Death…the very mention of the word seems to send some cold sweat running down one’s spine. So fearful is this subject that it is hardly ever discussed unless the often times it breaks its way into the consciousness of people by dealing them a hard blow.
In a group discussion we had in our Ministry’s Couples’ Forum, the subject of writing a Will was raised. Most men wouldn’t write a will. The co-ordinator (himself a lawyer) admonished all men on the importance of writing a will so as not to leave any problem behind in the advent of your demise as to how to dispose of your estate. Everyone seemed happy with that counsel except the men to whom the counsel particularly pertained to, considering our cultural setting in Nigeria. A woman present noted that whenever she tried to encourage her husband to write a will, his response was, “Are you trying to kill me?” It was as if writing a will was an admission of one’s appointment with death. It seems to make one feel good by giving the impression that since the subject was not given prominence, death would be kept at bay.
Either by design or by default, it is the certain destination of all men. We are all journeying towards this direction, whether we admit it or deny it. In fact, some think that by pretending it’s not going to come, it’ll just stay away. But I believe that knowing it is your certain destination, prepare well, so you don’t get there in an untimely or ill-prepared manner.
We are all going to die – one of these days, sooner or later; therefore my admonition for you to PREPARE for it.
In 2Kings 20, God sent the prophet Isaiah to tell Hezekiah to put his house in order because his sickness was terminal. God had mercy on Hezekiah and extended his life after his cry for mercy, possibly because he was not ready – yet he eventually died. So, get ready to die, so it doesn’t take you by surprise.
Is it possible to prepare for death? Can one be really ready? I think we can, because Paul was ready (2Tim. 4:6). In fact, he was looking forward to dying. He said it was not a loss but a gain (Phil. 1:21
And then come to think of it, where did death originate from? Why is this ugly experience a part of creation? Did God – the Creator and Source of life – intentionally sandwich the joy of living with such moments of immeasurable sorrow?
Yet looking at this subject critically, you’ll discover that death is not all as bad as it appears. God doesn’t see it as a bad thing. How would you get to heaven, for example, if you don’t die? No wonder the Bible says, “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.” (Psa. 116:15). Yet the same Bible says the Lord has no pleasurein the death of the wicked, but that he turns from his wicked ways (Ezek. 33:11). This is because death is a passage allowing you move from one realm to another realm of existence. How you live here on earth will determine how and when you die, and even where you move to, after death. What is the destiny of the wicked? The Bible provides the answer.
PSALM 9:17
The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.
But for the righteous, death is a horse the believer rides into his Saviour’s presence (2Cor. 5:6-9; 1Thess. 4:13-18)
Why are people afraid to die? Because within the consciousness of every human being, they know that there is a life beyond this life, and they’re not sure of what they’re going to meet on the other side. Let’s assume you’re driving from Lagos to Kano for the very first time. Without road signs and no map, you know how apprehensive you would be, especially if there is no one you could ask of the direction from. Thank God the Bible serves as a map for us, showing us our origin, our present location and our destiny.
PSALM 119:19(TLB)
I am but a pilgrim here on earth: how I need a map – and your commands are my chart and guide.
But where did death originate from? The Bible provides the answer. Let’s look at the very first mention of death in the Bible.
GENESIS 2:15-17
15 Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it.
16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, "Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat;
17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die."
The consequence of man’s disobedience to God’s command turned on a law – the law of sin and death (Rom. 8:2).
Someone might argue that Adam ate the fruit and didn’t die that day as God had said that he would. But yes, he did. It’s just like a leaf that is plucked off a plant. It dies immediately it is detached from the plant even though it still looks fresh. It only takes a little time for it to wilt.
You need to understand that there are three basic kinds of death mentioned in the Bible. You also need to understand that death does not necessarily mean cessation of being. Death is a separation.
The first is spiritual death. Spiritual death is the separation of man from the life of God. When Adam disobeyed God and committed high treason by selling out to the devil, he died spiritually. That’s why the Bible says that the wages of sin is death (Rom. 6:23; Jam. 1:15). Not that his spirit ceased to exist, but his spirit was no more alive unto God. It was cut off from the life of God in much the same way that a detached leaf does not cease to exist but is cut off from the life of the tree from where it was cut.
