This week, I am talking on a subject often avoided to discuss. Death is one of those topics that tends to make us uncomfortable, yet it remains the most certain truth of human existence. No matter who we are, death is an inevitable part of life that eventually will touch every one of us.
Many of us fear death because of the myths and uncertainties surrounding it. Yet no one has ever found a way to stop death. Medical science could prolong life, but it has failed to stop it. The fact is every person born will one day die.
God created both life and death. Of course, this may sound difficult to understand, but it is all Gods wisdom. Imagine first human beings still alive today. The earth would likely be chaotic for space and resources. In His wisdom, God established a cycle of life that allows one generation to live, and eventually pass on, making room for another generation to continue the journey of life.
Therefore, death is not an accident in God’s plan. It is part of life itself. It is one way through which God allows renewal of life on earth. Every living thing has a beginning and an end. Seasons change, plants grow and die, and generations come and go. Death is part of this natural order. If we can understand this then there will be no need of pointing fingers at one another when death occurs.
One lesson in my spiritual journey is to live each day as my last. Death does not bother me. I take tomorrow as never guaranteed. It may come, or it may not. If tomorrow comes, I thank God because it means He is not yet finished with me.
But my prayer always is to complete His assignments upon life on earth. So, it must be every person’s desire to strive to discover Gods purpose and fulfill that purpose. That is what God wants.
Perhaps, the greatest tragedy is not death itself, but dying with our gifts, knowledge and experience inside us. We should not go to the grave carrying everything that could help others as this cannot please God. We must mentor others, share our ideas, teach them the wisdom of God in us. We must invest in the future generations. We must die empty, having given our best to the world for Gods glory. Let us not be selfish, as we will be answerable before God.
Remember, Apostle Paul captured this truth deeply when he wrote in Philippians 1: 21: “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Paul was not speaking out of despair or a desire to escape life, but out of deep spiritual conviction. He understood that his life belonged to Christ and that every day he lived was an opportunity to serve, and fulfill his calling. At the same time, he was fully confident that death was not defeat but transition into eternal life with God.
Paul’s understanding of life and death was so strong that he was able to face imprisonment, suffering, rejection and even the threats of death. For him, living meant fruitful service, and dying meant eternal gain. This perspective challenges us to re-evaluate how we view death. For those of us who are in Christ, death is not the end but a passage into the presence of God.
Therefore, let us not fear death. Let us prepare for it, fulfill our purpose, impart Gods knowledge, leave a positive legacy, and trust in God. So, when our time comes, may we depart in peace, knowing that we finished the race and completed the work God entrusted to us.
Remember, always, that death is not God’s punishment, but part of the natural cycle of life. What matters is not how we die, but how we live, whether our lives have been meaningful, purposeful, and aligned with God’s purpose.
