In the quiet stillness of every person’s soul, there lingers a question that transcends time and space: what lays beyond this life?
For us believers, this answer is steeped in faith, anchored in the promise of eternal life through Christ.
Yet, despite this steadfast belief, the concept of death often evokes fear and uncertainty and rightfully so, as life here on earth is all we visually see.
It is a natural human instinct to cling to life, to fear the unknown that awaits us on the other side of mortality.
I’ve often heard this saying, “there is light at the end of the tunnel” often when someone is referring to having better days ahead of them.
Of late, I’ve been in a season of really trying to find the purpose behind this life we live and what happens to us after our purpose here on earth has been fulfilled, therefore watching a lot near death experience videos (NDEs).
A common experience that they all remember is, being taken down a dark tunnel filled with peace and eventually being met by a bright light filled with unexplainable love and fulfilment, leading me to believe that this is the light at the end of the tunnel that we all crave to experience, even more so, knowing that Jesus is on the other side.
For many, death remains an enigma shrouded in fear and uncertainty wondering what happens to us after we leave this earth even more fear of the pain that we leave our loved ones with after we part.
However, for Christians, death holds a unique perspective one rooted in faith, hope, and the promise of eternal life.
Moreover, the assurance of knowing that there is life in Christ offers solace in times of grief and mourning.
When faced with the loss of loved ones, we even more so find comfort in the belief that death is not the end of our journey of us together.
It is a temporary separation, a brief interlude before we are all reunited in the presence of God. But still begs the question;
should Christians fear death? Should we tremble at the thought of crossing that threshold into the next realm? The answer, rooted deeply in the teachings of Christ’s echoes with a resounding no.
For death, as we Christians need to believe, is not an end but a beginning, a transition from the temporal to the eternal, from the finite to the infinite; My aim in this blog post is to delve into why Christians should not fear death
But rather embrace it as a gateway to something greater and remove the stereotype of it being a negative response when someone who is in the Lord wishes to be with Him rather than stick around and face the tribulations of this earth..
1. We Have Been Gifted Eternal Life Through Christ
Central to the Christian faith is the belief in eternal life through Jesus Christ. As John 3:16 declares in the NIV, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
This promise assures Christians that physical death is not the end but a transition to an everlasting existence in the presence of God.
Jesus came to redeem human kind from sin and restore a relationship with God. His thirty-three years on earth, three years of ministry and three hours of fulfilment meant that all who believe in him will experience the wonderful gift that he has offered us.
The years of pain and suffering here on earth serve a big purpose as they teach us the true meaning of Christian faith and that one day they will be over and joy will come upon us in eternity.
2. Jesus Won Victory Over Death
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of Christian belief. After His death on earth, Jesus went hell to conquer death
Preached to the souls that died before His coming proclaiming victory over sin and death over the devil showing His ultimate power and freeing captives.
Through His resurrection, Jesus conquered sin and death, offering old and new believers the hope of resurrection and victory over the grave a celebration that we ought to have when we think about it.
As the apostle Paul transcribes in 1 Corinthians 15:55 in the NIV “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”
3. Our Home Is in Heaven
There is a sense of incomplete satisfaction that comes with being alive on this earth almost like it’s a temporal stay and there is more to life than all that we see and experience here, there is a feel to always want more as the presence and provision of God is limited here as compared to heaven.
In John 14:1-3 NIV, Jesus assures us of a heavenly home prepared for us when our time comes to be with Him: “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?”
This promise comforts Christians, knowing that death is not a farewell but a transition to a place of everlasting peace and joy in the presence of God, a life of ever lasting comfort and satisfaction, it’s a place we all are destined to live.
4. We Shall Have New and Transformed Bodies
Christian theology teaches that at the resurrection, believers will receive glorified bodies, free from the limitations and imperfections of earthly life. Philippians 3:20-21 describes this transformation: “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body.”
An excitement and joy should come upon reading this because every one of us can testify how sickness and sadness have a weight on our existence that’s not even including the limitations and hardships that fall on us often just trying to make ends meet.
5. Living Without Fear and in the fruits of the spirit
Ultimately, the assurance of eternal life in Christ enables believers to live without the fear of death. Hebrews 2:14-15 in the NIV explains, “Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.”
Imagine transitioning into an eternal life first off being greeted by your deceased love ones and then being embraced by the love of Jesus in a new life where the devil has no hold of you and never will.
As Christ believers there is beauty on the other side waiting for us, one thing to hold captive is the this is a near life experience, there is beauty on the other side vast with joy, God’s glory and never-ending peace.
The Christian perspective on death is one of hope and assurance. Rather than fearing death as the ultimate end, we need to view it as a passage to eternal life with God a life free from pain, sorrow, and sin.
This assurance transforms how us believers approach life, enabling us to live boldly, lovingly, and with a profound sense of purpose.
While we live in a world marked by uncertainty and fleeting pleasures, the Christian view of death offers a profound sense of purpose and peace.
It reminds us that our lives are part of a larger narrative a divine story that can only be crafted by the hand of God himself. And in the grand tapestry of eternity, death is but a single thread, woven seamlessly into the fabric of God’s sovereign plan.
While it may be painful having to experience the temporal separation of a loved one, let us not fear death, but embrace it with reverence and hope. Let us walk boldly into the unknown as believers, guided by the light of faith and the promise of eternal life.
For in the end, death is not a foe to be defeated but a doorway to be opened, a passage into the loving arms of our Creator, where we shall dwell forever in His presence.
As we reflect on these truths, may we find comfort and strength in the promise that death is not the final chapter, but the gateway to everlasting joy in the presence of our Creator.
Susan Whited says
It’s not that I fear death, I fear the moments leading up to it. However, working on strengthening my Faith is an ongoing process. Enjoyed this soothing and inspiring post!
Rebecca says
Holding onto that promise of eternal life is so important! Thanks for sharing your insights.
Raul Ficklen says
Aw, this was a really nice post. In thought I would like to put in writing like this moreover – taking time and precise effort to make an excellent article… however what can I say… I procrastinate alot and certainly not seem to get something done.