What is your view of death? Do you fear it or do you prepare for it? Do you know what happens after it? So many questions, because it is, from a human standpoint, something that cannot be described. I would say, overall, most people fear death. Believers and nonbelievers! Practically speaking, it’s a road never traveled. There is uncertainty, doubt and confusion. Some actually face it boldly through faith. Then there are some who would tell you that there’s no life after death, so just eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die. It’s all about today and not about an afterlife. So, who is right?
I’m sure most of you are thinking right now, “Is Bill writing this because he’s 87”. No, it is on my heart and wanted to share. When did death originate? The Garden of Eden, where Adam and Eve disobeyed. Sin is separation from God as he is holy, and we became unholy as the human race. And separation from God is death. When you analyze it closely, God cared deeply for his first two people and us, so he removed them from his direct presence because of that love. It was an act of grace, even though it was also an act of justice. God is a God of love, and a God of wrath at the same time. He cannot be otherwise.
God, in his mercy, knew, or knows, that it would be a horrible existence without any glory to him if we continued to live forever in this sin-filled world, and having a sinful heart. Therefore, as I said, death is an act of grace, by God, not totally as a punishment. Then as the ultimate result of his love for us, he gave his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. The cross is the ultimate act of grace! It fulfilled all other aspects and attributes of grace. And through faith in Christ’s death, resurrection and ascension, we move immediately out of death into life. “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word, and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but is passed from death to life” (Jn. 5.24). Yes, we will continue in this decaying body until he takes us home or we die. But you see what the Spirit is saying in using the word has eternal life.
So, if death is an act of grace, should we not just rush the process and get to heaven as soon as possible? Indeed, no! Paul says “for me to live is Christ but to die is gain”. God has a purpose for us while here in this body and he’s given the hope and the assurance through the gospel that we are his and will be for eternity in his presence. That is life eternal. No more sorrow, pain, failures, illness, whatever. I have always found it interesting about David passing from this earth. “For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep and was laid with his fathers and saw corruption, but he whom God raised up did not see corruption” (Acts 13.36). I love the picture of David falling asleep as revealed by the Spirit.
Life is a gift from God. But at the same time, when you really analyze it closely, death is also a gift from God; that is, if we are in Christ. Our soul never dies, whether we are in Christ or not. We will either spend eternal life with Christ, or in eternal judgment. So, don’t wish for death, just embrace it, and look past it to the eternal blessings of life in Christ. Hallelujah!
Sorry, but I cannot end this without sharing this victorious message from the Spirit. ‘When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”’ (I Cor. 15.54,55) GRACE!!!