The past few weeks have seen several tragedies, both natural and man-caused. The April 25th Nepal earthquake and subsequent tremors have killed over 8000 people. Some in this country were recently killed by tornados. Several were killed this week in an Amtrak train derailment. ISIS, Al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups continue to slay dozens every month. Thousands of people are murdered in the United States and elsewhere every year. {Note: While the news media was obsessed with the Freddie Gray case, 87 other people were murdered in Baltimore since the beginning of the year!} Tens of thousands of people die each year from diseases, cancers and accidents.
From all causes, approximately 107 people die every minute throughout the world.
The book of Job identifies the common sources of death and disaster: man-caused disasters, natural disasters and health disasters. Sabean and Chaldean raiders stole Job’s oxen, donkeys and camels and killed the attending servants (man-caused disaster). Fire killed the sheep and shepherds and wind collapsed the house that killed Job’s 10 children (natural disaster). Job was personally afflicted with loathsome sores that covered his entire body, which caused him great pain and misery (health disaster — Job 1:13-19; 2:7). As seen in our opening paragraph, these very sources continue to afflict humans today.
While some deaths are avoidable, many are not. Being hyper-careful and avoiding dangerous activities will help one avoid some risks of death, but they do not eliminate all risks. People are often the victims of circumstance. The Nepal earthquake is a recent example of this. Those who were killed did not plan or expect to die that day, but were the victims of circumstances beyond their control. Such events remind us of the frailty and brevity of human life. More importantly: they remind us of the great need for us to be prepared for death.
Children of God view life as an opportunity to serve God and others. Though Paul had the desire to “depart and be with Christ,” he also knew that remaining alive in the flesh was better for his fellow-saints (Philippians 1:21-24). Paul viewed death and the afterlife as “far better” than physical life, but he knew that he had duties in the flesh. We must develop this same perspective on life. Life should be lived as a preparation for death. But how do we develop this attitude?
Jesus made it possible. Through His death, burial and resurrection, Jesus removed the fear of death for those who serve Him (Hebrews 2:15). Those who “serve” Him are those who “obey” Him. He is “the author of eternal salvation for all of those who obey Him” (Hebrews 5:9). Paul told the Galatians, “For in Christ Jesus you are all the sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Galatians 3:26-27). According to Mark 16:16, these same conditions result in “salvation,” and according to Acts 2:38, 41 and 47, they result in the remission of sins and admittance into the universal church. Those in this spiritual condition need not fear physical death.
Tim Haile