Recently Eileen and I tuned in to hear Dr. Peter Barnes address this “Big Question” at a meeting of the Engadine Congregational Church. See here.
Peter addressed this question from sad experience, going through with his family the heartbreak of watching his four year old granddaughter gradually deteriorate in health over a period of seven months, before finally dying.
At the other end of life, today (17 April) saw the funeral of Bruce Dunne in his 90’s. He was a friend of ours for more than 55 years; and for much of that time we worked together in the same denomination.
Many years ago, Bruce and I also both worked for the Department of Main Roads; but he (from the clerical section) took delight in referring to us engineers as “ginger beers”. This same dry humour of his lifted our spirits as he regularly wrote to encourage us and our children when we were on the mission field in Kenya in the ‘80s.
But most encouraging to me was the example of a man who plodded on in the faith and persevered in his walk with the Lord. “Because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.” Matt 24:12-13
Though unquestionably the death of one early in life is so much harder, the death of any loved one is never easy, and should not be minimized. When someone who is part of our life dies, part of our own life dies with them.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Margaret, his faithful wife of 71 years; and his children: Julie, Cathy, Charlie and their families. We share their grief and echo the sentiments they expressed at the passing of their husband and father: “Thinking of our father who has finished his race on earth, and on Friday was welcomed into heaven, now and always face to face with Jesus, his Saviour. We are sad, but can also rejoice that we know he is now with the Lord in heaven, and will never suffer again.”
With Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday now upon us, we confidently sing:
“Thine be the glory,
Risen, conquering Son,
Endless is the victory
Thou o’er death hast won.”
. – Edmond Budry
Death Is Not the Worst Thing That Can Happen to You
Some thoughts by Darryl Dash:
I really dislike the way Christians sometimes minimize death. We talk about it like it’s no big deal. It is. Paul calls it the last enemy to be destroyed (1 Corinthians 15:26). It’s a result of sin (Genesis 3:19). It’s not natural at all. Death is ugly, and we should hate it. The whole reason Jesus came is to put an end to death.
Contrary to what many Christians think, death is a big deal, and we shouldn’t take it lightly at all. But death isn’t the worst thing that can happen to us.
This is evident throughout Scripture. In the Gospels, Jesus told us not to fear those who can destroy our bodies. Instead, we should fear those who can destroy both body and soul in hell (Matthew 10:28). The worst that people can do to us is kill us, but that’s nothing compared to what God could do to us if we are faithless. Death is something that in some ways we should fear, or at least hate, but it isn’t what we should fear most. Death is no big deal compared to the destruction of our souls, which is far more consequential.
Paul picks this up as well in Philippians 1:21-25. To die is gain, he says. There are some benefits to death. When we die, we will get to be with our Lord. Paul says he can’t decide. It’s useful for him to stay and help continue his ministry to believers, but he would just as gladly go and be with the Lord. Paul’s excitement about seeing his Savior makes him fearless in the face of death.
You also see this in Revelation. Revelation is honest about the threat of martyrdom. “Be faithful unto death,” Jesus says (Revelation 2:10). The fact is that many believers throughout history have died for their faith. But over and over again, Revelation points out that death is not the worst thing that can happen to us. Those who die for Christ’s sake will be vindicated in the end. Faithfulness in death is better than faithlessness in living.
It’s unlikely that I will be called to do this, but I should be prepared, and so should you. The church where I am a member calls us, “if called upon by my Lord, to hazard my life for the gospel’s sake.” This isn’t an advanced requirement; this is the baseline commitment for each member. Every Christian is called to lay down their life for the sake of the gospel if necessary.
Don’t get me wrong. I hate death, and I’m looking forward to the day when death will be no more. We should never grow comfortable with death; it’s ugly.
And yet, death is not the worst thing that can happen to us. Death is not our ultimate fear because of the resurrection; after all, we can look forward to eternal life. Our main concern should not be our own death but the danger of dishonouring our Master. That is a fate that is much worse than dying.