All Die

How about that.

Truth in perhaps it’s crudest form. The reality of that single phrase has the biggest impact on how we go about our everyday lives.  If we knew we would never die, would we have faith in a savior? A savior from what? If there was no savior from an eternal hell (because we would never die) then what would our everyday lives look like? We wouldn’t meet on Sundays, we wouldn’t pray, tithe, worship, or share good news with people around us. We would live the complete opposite of how we intend to live our lives as Christians now. We would live an atheist lifestyle.

However the reality is, those two small words are complete truth. There is a savior, who has protected us from an eternal hell, because we will all die. So why do we often not live the complete opposite to an atheist lifestyle? If the thought of there being no death would lead us to live a lifestyle so far to one side of the spectrum, why does the knowledge that there is death not lead us to to the other side?

In the Live Dead Journal a writer says that death is normal, that it touches all, and that it often comes unannounced. She acknowledges that she cannot control it, and so she will not be ruled by the fear of it. This is a huge statement. At a first glance it can seem full of bravado from a missionary across the globe.  However what the statement is really saying is this: “[insert biggest personal fear or worry] is normal, it touches all, it often comes unannounced. As I cannot control it, I wil not let it get in the way
of what God has in store for my life!” It doesn’t matter what your biggest issue is, it’s a matter of faith. For the writer, in a hostile environment, her family’s biggest fear is death.

Mine in a country ruled by money, is often a fear of finance, and how that will affect my family. Yours could be both of those or something else. That isn’t what is important. What it all comes down to is the last line. “I cannot control it, I will not let it get in the way of what God has in store for my life” We have to make the conscious decision to say “God, this is what I am humanly afraid of at times, however I will not let it hinder me, or prevent me from doing what I know you want from me” – When we make this statement and boldly live it out, that is when the enemy is beaten, that is when we transfer from a life of fear, into a life of God’s unending support and joy.

The fact that we all will die (unless by chance you happen to be around when trumpets sound from the sky) means that we have only this one opportunity on earth to change the course of eternity for our family, our friends, our colleagues, and people who we don’t even know. Jesus is the King of Kings and Lord or Lords, there is no one greater on heaven or earth, and the last thing he asked of you, was to tell other people that he loves them, that he died for them, and that even though they will probably die on earth, he was their savior who has made an eternity in hell no longer the only option. I am often reminded of this thought by a great british missionary David Livingstone: “If a commission by an earthly king is considered an honor, how can a commission by a Heavenly King be considered a sacrifice?”

We get one chance, just one, to share the love of Christ with people on earth, and then it’s done. I don’t want to waste the time that God has given me, just because of something stupid like fear. We all will die, and then we will have to answer for why we didn’t do certain things to our fullest, and when we are in that situation on the other side of eternity I promise you, that in the judgement room of heaven, excuses will be useless.