Introduction
Global nuclear threat, war and pandemics are the topics the news media is proclaiming day and night. And if not that, it’s economic collapse, political unrest, and crime. Fear of death can build up in our minds and make us completely hopeless. What should the Christian response be? Should we submit and act out of fear, like everyone else? Or do we have a higher calling?
Sentenced
Tim Keller, before his death, talked about how we all accept the fact that we will die intellectually. But we still live, as if we will live forever. It is different when we are faced with the prospect of our own death. In many ways in our culture, we have overcome death. There is less disease and sickness. More food, sanitation, and clean water. We have become comfortable with the absence of death. But it is only a pretty dream.
From the moment we are born, we are all sentenced to death. Everyone dies no matter how far we can push death away. But that, has always been the case. We like to think our own circumstances completely novel. But death always threatened us. People always had to fight to keep the barbarians from the door. The predators always hunted in the night, and a plague always threatened our end.
Should we now, because politicians have attached new labels to death’s cloak, pretend that death is different? No, we need to respond to death just like the apostles did. Don’t be distracted by death’s novelty. Don’t let your focus on death keep you from life. For the fact that we have eternal life, takes the terrifying sting out of death.
“25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
– John 11: 25- 26 (NIV)
Death’s Hold
C.S. Lewis had to come to terms with death at an early age. When he was a young boy, his mother died. When he went to school in England, he had to content himself with the fact that he might be drafted for the war. The war that was dominating the English zeitgeist at the time. Later in life when everyone started fearing nuclear war, Lewis wrote an essay on the topic:
“This is the first point to be made: and the first action to be taken is to pull ourselves together. If we are all going to be destroyed by an atomic bomb, let that bomb when it comes find us doing sensible and human things—praying, working, teaching, reading, listening to music, bathing the children, playing tennis, chatting to our friends over a pint and a game of darts—not huddled together like frightened sheep and thinking about bombs. They may break our bodies (a microbe can do that) but they need not dominate our minds.”
– C.S. Lewis, On living in an atomic age
Our bodies will always fail us in the end. But our soul and minds will live on. We think too much of death. Don’t let fear rule your life. Let us put death out of our minds. Let us endure and fight for what will survive into eternity. Death may have our bodies, and already does. But it will not have our minds and our spirits.
“1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”
– Colossians 3: 1- 4 (NIV)
Eternal Life
We like to think that fear, spurs us into action. But more often, fear of death keeps us bound to inaction. We become too scared to follow the will God has for our lives.
“14 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.”
– Hebrews 2: 14- 15 (NIV)
We have been set free from death. And we are called to a life that will endure forever. But to live in eternal life, we need to accept temporary death. Just like Jesus did. Before He was crucified, He predicted and justified His own death in John.
“24 Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.25 Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.”
– John 12: 24- 25 (NIV)
As it turns out, only those who are least concerned with this life, will have eternal life. Those who wants heaven most, would have done the most for the world. Only those who loves Jesus completely, will love others most. But seek first the kingdom of God, and you will find God, and everything else included. Matthew 6: 33.
Conclusion
Don’t be held captive by the fear of death. Death has already been defeated. We are already justified by the death of Jesus. And so too, we are called to eternal life. Don’t let death distract you from what God is calling you to do. But lay your life down to what will endure forever. Keep your focus on heaven, and you will find life.
“38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
– Romans 8: 38- 39 (NIV)
John
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This was a great reminder that death has already been won. It so easy to be held captive by the thought of death. Thank you for this insight.
What a wonderful perspective to be reminded of: When death comes let it find you doing sensible and human things…
How reassuring to know that our time now is only temporary and that we should strive to focus on enternal life with our Saviour who made it possible through Christ’s ultimate sacrifice.
It is a good reminder that death has already been won
Well said, i think we all fear death and forget eternal. I think that if your life is doing the will of God, we shouldn’t fear death, it is our sinful life that makes us to fear death. We need to make sure every day we live, we live it for God in obedience. Our death of flesh can come any minute. Yes God forgive last minute, but what if you don’t get that last minute?