For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? (Matthew 16:26)

Facing Death Is Letting Go Of Life

Death has always been the uninvited guest that crushes the soul and leaves a void desperate to be filled. The consequence of sin is not only the separation of God and man but the loss of the Tree of Life. God created Adam and Eve as mortal creatures and blessed them with the gift of eternal life by placing the Tree of Life in the midst of the garden. As a result of sin, God removed them from the garden, and death came to all men. Moses records the first story of death when Cain killed his brother, Abel. It is difficult to imagine how Adam and Eve processed death.

Methuselah lived to be 969 years, but the record says, “and he died.” Long life did not negate the reality of death, and while Methuselah lived longer than any known human being, he still died. Throughout the history of the human struggle, death was the reality that changed the course of how men viewed themselves and eternity. In the days of Noah, everyone on earth died in the flood, with only eight souls saved in the ark. The world viewed life as more important than death. Noah warned of the impending doom coming by the wrath of God, but the world did not listen because they saw only what was before their eyes.

When Job lost everything he owned, including the lives of his ten children, he remained resolute in his trust that God was a merciful Father. After losing his health, his wife implored him to curse God and die. Job faced death with a deeper view of life when he remembered that he came into the world naked from his mother’s womb, and he would die the same way. He knew God had blessed him with many good things in life and that adversity was a real part of life. What guided Job’s heart was facing death, knowing that all the things he had in life mattered little. He knew he was an eternal creature that would dwell in a world without end. All that he possessed in life would be taken away in death. He saw life for what it was – a vapor. What mattered to Job was what came with death – eternity.

The only way to face death is to let go of life. Jesus told the story about a rich man who was blessed with incredible bounty. He needed to build bigger barns to store his crops. Jesus called him a fool because he died that night and left all his possessions behind. In the story of the rich man and Lazarus, the rich man left all his wealth. There are two ways to view death. First, it is with great fear and trepidation. Second, with a faithful resolve to embrace what death brings. The reason that most fear death is that they have attached themselves so permanently to the things of this world that they do not want to lose them. There are many blessings in life, and untold blessings God has given in this world. These blessings are intended to draw the soul to God, to worship Him. When the heart becomes so attached to the riches of this world, there is no desire to die, only fear.

Why does a man face death with joy? How can a child of God calmly embrace death with a quiet resolve? It comes from a heart that no longer looks at the frivolous things of life that will be taken away to accept an eternity that will never end. There is nothing wrong with enjoying the blessings of life, but it should never convince the soul to hold on to those things that will be lost in death. A man lies on his deathbed, and he looks forward to dying. How? Why? He has come to realize that the things of life are temporal, but the things of God are eternal. For those faithful who have sought the love of God and lived for the grace of a loving Father, death is only a step into a place that is greater, more magnificent, peaceful, and filled with the presence of the Divine.

Death is not to be feared. The process of dying can have its fears and mysteries. Embracing the reality of death is required because all men will die. No one will escape. The difference lies in looking at life and knowing that there is nothing that can be exchanged for a soul. If a man gained everything in life and died outside Christ, he dies a fool. All he gains in life, he leaves, and he finds himself with nothing in eternity. The object of life is to leave everything here and live for all that God has promised in eternity. Death is a door – that’s all. Walk through the door with hope. Find that promise in the covenant of Jesus Christ.