Sooner or later, we all come face-to-face with the difficult reality of death. Our first brush might be in childhood, like losing a beloved pet. It doesn’t get easier. In time, we may survive (if you can call it that) grandparents, parents, siblings, even a spouse. Death is inevitable, the Bible declaring “it is appointed for man to die once” (Heb. 9:27 ESV). Yet, it pains us so that we risk for our future selves – and guarantee for our loved ones – heavy burdens by fearing even discussing it. Part of the problem may be that we don’t really understand it. As Christians, we believe God is sovereign; so, when death rips our hearts out, we might conclude the answer to our anguished, “Why?” is, “Because God willed it.” Many visitation attendees, funeral sermons, or condolence cards claim, “God knew it was their time” or “Heaven needed them more”.
While well-intentioned – that’s wrong. It is harmful. Such sentiments make God the author of death and source of our pain. But that’s not Who He is: it’s someone else entirely. Hebrews 2:14 says “the one who has the power of death” is really “the devil”, and he uses that power to subject us to “lifelong slavery” by fearing death. He keeps us from God with a self-seeking “You Only Live Once” mindset and a crippling fear of that life ending. God’s not the problem: sin is. “Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned” (Rom. 5:12).
In fact, God stands as the only One who can and has done something about it. “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” (Heb. 2:14-15). Do you hear the difference in what the Bible actually says versus what we often say? God isn’t to blame for death: He saves us from it. It only exists because of humanity’s failings, and He met us in the middle of it through His Son, Jesus. Jesus, who willingly died for us. Jesus, who rose from the dead. He defeated sin and death.
So as Christians, we must not act like death is a good thing: “Oh, cheer up: we don’t understand it now, but it must be God’s will.” It’s not. Death isn’t God’s plan for us: it is an enemy that Christ will destroy at His coming (cf. 1 Cor. 15:26). That is our hope.
Experience a hope that will change your life - now and forever - through our series Hope of the Resurrection.