Why do people fear death?

For the last few weeks death has been on my mind. It's approaching the two year anniversary of the first funeral I performed, and it's nearing the seventh anniversary of the death of a close friend. Maybe that has something to do with it, but whatever the reason I've been thinking about it for a while. My last post got me thinking a little bit more about the subject, and so I want to add some of what I've thought about since then.

I once heard that the two things people fear most are public speaking and death, public speaking being first. So that means at a funeral, more people would rather be in the casket than giving the eulogy. I get the public speaking fear; you're standing in front of people, all eyes and ears on you, and messing up when you have that much attention focused on you would be embarrassing. Some people worry about losing their place, other's about stumbling over words. It's something you have to live with, but probably not for as long as you think in the moment.

But why do people fear death? Is it the unknown of what's on the other side? Is it the uncertainty of what the experience will be like? Is it because of the unfamiliarity with all of it? Or is it because we see it as the end to something good? I'm willing to say it's a bit of all of them, but the more I think about it the more I lean towards the last option.

This life is all we've known, and the reality of it is that it comes to an end. It wasn't supposed to be like this, and I think that's part of the reason for all the mystery with it. Death is foreign to the way things are supposed to be. But sadly, it's a reality we all must face. But it doesn't have to be something we fear, and for the follower of Christ it doesn't mark the end, but rather the beginning.

I remember sitting with the man whose funeral I performed before he died. We talked about what would happen, and I reminded him that even though he had never experienced it before, Jesus had, and He would hold his hand the entire way. And when it comes to death, I honestly don't think we're really going to notice at first. If you read The Chronicles of Narnia: The Last Battle, you find that the main characters are dead and they don't even realize it until Aslan informs them. And I think it's going to be like that.

We have a soul, part of us that is eternal, and makes us who we are at our core. It is most essentially us. That part does not die. I think death is going to be like falling asleep. Then you wake up in this place that is very familiar, yet different. You'll know at that point that something is up, and then you'll see Him. Face to face for the first time the reality of it will hit you, the old has gone, and the new has come. Finally, you'll be in the place you were meant to be, as you were meant to be. And here, at the beginning of forever, you find perfect existence and unity with the Creator that will never end. What is there in that to fear? Yes, death does mark the end of a journey, but it is the gateway to a new beginning.

I haven't been through it personally yet, but based on reading, prayer, and insight, I think it's going to be something pretty similar to that. And so the follower of Christ has nothing to fear at all. And remember, Jesus has tasted it first hand, and He isn't going to leave you in the middle of it. He'll be by your side every step of the way as you enter into forever. There is no fear in death because of the power of Christ.

But for those who haven't experienced the new life that God offers, there is uncertainty and no peace. There is no one to guide them to the other side. You can experience the freedom from fear that Christ offers, and when the time comes, you can face death with peace and confidence, knowing that on the other side is the life you were meant to live. And that life is one that death cannot steal away. There death will be dead, and only goodness will exist.

Why do people fear death? Because they don't know Jesus, or if they do, it's because they don't realize that death is simply the beginning. There is no reason to fear death with Jesus. He will be with you through it, and on the other side welcome you into paradise.

"I have been young and now I am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his descendants begging bread."

To God alone be the Glory!

Peace be with you

Death and Heaven

It's been a while, and I've had a couple different things on my mind. A few of them I'm still sitting on, but I've really felt like I need to write something on here.

A couple of weeks ago I was walking my dog, and I watched a squirrel attempt to run across the road. The key word there is attempt. It didn't make it. I watched as the car hit it, and it's body once so full of life now lay motionless in the road. I'll be honest, part of me was saddened. The older I get, the more death saddens me. I'm at the point where I don't even like hunting anymore because I don't want to take life of any kind.

It's not that I'm afraid to die, honestly the older I get the more part of me looks forward to it. I'm not suicidal, and I'm not wanting to die, there are things I still want to accomplish. I want to see my children and grandchildren. I want to own my own piece of land and plant on it. I want to be able to really enjoy this life with my wife, and look back and laugh at the hardships, like so many people tell us we will. But I know what is waiting for me on the other side of death, and I'd be lying if I didn't admit that I was just a little excited about it.

But death saddens me because it is something that was never meant to happen. It's a result and reminder of the fallen state of the world. Watching a squirrel get hit by a car reminds me that this world is not how it was supposed to be. Death is bad, and it was not part of God's plan or creation. But one day, death itself will die, and never be seen again. One day everything will be as it should be again. And on that day all who believe will be with Him forever in glory.

And so we come to the second point in the title, Heaven. I am blessed to be able to work with another Christ follower, and over the last few weeks we've been able to talk a little about topics of faith. One of them involved talk of Heaven. I don't know exactly what Heaven will be like, and what I'm about to write are thoughts I've gained from Scripture, but don't hold me to it if I don't get it exactly right.

I think Heaven is going to be a very personal place. Jesus said in John 14.1-3, "Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also."

Each of us was made uniquely by God. Each of us is different, and God loves that about us. I believe Jesus is there, preparing a place specifically for each of us. A place that speaks to your heart. I think my place will involve a large piece of ground to cultivate, a garden just like the beginning.

If we look at Genesis 1-2, we get a picture of what Heaven will be like, because there we see what life was intended to be. We see perfect unity with each other and God. We see peace and life. If we look at the end of Revelation we see many similarities between the two. We see that everything is moving back towards the beginning.

In Heaven, we will be in the presence of God. We'll enjoy unity and fellowship with Him that we have never known before. And I think that Heaven might not be all that far away. In Revelation 21 John talks about the new heaven and the new earth, because the first have passed away. What if when we die it's just like falling asleep, but then you wake up in a sort of out of body experience. You find yourself in a new, perfect body. You find yourself on a new, perfect earth, and you find yourself before God. I don't think death will feel like the end at all as we go through it, simply a new beginning.

And finally one other thought, I think animals will be in heaven. No, they are not made in the image of God like people, but they are part of God's creation. In Revelation 21.5 Jesus says, "Behold, I am making all things new." And we are told in Isaiah 11.6-7, "And the wolf will dwell with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little boy will lead them. Also the cow and the bear will graze, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox."

Again, I'm not stating this as fact, I could be completely wrong about all of it. But those are some of my recent thoughts on death and heaven.

"I have been young and now I am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his descendants begging bread."

To God alone be the Glory!

Peace be with you