Unstoppable

     Death is our ultimate enemy, or so it seems. We fear death more than anything else and try our very best not to talk about or dwell on it. Ultimately we will all feel its sting and there really isn't anything we can do about it. That being said should we really be afraid of it?

     To many death is the monster in the closet, the bogey-man who is just waiting to jump out and get you. We fear death like we fear so many things, because it's unknown. We don't know the day or the hour of our death and that is in and of itself terrifying. This fear and this worry tends to grow as we grow old. The young man thinks little of his eventual demise and the child doesn't think of it at all. However, we all have a moment, an instant when we first realize, when we really 'know', that we are going to die someday. Our life which up until that moment seemed like it would simply continue on forever, will cease. Understandably, we don't like that.

     Here's the twist though, in every way and in every place God remains in control. He orders the stars and he regulates the beat of our heart, moves the clouds and moves our souls, keeps our planet spinning and our lungs breathing, everything that is only is because He makes it so. Understand me, I don't mean to say that only what God allows to happen happens, I'm telling you that God orders the happening of all things. Every single tiny detail of existence is part of God's plan. If He were to let go for even an instant, we wouldn't see the destruction of the universe, we would experience it instantly disappear from reality. Now there are a lot of extremely specific and nit-picky things to say about God and His sovereignty and how it meshes with our choices etc. but for now focus on what this means in regards to death.

     Death is a punishment yes, physically the most serious result of sin. That doesn't mean however, that it lies outside of God's control. You die, I die, everyone dies when and where and how God has ordained. Not one instant sooner. You cannot speed the process along nor slow it down nor can anything interfere. Until that day, you're unstoppable. Knowing this puts death in perspective right? What's more frightening: death, or what comes after?

"And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”

(Matthew 10:28)

     So don't be afraid Christian, to preach in the open air or to go to some distant land for Him. Nowhere is dangerous for you until He makes it dangerous. Know that you're death is part of the plan and it will happen at the best possible time, at the right time. We may not know why that moment was the right one, but we can trust His decisions. Ultimately, for the Christian, death is no fear anyway. We may not care to think of the moment of transition, but in that instant we will be in glory, never to fear again.

“So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory." "O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?" The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

(1 Corinthians 15:54-57)