Growing older means thinking more about the end of life. For Christians, it also means thinking of dying well. Our friend Duncan did that. He knew his illness was terminal, but he did not fear death. Instead, he greatly anticipated being with Jesus.
Not every person dies as Duncan did, excited to go into God’s presence. Some fear it. some fight it. Many prayer requests are for healing, particularly that older people stay well. Yet how will God take us home?
My husband often reminds people that we are all terminal. Some do not want to hear that, yet we must agree that life has an ending point. For those who know Jesus, it should bring the warm excitement of finally seeing His face, of being with those who have faith and are already there. Too many of us fear death, even though this fear is what Jesus came to destroy. He died, yet He rose from the dead to conquer both death and the fear of it.
The last enemy to be destroyed is death. (1 Corinthians 15:26)
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)
This victory is grounded in the wonder of Jesus Christ and His resurrection, yet that fear of death was also erased in OT saints.
By faith Isaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau. By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, bowing in worship over the head of his staff. By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his bones. (Hebrews 11:20–22)
One clue to this lack of fear is knowing that the Bible has two ways of speaking about death. The one that most of us understand is death of our bodies and our lives here. The other is spiritual death — being separated from God because of sin. The NT speaks of this death often, yet it seems that many people are more worried about physical death than having their sin putting a wall between them and the One who defeated death. God wants us to die well, but also to live well in the knowledge that we know Him and walk with Him. Eternal life does not begin when these bodies die — it begins when Jesus comes into our lives.
Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.” (John 8:51)
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23)
MacArthur speaks of dying well in the sense of finishing our lives by honoring the Lord, and in hope and joy leaving a witness to the truth of His Word and His excellent ways. However, living that way is also putting an end to death — that other kind of death, that separation from God. the Lord is honored when we die victoriously, but He is also honored when we die to self and sin and live victoriously. He may mean both kinds of dying when He says: “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.” (Psalm 116:15)
Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph are examples of facing death with great faith and confidence. Each “died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.” (Hebrews 11:13) They were not perfect nor was their faith yet each ended his life triumphantly.
PRAY: Those who didn’t see all Your promises fulfilled could still die well. With You in my life, death to sin and self is a reality. This assures me that I can face physical death with the same attitude — wanting it to happen rather than clinging to that which is fading away. I’m so thankful for Your marvelous grace, which triumphs over sin and death and assures me of eternal life, here and forever with You.
PONDER: Note the clear-headed and gracious thoughts for family in the final words of Jacob and Joseph in Genesis 48:1–49:33 and 50:22–26.
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