Should Christians Fear Death? What The Bible Says About Dying
Be it us or a loved one, the thought of dying can cast fear beyond measure in the human mind. But we all know that each man is appointed a time to die, and we never know when that hour will be. But when that time comes how will we find peace in the midst of dying? Knowing that you or someone you love dearly will soon depart from this earth where will you find comfort and rest? I am not going to give you some religious, fake, ‘look at how spiritual I am’ answer. It won’t be easy. But there is an answer, and we find it in Christ. Our hope comes from our faith and REALLY believing that God has done, and is doing what He promised. Believing that the very moment death comes in and our eyes close that we will instantly be alive, and with Christ. God is real and we can trust His promises, and nothing here on earth could compare to what we will enjoy after we leave this present life. In other words, if we believe God, to die is a good thing, not a bad thing.
What the Bible Says About Life After Death – Paul’s Struggle
The apostle Paul struggled to choose if he wanted to live or die because he KNEW God was real and a part of him actually wanted to die. On one hand, Paul wanted to live and share the gospel. But on the other hand, he was totally okay with dying because he knew he’d be with Jesus, and that would be so much better than living in this present age.
[Philippians 1:21-23] For to me, to live is Christ and TO DIE IS GAIN. But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose. But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire TO DEPART AND BE WITH CHRIST, for that is VERY MUCH BETTER;
If you are struggling with the pain of losing someone or you yourself are battling some life-threatening illness, my prayer is that you might find comfort in knowing that God is a God of love and kindness. Believe God. He has better things planned. It’s not over. It’s just beginning and oh my do we have a beautiful eternity to look forward to. I hope you will find the verses below from 2 Corinthians and Revelation comforting.
[2 Corinthians 5:8] we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.
[Revelation 21:4] He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
God bless you.
Author: Mike Cynar
Mike Cynar was raised in a church setting where he frequently noticed that many attendees would eventually drift away. The church labeled these individuals as ‘back sliders’ or ‘fake Christians’ just looking for ‘fire insurance’. However, Mike realized the issue was rarely with these individuals but instead with the church’s message itself. The teachings heavily emphasized behavior improvement and one’s flaws, with only a fleeting mention of one’s identity in Christ. It felt as though every sermon was tailored to the church of Corinth, who as we know or committing sins that even unbelievers don’t partake in. This trend was noticeable not just in one denomination, but across Baptist, Catholic, Pentecostal, and many other churches. Upon understanding the true essence of the gospel – that our righteousness comes from Jesus’ actions, not our own – Mike was inspired to liberate believers from lifeless sermons and reconnect them with the genuine teachings of Jesus. He believes that one can nurture a vibrant and growing bond with Jesus, unhindered by rigid religious practices. And thus, “Jesus Without Religion” was born.
It turns out that it is grace that leads to repentance. And if our heart is to get others to walk in the Spirit and live a godly life, then the best approach is not a beat down sermon, but rather to remind other that it is only when we understand our true identity in Christ that we will live it out. Yes, it’s true, if you’re convinced that God thinks you’re a dirty sinner, you will ultimately continue a lifestyle that mirrors that view, but if you truly believe that even on your worst day, you are called holy, sanctified, justified, and will be presented blameless in the end, well, it turns out this is the secret to living out on the outside what has been worked in to the inside.
