Life is fatal

I read the following sentence on a cigarette packet: “Smoking is fatal”. But also driving and many other things can be fatal – no-one has survived until now, everyone dies some time. The only question is how long I may, or have to, spend here on earth. In recent decades, life expectancy of people, to a large extent through modern medicine, have risen by a few years. But no-one reaches the age of Moses, Noah or even Methuselah. Sooner or later each of us will have to say goodbye to the earth.

For many it is a terrible thought to have to die one day, to leave behind everything that one has established, to simply not be here any more. It must be really terrible for those who believe that everything ends with death. It is not without reason that science continues to research ways in which to enable people to spend a few more years on earth. However, this medical life extension is sometimes more a type of vegetation, rather than a truly meaningful life. But why are some people not prepared to escape death yet again.

There are other people. Those who are convinced that everything doesn't end with this temporal death. People who firmly believe that heaven and hell exist. Even some of them will be afraid of death, because they know that they will spend eternity in hell. However those, who don't merely believe in eternity, but also believe in our Lord Jesus Christ, and that He took their sins upon Himself, are not afraid of death.

Certainly I am (at least most of the time) glad to live in this world. I enjoy it and am happy to see what all I can and may experience. In this respect, I also will be glad to have a few years yet to spend with my friends. But, I am not afraid that it is in God's hands how much time I have left. When God decides one day that it is my time to come to Him, it will be so and I will be happy to be with Him. There will be no more sorrow, nor tears (Revelation 21:4). If we can be glad to be here on earth, there it will be so much better.

I know that, whether I live here on earth or whether I die here, I am with God, my Father. And I am grateful for that which He gives me!

What does death do for you? Does it take away from you or give you His fullness?

I wish you a blessed day

Rainer Gigerich