . . . the man whose eyes are open . . . which saw the vision of the Almighty," NUM 24:2-4, but he never knew repentance.

The power of sin was never broken in his heart. His rebellion, deceit, covetousness, hatred for God's people and his love for the reward of sin was never broken. Even though Balaam saw how desirable it was to die the death of the righteous, yet Balaam's last end was not like His!!! Jude 11.

These doctrines of Balaam are described in 2 Pe 2:1-15 as false prophets bringing in ". . . damnable heresies . . . that walk after the flesh . . . persumptuous . . . despise government . . . selfwilled . . . not afraid to speak evil of dignities . . . eyes full of adultery . . . cannot cease from sin . . . which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam . . . while they promise them liberty, they themselves are servants of corruption."

These false prophets are ministers of Satan, " . . . transformed as ministers of righteousness," II Co 11:14-15; deceiving the bereaved into believing that one who has lived his whole life sowing to the flesh, shall of the Spirit reap everlasting life, Ga 6:7-8.

"Ye cannot serve God and mammon," MAT 6:24, Ga 6:7-8. We read in MAT 1:21, ". . . and thou shalt call His name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins." We cannot have JESUS, and die the death of the righteous, and hold to the doctrine of Balaam. Then we shall die the death of Balaam, and our last end shall be like his. I want to be as gracious as I can, and yet be faithful to your souls. Amen.