One of the biggest things that concern most people is death. The unsaved worry that nothing extends after death. That they will simply cease to exist so they must live the best life they can now. For those of us who have placed our faith in Jesus, we know that there is life after death. We have no reason to fear death or to even truly be upset when another believer graduates into the next life. All because we have the promises of God regarding eternity in the glory of Heaven. Yet, so many Christians still worry about death, want to do all they can to push it off, and hope to live long healthy lives. Should this be the case or do we feel this way because we have built too good a life on earth?
The Apostle Paul struggled to know what was better, living or dying. Living meant he could continue to have an impact spreading the Gospel. But for him dying was gain and would be as he said far better for him. Paul was able to clearly see just how much better things would be when he was finally taken home to be with the Lord. In the eyes of the world, Paul had not built a good life. He was poor, often hated, constantly beaten for his faith, and thrown in prison time and time again. All of this though I believe gave him a deeper desire to be with the Lord. As he had nothing holding him to the earth besides the call given to him by God to preach unto the gentiles.
Philippians 1:21–24 (ESV)
21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. 24 But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account.
2 Corinthians 11:23–28 (ESV)
23 Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. 24 Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; 26 on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; 27 in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. 28 And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.
Philippians 4:11–12 (ESV)
11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.
Isn’t it possible that the reason we struggle to share Pauls’s view of death is that we have built too good a life? That we have drawn so much to ourselves that we can’t bear the thought of losing it to gain something so much better? Could it be that all of our possessions, passions, goals and even the people we have surrounded ourselves with are making it hard for us to clearly see the glory of Heaven?
Compared to Paul we have it all but all that we have is what is making it so hard for us to leave. Jesus said it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of Heaven. Christians in the USA are rich in terms of life. Causing us to not share the longing of Paul to leave this world behind. Instead, we cling to it. Wanting to squeeze out every extra minute we can.
Matthew 19:23 (ESV)
23 And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven.
This is not to say that we should immediately start tearing down the lives we have built. But we must make sure our priorities are correct. That nothing is taking the Lord’s place in our hearts. Checking ourselves to ensure we have not allowed a love of the world to grow within us. Christians can live a good life of plenty but our first priority should always be seeking the kingdom of God. We must ensure that our focus doesn’t switch and become building a good life. Filled with things that distract us from God and obstruct our view of moving into the next life.
1 John 5:1 (ESV)
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him.
1 John 2:15 (ESV)
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
Matthew 6:33 (ESV)
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Paul’s treasure was in Heaven and not on earth. As he poured out his life as an offering to the Lord. Only one more reason he was able to view death with expectation and not fear. Jesus has called every believer to also store their treasure in Heaven. A calling that when completed will allow you to share the Apostle’s view of death. Because instead of your heart being pulled to the earth it is being pulled to Heaven.
Matthew 6:19–21 (ESV)
19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
We store our treasure in Heaven and not on the earth by not trying to build the best life we can here. Instead, we follow the teaching of God’s word and begin to share what we have with others. Meeting the needs we see in the world and taking an interest not just in our own problems but those of others as well.
Matthew 5:42 (ESV)
42 Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.
Luke 3:11 (ESV)
11 And he answered them, “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.”
Philippians 2:4 (ESV)
4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
While most of us know all the verses about not loving the world and acting in charity. Few of us actually live them out in our daily lives. Instead, we get captivated by the world around us and inadvertently start to build a life so good it distracts us from what really matters. We start to be unable to relate to the Apostle Paul because we have so much we can’t stand to lose. Causing us to no longer desire to graduate to Heaven and instead desire to live in this world as long as we possibly can. Which soon becomes a fear of death we have no reason to fear. Because Jesus conquered the grave for us.
2 Timothy 1:10 (ESV)
10 and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,
Christians shouldn’t fear death because God has revealed so much to us about heaven in His word. Giving us the slightest glimpse of its full glory. But allowing us to know that we have nothing to fear. Instead, we should look to heaven with eager expectation. Not looking to shorten our lives on earth but happily waiting for the day that we have completed our work and the Lord calls us home. To the place where we will spend eternity with God in the place prepared for us. Where there will be no more pain or suffering. In a place that is so great, it far outweighs any suffering we faced in this life.
John 3:16 (ESV)
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
Revelation 21:4 (ESV)
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.”
1 Corinthians 2:9 (ESV)
9 But, as it is written,
“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
nor the heart of man imagined,
what God has prepared for those who love him”—
John 14:2 (ESV)
2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?
Romans 8:18 (ESV)
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
Our lives should not be so good that we would rather stay here than go onto Heaven. In fact, no one’s life is so good on earth that it can even begin to compare with the greatness of Heaven. So don’t look to your life and want to just keep staying the course. Because you are saved God has something much better in store for you.
When you think of death where do your emotions go? Do you begin to experience worry and fear? Hoping you still have much more time left? Or do you experience peace knowing that your eternity is secure and dying is in fact better for you? All because you can clearly see the glory that awaits all those who place their faith in God.
If you struggle with the idea of dying as a Christian it is possible you have built too good a life on earth. Causing you to develop a love of the world and the things in it. Don’t live that way but start letting go of this world know so you can share the same peaceful view of death that the Apostle Paul did.
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