There are only three things we can do about death: we can desire it, fear it, or ignore it. When you think about people in general often times the typical response to death is to ignore it. We don’t want to think about it and we feel if we just push it under the rug it makes our conscious feel better.
Proverbs 1:7 says, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” The cold hard facts are that we all are going to die one day. Many people were brought to Christ because they didn’t want to go to hell. They had to take a serious look at death and decide for themselves what they believed was after that. In this world a large percentage of the population are without a Savior and find themselves trying to figure out that question. God determines our days, he decides when we begin and when we end. When we understand this fundamental truth it seems preposterous not to put our faith in trust in him.
I love what Paul says in Philippians 1:21-23, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.”
That is the confidence and hope we have in Christ Jesus. Once we understand that truth as odd is it may seem we can actually embrace the fact that we one day will die. This is not a sad or morbid thing but a glorious transformation as we enter into the presence of the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. Does the thought of death freak you out? Do know anyone that is fearful of death or choosing to ignore the thought of it? I would encourage you to dive into the Scriptures, to know the God who is in control, and to live in the peace and security that comes in Christ Jesus. My prayer today is that your desire would be to live in fruitful labor for Christ and that you would have a deep longing to be with Jesus.
