A Few Things About Death

You may find our topic distasteful. I don’t know of anyone who likes the thought of dying. Yet the Scriptures do indicate that our minds need to be drawn to this matter on a somewhat regular basis (Ecclesiastes 7:2). Thus, please consider the following points about physical death.

DEATH CAME INTO THIS WORLD THROUGH ADAM. God had told the first human being, “but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day you eat of it you shall surely die” (Genesis 2:17). We know what happened. Death has been occurring since the first couple.

DEATH IS A SEPARATION. The word itself means that -- “The body without the spirit is dead…” (James 2:26). Spiritual death is the separation of a person, due to his sin, from God (Isaiah 59:1-2). Physical death is the separation of one’s spirit from his body.

AT DEATH THE SPIRIT RETURNS TO GOD. “Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it” (Ecclesiastes 12:7). The body is made from the materials of this earth and will decompose upon death (Genesis 2:7; John 11:39); but the spirits of men are immortal and not subject to decay. Upon death, God places these spirits either in a place of “torments” or a place of comfort, there to await the judgment day (see Luke 16:19-31; Revelation 20:12-13).

AT DEATH ONE BIDS FAREWELL TO ALL HIS EARTHLY POSSESSIONS. You cannot take your money, house, land, cars, clothing, golf clubs, trophies, computers, iPhones, televisions, wii-console, etc. with you when you die. “For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out” (1 Timothy 6:7). All these things will rust, be eaten by moths, or be destroyed at Jesus’ second coming. Why then is it that so many lay up for themselves treasures on earth while bankrupting themselves of the only treasures that truly matter? (Matthew 6:19-21).

DEATH BRINGS TO AN END THE PERIOD OF TIME FOR WHICH WE WILL BE JUDGED. There is no “second chance” after death. One day we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ and be judged according to the things we have done “in the body” (2 Corinthians 5:10). Our lifespan on earth is our only opportunity to avail ourselves of the benefits of Jesus’ blood. “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27).

DEATH COMES TO ALL. One out of every one person will die. “What man can live and not see death?” (Psalm 89:48). Oh sure, there have been rare exceptions to this rule (e.g., Enoch, Genesis 5:24), but you will not be an exception. Unless the Lord’s second coming happens first, you will “go the way of all the earth” (Joshua 23:14).

NO ONE KNOWS WHEN HE/SHE WILL DIE (Genesis 27:2). The unborn child dies. The 115-year-old woman dies. The 8-month-old child dies of SIDS. The 15-year-old student dies in a car accident. The 45-year-old man dies of a heart attack. On December 26, 2004, 229,866 people lost their lives when an undersea megathrust earthquake off the coast of Indonesia triggered a massive tsunami in the region. None had no warning that that day would be their last. Just so, neither you nor I know when death will come. “Whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away” (James 4:14). Shouldn’t we, therefore, live every day as if it might be our last? It might be, you know.

JESUS HAS THE ANSWER TO DEATH. Through Jesus’ resurrection from the dead He became “the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Corinthians 15:20), the One who gives us hope that our bodies will also be raised one day. One day Jesus will come and “all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth -- those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation” (John 5:28,29).

ARE YOU READY TO DIE? Most are not (Matthew 7:13), but you can be. Believe in Jesus and obey His commands that you might be saved (John 8:24; Luke 13:3; Romans 10:9-10; Mark 16:16). Jesus is the only answer to death. “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).


--Mike Noble