Death. And dying. Scary?

Death and dying. It's a massive topic. And a scary topic, if you're like a lot of people the world over. I think it's scary because everyone's a little bit unsure of what exactly happens to you after you die and what dying is like. It's fear of the unknown.

For us Christians, however, it shouldn't be scary. We know where we're going. If we have placed our faith in Jesus Christ (who came to earth as a man, lived a perfect life and then died on a cross for the sins of the world) we will go to Heaven when we die.


Romans 5:8
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

John 14:1-4

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 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? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.”

Romans 14:8 

For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.


I think it's the thought of the actual death itself, not what happens after we die that is so scary.

I always used to kind of shiver a bit when anyone died and sort of pretend that it wasn't a reality that we will all have to face one day. But it is. And I have found it immensely helpful to think it through (rather than steer clear from the subject!) and actually develop some convictions and thoughts on the subject of dying. So that's what you're reading now. 

Firstly, I absolutely cannot wait to get to Heaven. Jesus is there. My Jesus, my Saviour, the One who paid the price and gave his life on the cross of Calvary so that I might live with him forever. My Lord and my King! I can't wait to get to Heaven and see him there. 

To look upon his face, the one who saved me by his grace, what a day, what a glorious day that will be! (To steal the lyrics of a song that describe it beautifully.) To actually be in his presence. I get really happy and excited when I think of it. 

Psalm 16:11

You will show me the path that leads to life, in Your presence is fullness of joy.

In the presence of God... fullness of joy... oh how wonderful that will be. And I get to stay there forever! For all of eternity!!

When you kind of realise that the only way to get to Heaven is to die, dying isn't really scary anymore. You see, dying is really a means to an end. It's a necessary step in order to get to see Jesus. Unless you're like Enoch and Elijah, (who didn't have to die to get to Heaven - read about in the Bible if you like), you will have to die on this earth so that your spirit will enter Heaven. It's the only way to actually get to Heaven. To die.

Some people are scared by the thought that they might have an agonizingly slow, painful death. But no matter how cruel, painful or slow your death is, it will be nothing compared to eternity. It really doesn't hold any fear for me now because I've realised that no matter how awful the death itself is, I would GLADLY do it because I want to be with Jesus. And it will be nothing compared to eternity.

The following quote is from the book The Last Battle by C.S. Lewis.

"It is better to see the Lion and die, than be Tisroc of the world and live and not have seen him." -Emeth, a Calormene soldier

I feel like that about Jesus. It is better to see him and have to die in the process, than be ruler of the entire world and live and not get to see him.

2 Corinthians 4:17-18
For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Revelation 12:11
They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.

And one last verse to leave you with. I've saved the best for last. :)

Philippians 1:21 (emphasis added)
For me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

PS. Oh, and yes, I'm back from holiday now. :) I have a bunch of photos from our fortnight away that I'd love to share with you when I manage to upload them to the computer!