Why is there death? Why can’t life go on and on? God originally created humans to live forever. Therefore death seems like a foreigner, like an unwelcome intruder. There should be no death, we feel. We cannot really comprehend our own death. The death of others, when we really think about it, is a mystery: where did they go?
The Bible tells us that when the first humans, Adam and Eve, sinned, death entered into the world. Death spread from our first parents to their children. As a matter of fact, a son of Adam and Eve, Cain, committed the first murder, killing his brother, Abel. And death has reigned since. “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned.” (Romans 5:12)
Death is ugly. We may romanticize death in movies and books, but in reality death is awful. Death rips a child from his mother’s arms. Death separates a husband and a wife after 60 years of marriage. Death cuts short the hopes of a father to see his daughter’s wedding. Death sends its observers into deep sorrow and depression. Death shows no mercy. Death is not a friend, but our final enemy. Death, a big bully, taunts us, threatens us, until it finally takes us. Death is not the way it should be and we all know it. There is nothing that anyone can do about death. We might be able to delay it for awhile, ignore it for awhile, deny it for awhile, but death will have its way with all of us.
When we try to face death alone in our own power, our main weapon is to deny its existence, to ignore its signs, to bury our heads in the sand, to pretend death cannot happen to us or to a loved one. Then when death strikes close, we are shocked by its power and end up with implacable grief. Then when death knocks on our own door, we despair or become embittered, hopeless and helpless in its power.
Facing death alone is foolish! We need help in dealing with this brutal bully. Doctors can’t help us in the long run, money can’t deliver us, armies can’t protect us, alcohol can’t relieve us, and education can’t teach us how to avoid death. Help can only come from one source: God. And God does help us.
God delivers us from death: On the first Good Friday, Jesus suffered and died. It was a terrible death - death by being nailed to the cross. But death could not keep Jesus in the tomb. Three days later, God raised Jesus from the dead. He came forth from the grave, the first fruits of those who believe in God. Jesus says, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me shall live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die” (John 11:25, 26). The One who conquered sin and death, offers to us forgiveness and eternal life. By faith in Jesus, we receive the free gift of eternal life. As some have put it, the day of our death is changed into the day of our promotion!
So God helps us by defeating sin and death and opening heaven to us. This is more than help; it is deliverance, salvation!!!
God helps us deal with our own death: When I was a little boy, there was another boy who was my age, but stronger. He was bullying me to some degree. But when I was with my brother, who was two years older than me and stronger than the bully, I had no fear. God helps us to deal with the bully of death who taunts and threatens us. When God is with us, we can honestly confront the bully of death. We can admit that the bully will take us down, but just at that moment, we know, believe, and trust that God will take us up, delivering us from the bully’s cold grip. So the Christian takes care of his body and tries to live as long as he can. But when death approaches, the Christian commits himself into the hands of the Savior. The writer (David, a former shepherd) of Psalm 23 expressed this thought, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me.”
God helps us deal with the death of others: When the death of a believer who we love occurs, we accept the reality of the death. We accept the terrible loss and the painful grief associated with the loss. Even Jesus, when he lost a dear friend Lazarus, wept. But we do not grieve as if we have no hope. We have the sure hope of seeing the beloved believer again. So we grieve fully, openly, and honestly, expressing to ourselves, God and others, the devastation of the loss. But we also keep in mind that death does not have the final word – God does. And His word is a promise of life!!!
Don’t try to face death alone. You will lose. Face death with God, and His victory becomes your victory!
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