2.  Out of fear for his life, David fled from the wicked King Saul to his dearest friend, Jonathan (1 Samuel 20:1).  Jonathan, certain that David was mistaken about his father’s intentions, sought to calm David’s anxieties (1 Samuel 20:3).

3.  The words of this text are David’s response to Jonathan, expressing his very real sense of the nearness of death.  What he realized at that moment was indeed always true––there has always been a step between us and death.

4. What man can live and not see death? Can he deliver his life from the power of the grave? (Psalm 89:48) “ For I know that thou wilt bring me to death, and to the house appointed for all living.” (Job 20:23) “And as it is appointed unto men once to die…” (Hebrews 9:27)

5. Lack of knowledge – Lack of control – Life is fragile - “Come now, you who say, Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.” James 4:13,14

6. It may be today, next week, next year, or many years from now! Our lives can end in an instant!! 4An accident 4Natural disaster 4Terrorist attack 4Heart attack 4Cancer 4Stroke 4Aneurysm Psalm 39:4 "Lord, make me to know my end, and what is the measure of my days, that I may know how frail I am.”

7. It may be today, next week, next year, or many years from now! Our lives can end in an instant!! 4An infectious disease (a micro- organism) 4Bird Flu 4Aids 4Plane crash 4Some new disease Psalm 90:12 "So teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom..”

8. 1. We are separated from friends and family. – (2 Samuel 12:23) 2. We are separated from our earthly possessions - (1 Timothy 6:7). 3. We are separated from our body and spirit - (Gen 3:19; Eccles. 12:6-7; James 2:26).

9. 1. Our eternal destiny depends on what we DO before death. (Hebrews 9:27; John 5:28-29; 2 Corinthians 5:10) 2. Have “I” OBEYED the words of Jesus??? (John 12:48; Romans 2:16; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9) 3. Blessed are they who die in the Lord. (Revelation 14:13; Ephesians 1:3; Romans 3:3-6; Galatians 3:26,27)

10. 1. While the Bible says a great deal about death, it is still a great unknown. 2. The very thought of stepping into a brilliant eternity in the presence of Christ, or being cast down into sorrowful suffering with the wicked of all ages ought to give us pause. (Eccles 7:2; Psalms 90:12).

11.  Death Is an Inevitable Step – (With But One Exception)  Death Is a Short Step  Death Is a Parting Step  Death Is a Destiny- Sealing Step  Death Is a Solemn Step