The certainty of death — the certainty of life

Death is the great leveler. Funerals put us face-to-face with our own mortality. Even though I believe in Jesus Christ and know that I will spend eternity with Him, death is still an enemy, a future event that I usually want to be off far in the future.

While no one can control their departure, I’m comforted somewhat by the fact of longevity in my family. I’m also thankful for good health and few pressures from outside threats. The promises of God are my greatest comfort. Even so, death is not a friend.

The Bible speaks of two kinds of death. One is physical, the other spiritual. Both are about separation, from life and from God. Neither are about annihilation. That is, when a person dies, they do not cease to exist. It is as Jesus said,

Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment. (John 5:25–29)

This is why the Apostle John could write, “And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life” (1 John 5:11–12). (Besides that, no one can do “good” apart from Jesus.)

Jesus eradicated death by the power of His eternal life. For those who “have Him” He gives this life when He enters our lives. Because of Him and by the power of His life, death is only a doorway.

Jesus also declared, “I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins” (John 8:24). To offer the gift of eternal life to sinners, Jesus had to first take care of the reason we die. He took our sin upon Himself becoming “sin for us” and bore our punishment — death.

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. (Hebrews 2:14–15)

Because of what Jesus did, death has no power over those who believe in Him. Satan, who wants us separated from God, cannot hold me in fear when God Himself has promised me everlasting life, life that I actually have right now — whoever who has the Son — has life!

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Lord, I can say with the psalmist, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4). I know Your presence and Your care for me. Even though I cannot actually see eternity, You have written it in my heart. By grace I have been saved and by grace I will carry on in this life knowing that the next life has been secured. By grace, eternity is as certain as Your death and resurrection and as secure as Your promises.