Death Will Come
A time to be born, and a time to die… Ecclesiastes 3:1-2, ESV
Although we all know that each of us has a time to die, death often comes unexpectedly. It rarely announces itself. It almost always arrives when no one is ready. Many years ago, I remember praying earnestly for my uncle’s healing. I truly believed with all my heart that God was restoring him. I held onto scripture:
“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of Him.” (1 John 5:14–15)
So, when my uncle passed away, I was shocked and completely caught off guard. My aunt said to me, “You told me he was going to live.” I had no response, because that is what I believed. Scripture declares that by the stripes of Jesus we are healed, and I could not comprehend any other outcome. My assurance was unshaken—until the moment he died.
When my uncle passed, I was heartbroken. My faith was shaken. I could not understand why God had allowed it. I thought I had prayed according to His will. Over time, however, God began to teach me. His will is indeed for us to be healed, but healing sometimes comes in a different form. My uncle’s time on earth was complete—he had finished his assignment, and God had called him home. In truth, God had answered my prayer. My uncle was healed, just not in the way I expected.
When we begin to understand that death is a transition to another assignment, it does not remove the pain of loss, but it gives us hope. As believers, we have the confidence that we will see our loved ones again. Scripture tells us:
“The dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.” (Ecclesiastes 12:7)
Our bodies return to the earth, but our spirits—eternal—return to our heavenly Father. Even on the cross, Jesus assured the repentant thief: “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43) Each of us has a place assigned after death, but we have the choice of where we will spend eternity, based on how we live today.
The Bible teaches us how to be prepared for death:
“Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:14–15, ESV)
The truth is, we all know that our time will one day come. The greater question is this: Are we living in such a way that when our time arrives, we can be confident that we will live eternally with Christ? Jesus declared:
“I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live; and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25–26, ESV)
For those who believe, there is a promise:
“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more. Neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:4, ESV)
Key Takeaways
Death is an enemy, but it will ultimately be destroyed.
No one knows when their assignment on earth will be complete, so live now with eternity in mind.
Death has been permitted to come at its appointed time, but we can be prepared through faith in Christ.
Affirmations: Matthew 10:20; Luke 24:32; Ephesians 6:19; Isaiah 55:11
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