When Death Stares You In the Eye

I work in a place where someone dies almost everyday. It can be the old grand mother, or be the brother who have fought a long hard battle with cancer, or be the young school girl killed by a errant motorist or be the baby born stillborn. I do admit that I get a little numb by it. But once in a while when someone I know dies, it does hit me like truck. Death. This can mean so many things to different people at different times.

When losing a loved one, death = the painful separation, knowing that you won't see them any longer in this world.

When a young person dies, death = lots of unanswered questions of why this had to happen.

When someone is murdered, death = a very unfair situation.

When someone who killed your kin you is put to death, death = just retribution.

When that molester/ rapist who has haunted you for years dies, death = a huge relief.

When someone you have cared for painfully for many years dies, death = a big bag of mixed emotions.

When someone who have fought a long hard battle with cancer dies, death = a time to be thankful that they are no longer in pain.

But what does death really mean to you? Is death an unknown to be feared? Is death a pain too hard to bear? Is death the start of another life?

As a Christian, death to me is the start of eternity. An eternity of life, or an eternity of condemnation. What comes after death is judgement, where God the Judge will determine if you are good enough for heaven, or to be sent to hell for punishment. The problem we have as mankind is that we are NEVER good enough for God. God's standards are exacting and impossible to follow. You need to be a perfect human being by loving God will all your heart, mind and strength; and loving your neighbour as yourself. It's an unachievable standard. 

However, there's a solution to our problem. God sent His Son, Jesus, to come into the world to become a man. He was a perfect man. And by being perfect, he was able and willing to take that punishment which was reserved for us by dying on our behalf. All we have to do is to put our trust in Jesus as our saviour and make God, King of our lives. This will mean when death and judgement comes, you go into an eternity of life instead of an eternity of punishment.

When a Christian brother or sister dies, the bible encourages fellow Christians to not grieve as if we have lost of non-Christian friend.

"But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep." 1 Thess 4:13-14 ESV

Christians should be consoled and even rejoice in death that our brother or sister in-Christ has gone on to a much better place and that we would see each other in our eternal lives. Yes, I do not deny that the pain on temporary separation is very real. But in our pain, God works wonders too. God through His Word help give us encouragement and relief, and help us to refocus our eyes on things of eternal value.

"For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal." 2 Cor 4:17-18 ESV

So what is death to you? Do you have that hope of eternity? Do you want that hope of eternity?

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