100% of people who are born die. It is a reality. Some die young, others in their prime, and many in their twilight years. Everyone dies. In my years as a pastor, I've stood at the gravesides of infants, accident victims, as well as those who finally succumbed to cancer. Some families saw death coming and had time to prepare. Others experienced the icy grip of death unexpectedly with those they love.
Here is the truth I hold onto. If death is the absolute worst death can pound me with then I win. Why do I say that? "For to me to live is Christ and to DIE IS GAIN."[Phil 1:21] Death is not loss for the individual who has come to repentance and put his or her faith in Christ for salvation. It is gain. It profitable. It is a promotion. It is a graduation day. In fact, death is the best day possible outcome for the child of God who dies and sheds mortality to be clothed in immortality. Hallelujah!
I do not want to make light of this. There is a sting to death. Just ask grieving spouses, parents, children, or friends left behind to live with gaping holes in their heart. There is also a sting in death that comes with the agonizing painful path to get to death. I once ministered to a man dying of cancer. He knew he did not have long to live. I watched as his world slowly got smaller. At first he could still go to the local cafe as he done for years to have breakfast. Then he became more and more confined to his house. Then even going to the living room became a monumental task. In the end he was confined to his bedroom and bed.
He told me once, "Matt, I am not afraid of dying. I know Jesus and I know I am saved and will go to Heaven. It is the process of getting there that scares me. Through the pain I do not want to lose my faith." He didn't. He also suffered. Life threw the punches of pain and suffering at him and eventually strangled the life right out of him. It was a hard thing to watch. Death had a sting. 1 Corinthians 15:53-57 (NASB)
53 For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54 But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, "DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory.
55 "O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?"
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law;
57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Life throws the roundhouse punch of death and connects. It looks like life and Satan win. On the contrary, the child of God stands in eternity victoriously. We win. We look the opponent death in the eye with hands raised as Jesus picks us up off the mat and delivers death a knockout blow. DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP IN VICTORY. Hallelujah!
The worst life can hit us with is the absolute best God will give us in eternity. So if we live we triumph in Christ. Romans 8:31-39 (NASB)
31 What
then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is
against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?
33 Who will bring a charge against God's elect? God is the one who justifies;
34 who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.
35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36 Just as it is written, "FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG; WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED."
37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.
38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,
39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
We win through Jesus even in death. Life hits hard with death but Jesus hits back harder with eternal life!
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