When Mark Twain buried his beloved daughter Olivia's body he placed over her grave this epitaph: "Warm summer sun, shine kindly here; Warm southern wind, blow softly here; Green sod, lie light, good night, dear heart." He was sure that she was in the grave, that death is all there is. Was he right?
What happens when we die? When death comes to someone we care about? How are we to be ready? Let's organize our issues into three questions.
Will you die?
First, will death come for you? Can you escape it? Is there any way out? W.C. Fields on his deathbed was seen thumbing through a Bible. Someone asked why. His answer: "Looking for loopholes." But he didn't find any. The death rate is still 100%.
In fact, you and I are one day closer to death and eternity than we have ever been before. God's word warns us: "It is appointed unto all men once to die, and then the judgment" (Heb 9:27). Death comes for us all. Neither wisdom nor wealth can prevent it: "All can see that wise men die; the foolish and the senseless alike perish and leave their wealth to others" (Ps 49:10). We all face the same end, unless Jesus returns first: "Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes" (Ja 4:14).
On a tombstone in Sevenoaks, Kent, England is found these words:
"Grim death took me without any warning
I was well at night, and dead in the morning."
It can happen that way for any of us.
Why will you die?
Why does death exist? If God were all-loving, he'd want to destroy death, we assume. If he were all powerful, he could. But he doesn't. Why?
Here's the simple answer: because of sin. The thief on the cross said, "We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve" (Lk 23:41). The Bible agrees: "Sin entered the world through man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all have sinned" (Ro 5:12). This wasn't God's intention. He created a perfect world for his children. But when sin entered, death stayed. Death exists, not because God doesn't love us or isn't powerful, but because of sin.
Sometimes we die because of our own sin, as did the thief at Jesus' side. Sometimes we die because of the sins of others, as when a drunk driver kills a child. Sometimes we die because of the sin of humanity, for this is the lot of life. But we all die.
God doesn't stop death, so that we'll not live forever in our fallen world and bodies. In Genesis 3 God knew that if Adam and Eve ate from the tree of life after their sin, they would live forever in their fallen, sinful condition. So in his merciful grace, he barred the way. Now by death, we are set for eternity with him.
God's word is clear: "Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable" (1 Cor. 15.50). Physical death frees us to live forever in glorified bodies with God in his heaven. Then one day, death will be destroyed forever: "Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of five" (Rev 20:14). His word promises: "There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." (Rev 21:4).
What happens when you die?
Now we come to our last question: what happens in the moment when you die? First, you are with Christ, if Jesus is your Lord. Jesus told the thief at his side, "Today you will be with me in paradise" (Lk 23:43). "Paradise" was a Persian word for the walled garden of the king. Not only would the thief receive eternal life, he would spend it with the King himself. Jesus taught us that the moment we die, the angels carry us to God's side (Lk 16:22). When you close our eyes here you open them there. You will never die (Jn 11:26; Phil 1:23). You are forever and always with Jesus.
Second, you're home. Paul said, "We would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord" (2 Cor. 5:8). Imagine a small boy who falls asleep in the back seat of the car. When the family gets home, his father picks him up and carries him into the house. When he wakes up, he's home. That's exactly what happens for God's children.
Third, death is glory. It is paradise, as Jesus said. Paul said "to die is gain" (Phil. 1:21), for "Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord" (Rev 14:13). We will gain imperishable, glorified, spiritual bodies (1 Cor 15:42-44), and be like Jesus (1 Cor 15:49). We will know God and each other as we are known (1 Cor. 13.12). And we will eat of the tree of life and live forever (Rev 22).
However, remember a fourth fact. Death is eternal punishment for nonbelievers. So be ready now. The Lord said to King Hezekiah, "Put your house in order, because you are going to die" (2 K 20:1). If you are prepared, there is nothing to fear in death, for it is but the next step to life.
Conclusion
Dwight Moody, on his deathbed, said, "If this is death, it is sweet. There is no valley here. Dwight! Irene! I see the children's faces. God is calling me. I must go. Earth recedes. Heaven opens before me."
If Jesus is your Lord, when you die you won't. Instead, you'll see God. And you'll be safely home.
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