How many times have you gathered around the bedside of a dying friend or loved one, at a loss for words? How many times have you assembled with friends and/or family around the open grave, so desperately wanting to offer a comforting word, but unable or afraid to say anything? As a Gospel preacher, part of my work entails visiting those who are upon their death beds and rendering assistance to those who are weeping over departed loved ones. Just because preachers deal with these things more often than most does not make the words come any easier in times of sorrow. Death is difficult for all of us to deal with. Death floods the soul with a plethora of emotions that can overwhelm even the most stable individuals. Sorrow, separation, anger and fear are often common companions of the dreaded harbinger.

We all fear death. We all have questions concerning death and what lies beyond. Death is a universal fear because it is the common lot of us all, an appointment from which not one of us will be absent (Hebrews 9:27). The Psalmist declared, “What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death? shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave” (Psalm 89:48)? Death does not discriminate based upon age, ethnicity, sex, or religion. She will claim the young and strong just as surely as she will take the old and weak. The insatiable appetite of death can never be satisfied until she has taken every last soul into her bosom. As with any other thing we fear, it is normal to fear death to some extent. After all, we do not know much about death, save what is revealed in the Scriptures. It is not something we can experiment with, sending someone to the grave and then calling them back so that they might report to us what lies beyond death’s door. There have been those who have made this journey through the portal of death, only to return to this life (e.g., Lazarus, Dorcas, our Lord). Yet, none of them has fully reported of the experience of death, nor of what waits ahead. It is the unknown that unnerves so many. Even great men of faith have relayed to us their fears of death. David would write, “My heart is sore pained within me: and the terrors of death are fallen upon me” (Psalm 55:4).

In spite of our fears, our concerns, our questions regarding death, the Bible teaches that the faithful child of God has nothing to fear in death. The Scriptures speak of two deaths: the first death being the separation of the spirit from the body (James 2:24), and the second being eternal separation of lost souls from God (Revelation 21:8). From the first death, physical death, there is no escape. However, we do not have to suffer the second death (Revelation 2:11). Jesus spoke concerning physical death and spiritual death: “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul [physical death, SPM]: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell [spiritual death, SPM]” (Matthew 10:28). Jesus Christ conquered death when he arose triumphantly from the grave three days after his death upon the cross. The Hebrews writer declares, “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage” (Hebrews 2:14,15). Paul wrote to young Timothy that, “…our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” (2 Timothy 1:10). By virtue of Christ’s death on the cross and his victory over the grave, all faithful Christians can assert with confidence, “So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:54-57).    Patrick Morrison

This entry was posted on Sunday, September 5th, 2010 at 6:00 am and is filed under bulletin articles. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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