How Should a
Christian View Death?

Dan Corner

[Permission is granted to duplicate this article in its entirety,

but only without additions, alterations or omissions of any kind,

including the ministry name and address at the end.]

T

hings that are inevitable should always be carefully prepared for. Physical death (or the point when one’s spirit leaves his body, Jam. 2:26 cf. Lk. 8:55) is one of the most important of all for that is when we enter eternity. After someone has made the only adequate spiritual provision for his death by repenting of sins (Lk. 13:3,5; Acts 20:21; 1 Thess. 1:9; etc.) and trusting Jesus alone for salvation (Jn. 6:47; Acts 16:31; etc.) he is then ready to die, that is, if he is still faithfully following the Lord Jesus in the very end. For such who will steadfastly submit to Jesus as their king (Lk. 19:27), physical death is compared to this life as better by far (Phil. 1:23) and is preferred (2 Cor. 5:8). [Note: not just better, but better by far.]

At that glorious and wonderful time at the end of our race, the Christian (or the alien and stranger in this world, 1 Pet. 2:11) will finally leave this spiritual battlefield and go home to be with his Lord (2 Cor. 5:8). This world is not the Christian’s home—Heaven is. Home is defined as: the place of abode of one’s affections, peace, or rest; one’s native place or country. Remember, the Christian’s citizenship is in heaven (Phil. 3:20).

Paradise is Paradise

In God’s presence is glory, honor and peace (Rom. 2:10). In God’s kingdom, gladness and joy will overtake the righteous and sorrow and sighing will flee away (Isa. 35:10). Sighing, which will cease, is currently an expression of sorrow, weariness, pain, discouragement, frustration, etc. The overcomer won’t sigh anymore because these things, and the like, won’t ever be plaguing him again! Thank you Lord Jesus, they will forever be gone.

Furthermore, the angels will even be in joyful assembly there (Heb. 12:22). In brief, it is described as paradise (Lk. 23:43; 2 Cor. 12:4).

Try to imagine the extreme joy and excitement someone who lived for Christ here will experience when he first enters God’s presence in Heaven. At this God-chosen time, everything will be changed for the better. Never again will there ever be any lonely moments. No more crying in secret. Never again will there be concern about having enough money to pay for a car repair, mortgage, illness, college, rent, groceries, taxes, etc.

Only For The Righteous

Only the righteous will be there. God’s adversaries who misuse his name won’t be there, Psa. 139:20 cf. Heb. 10:27. (If the wicked were allowed there, it would taint and partly ruin it for the rest of us.)

You won’t see others suffering, as you do now, from blindness, deafness, mental retardation, physical deformities, etc. You personally won’t experience anymore toothaches, earaches, headaches, sore throats, stomachaches, backaches or any other kind of physical (or emotional) pain. You will have a new glorified body which won’t be subject to disease, injury or ageing. It will be paradise in every way as the worthy dwell in the presence of Almighty God.

Obviously, such a wonderful place should be a joy to enter. Why, then, are some Christians afraid to die? One reason could be fear of the unknown. This, however, isn’t valid, since God has told us in the Bible what would happen to us after death. We aren’t in the dark about this like most.

A second reason could be the pain associated with death. Our brothers and sisters in Christ in the past have gone through every form of pain preceding death and God gave them sufficient grace for it as He assuredly will do for us. Paul wasn’t anxious about any of these for he said:

I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far (Phil. 1:23).

If we are dedicated to God, our attitude and joyful excitement about our own death should coincide with his. If you fear death, as a Christian, ask yourself why and accept the Biblical truth about death, which will free you.

Not So For The Unsaved

Death is not better for the unsaved, according to Jesus (Lk. 16:19-31; Mk. 9:43-48; Mt. 22:13; etc.). We’ve all heard people refer to death for the long-time sufferer as better to life in words like, He is better off now that he is dead or His sufferings are over and he is in a better place. For such an unsaved person, upon death his sufferings are intensified, not lessened. Death is only better for the one who has willingly decided to deny himself, take up his cross daily and follow Jesus here and now (Lk. 9:23).

To view this inevitable thing we label death apart from the light of the Bible is to be deceived. To know the truth about death, we must go by the Bible alone.

GOD BLESS YOU.

Return to Evangelical Outreach
www.evangelicaloutreach.org
Address: P.O. Box 265, Washington, PA 15301-0265, USA