For many years, I have wanted to write a book on the Christian theology of death. There is so little reliable information available, and people have a great deal of confusion about it. I never have written the book because publishers know people aren’t willing to buy such books. People avoid talking about and even thinking about death.
I do not have a preoccupation with death, but recently I’ve been thinking about death a great deal. Perhaps it was been the recent passing of so many media personalities. Possibly it is the fact that I retired this year. More likely it was reading 2 Corinthians 5 where Paul said he would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. In other words, Paul was not only not afraid to die, he actually preferred what death would bring, compared to what he had in this life.
What Paul said is not the thinking of most Christians today. In fact the thinking of most Christians is influenced more by the world’s culture than by the teaching of Scripture. They forget there’s a better place to come.
A few years ago, I preached a sermon I called “Good Grief” dealing with how we can help others deal with the inevitabilities of death. After the message, an older lady who had been around the church for years said, “Pastor, that was awful. Don’t ever speak on death again.” I’ve discovered that the thought of death frightens and intimidates many Christians.
THE FEAR OF DEATH
Thanatophobia is the fear of dead things or anything associated with death. It is a common fear throughout the world. When studying the Chinese language, I was taught not to say “He died” but rather, “He is not here.” Such was the dread of dying for the Chinese that it was never polite to say the word.
What is it that people fear about death? First, there’s the fear of being dead. Second, there’s the fear that when one dies, life is going to end. Third, there’s the fear of premature or unexpected death. Fourth, there’s the fear of the process of dying. Mark Twain said, “I am not afraid of death. I just don’t want to be there when it happens.”
But such attitudes and thinking are contrary to biblical teaching. I do not want to die just yet and will do my best to stay alive for as long as possible. I want to embrace fully what the Bible says about life. But I know that nothing is more certain than the fact that we will all die and nothing is more uncertain than the time of our death.
The good news of the gospel is that Jesus has destroyed the fear of death. And that’s why the apostle Paul said he would prefer to die (to be absent from the body) than to go on living in this world.
Most of us would rather not think or talk about death, particularly our own. But ignoring the subject will not stop anyone’s death from happening. According to the last census, the death rate is 100%! Medical science has extended life, but eventually doctors lose all their patients.
So what should our attitude be? What are the facts?
DEATH IS NOT A FRIEND
Let’s be honest. Death is not a friend. Let’s not romanticize death. The Bible calls death the last enemy. Death is rarely pretty. Death means loss, separation and great change. It is frequently surrounded with pain and suffering. It marks the end of an era. We feel uncomfortable with death because it is unnatural and wrong. Death is not what God created us for; we were created by God to live forever.
JESUS FACED DEATH FOR YOU
The great message of the Bible is that Jesus faced death for us. On the cross, he endured death in all its dimensions. He knows all about death because he experienced it.
And why? He paid the full debt of our sin. He soaked up all our guilt. He absorbed the death penalty for our offences. He tasted death for us. He experienced the death that we deserve, so that we would not need to experience death with despair and hopelessness. We will die physically but we will rise spiritually.
JESUS WILL FACE DEATH WITH YOU
The psalmist put it this way: Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. (Psalm 23:4).
Who is with you when you die? Jesus.
Your friends and family will not go with you when you die, however, you will not be alone. The one who is closer than a brother promises never to leave you or forsake you. Jesus has a first hand knowledge of what you face in those final moments and he will be with you as you face death. Christ’s death and resurrection are assurance that beyond death’s door there is a wonderful new life.
This is reality. Your faith will work at death’s door as much as in the pleasant moments of this life. Christian faith is not merely a nice theory. Don’t reduce your faith to a bunch of religious platitudes. The Lord himself will be with you in the moment when you inhale your last earthly breath.
YOU CAN FACE DEATH LIKE JESUS DID
We are familiar with the events surrounding the death of Jesus. But how did he personally face death? What was going on in his mind and spirit? Was he calm and quiet? Was he detached from what was happening? More than the physical suffering, he experienced the torture of every sin being laid on him. No wonder he cried out quoting a Psalm, My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning? (Psalm 22:1; Matthew 27:46).
But Jesus knew the rest of that psalm and it brought him hope. For he has not despised or disdained the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help. (Psalm 22:24).
Jesus was not in denial as he died. He stared death right in the eye. He knew the reality of death. Then he trusted his heavenly Father when he said, Into your hands I commit my spirit. (Psalm 31:5; Luke 23:46).
These words are not calm, cool and collected. They are the words of someone who was fully engaged with his pain and fully connected with his God, But in the midst of it all, Jesus placed his life into the hands of his Father. He knew that was where he was safe.
These are words that anyone can pray when facing death. Yes, it may feel that everyone has forsaken you. But in the midst of it, you can pray the words of Jesus with confidence. There is never a safer place to be than in the hands of the Father.
Don’t be afraid of death. Don’t pretend you are not going to die. Face death as Jesus did. He will be with you. Put your life in the Father’s hands.
JESUS IS WAITING FOR YOU
Christians say they believe in the resurrection of the dead but give very little thought to what that means. Christ’s resurrection is a historical fact; our resurrection is a future certainty. Christ’s resurrection is the documented proof that my physical death will not be the end of my life. There is something beyond this life.
The courage to face your death comes as you put all your faith and trust in him.
Heaven is real. It is not a myth. Human vocabulary is incapable of describing the grandeur and splendor of heaven.
I have often heard people say how they are looking forward to heaven and being reunited with their loved ones. But friend, the excitement of heaven will be Jesus. Who are you looking forward to meeting when you get to heaven? The prospect of being with Jesus gives me courage face death. Yes, the streets of gold will be interesting. Yes, the release from pain, disease and suffering will be wonderful. What a relief to have the tears wiped away! But, oh the glory of being in his presence!
Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. (2 Corinthians 5:1-4).
Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. We live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. (2 Corinthians 5:6-8).
Perhaps if we don’t want to go to heaven now, it may be an indication of something else. Possibly we have a deficient relationship with Jesus. Perhaps we have a delusional attachment to the things of this world. Possibly we have a distorted understanding of heaven.
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