EPHESIANS 2:1-2
1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins,
2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience
EPHESIANS 4:18
This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind,
having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart (Eph 4:18)
The second kind of death is physical death. It is however pertinent to note that spiritual death is the mother of all other kinds of death, including physical death. Physical death is the separation of the body of man from his spirit. The body of man is simply his house. At death, man comes out of that dwelling place, and you see the body lying lifeless and you say, “The man is gone.” The Bible confirms this.
JAMES 2:26
For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
When Adam was formed, his body was neither mortal nor immortal, but perfect. The deteriorating effect experienced today is caused by the fall of man, which empowered death to work against the human body.
2 CORINTHIANS 4:16
Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.
Thank God for eternal life, which empowers the body, energizing it with the life of God and so slowing down the death process.
ROMANS 8:11
But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
A third kind of death is eternal or second death. This is the eternal separation of man from God when the spiritually dead man, goes through physical death still in his unregenerate state without giving his life to Jesus. At the judgment in the Last Day, such a person is permanently banished into the lake of fire.
REVELATION 20:12-15; 21:8
12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.
13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works.
14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.
8 “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
For you child of God, because you have given your life to Christ, you have already passed from death to life (1Jn. 3:14). There is no more death for you. Death has been overpowered. That’s why when a child of God passes on, he is said to ‘sleep in Jesus,’ waking up in His presence (1Thess. 4:14; 1Cor. 15:18). Hallelujah! Our victory over death was first demonstrated through the resurrection Jesus from the dead. He conquered death in victory(2Tim. 1:10).
REVELATION 20:6; 22:4
6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.
4 “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”
An Allotted Time
Time is a commodity given to us in trust by God, and He expects us to use our time on earth judiciously, resourcefully and profitably. And, my friend, when your time is up, it’s up. No one has power to retain the spirit in the day of death (Eccl. 8:8). But then, why must you die before your time (Eccl. 7:17)? There is a right time to die (Eccl. 3:3, MSG).
Just like any consumable entity, it can be squandered or well utilized, spent or invested.
Scriptures point out to the fact that God has an allotted length of time called life span, given to every person (Psa. 139:16; Job 14:14b). That time can be consumed as seen in this scripture:
PSALMS 102:3
“For my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned like a hearth.”
These days can be cut off.
PSALMS 90:10
“The days of our lives are seventy years; and if by reason of strength they are eighty years, yet their boast is only labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.”
It is not God’s will that your days be cut off. In the next chapter, we will examine certain reasons why people do not fulfil their days.
These words by Dr. Lester Sumrall from his book, “The mystery of death,” are re-assuring:
“In my 60 years of ministry, I’ve seen death up close on many occasions…There have been many times when death came up close. None of those encounters, however, “had my name on them.” None were my appointment. But when my work is completed, I’ll be happy to wave and shout, “Goodbye, planet earth! It’s been nice knowing you.”
PSALM 116:7-9
7 Return to your rest, O my soul, for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.
8 For You have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, and my feet from falling.
9 I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living.
Invest Your Time
No one ever has control over time. You can’t save it for future use. You can only measure it, and you can as well maximize the use of it. So, instead of just living and spending time, you must begin to invest your time with the prospect of it yielding dividends to you in fruitfulness, resourcefulness, productivity and multiplication.
We’ve already seen that everyone on earth has an allotted number of days appointed to them. There are then, three ways a person could live through this life:
1.
With their days shortened
PROVERBS 10:27
“The fear of the LORD prolongs days, but the years of the wicked will be shortened.”
In such a case, the remainder of one’s days are simply cut off. This is not referring to you, since you are not the wicked, and so is not your portion.
2.
With their days fulfilled.
“… I will fulfill the number of your days” (Exod. 23:26b)
This is good enough for you. You can claim this. You won’t leave this world until your days are fulfilled. It’s pretty okay to go at this stage, as long as you have finished your assignment and are satisfied. Yet I show you a more excellent way to live.
3.
With their days lengthened, multiplied or prolonged.
PROVERBS 9:11
“For by me your days will be multiplied, and years of life will be added to you.”
DEUTERONOMY 25:15
"You shall have a perfect and just weight, a perfect and just measure, that your days may be lengthened in the land which the LORD your God is giving you.
It’s paramount to note that how you live your life determines how long you live. It then means the length of your days on earth is not something that is entirely a divine prerogative or a matter of fate or predetermined destiny. You have something to do with it. Your lifestyle has something to do with your length of days.
JOB 5:26 (KJV)
Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age, like as a shock of corn cometh in in his season.
To be continued.
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