View Blog Entry

I looked in the casket and saw my sister who had died of cancer.

I recognized the body I viewed wasn’t really her any longer. She was in the presence of the Lord and of those who had gone before her. Once again, I realized I couldn’t stop death—but death couldn’t stop me either.

We often think of death as an end to bodily life, but death for the believer is the end of five other things.

Death is the end of time as we know it (1 Corinthians 15:53-54). We are currently creatures of time, but we have been prepared for eternity—the converse of time. We will be in the presence of the heavenly Father and beyond the dimension of time.

Death is also the end of sin (1 Corinthians 15:56). Physical death is the consequence of our disobedience (Genesis 3:19). The removal of our sinful natures will mean we no longer desire to do what displeases God. We will no longer struggle with temptation or its consequences.

Death is the end of separation from God (1 Thessalonians 4:17). Our physical death will transport us into the presence of God, from where we will never depart. While we struggle with experiencing God’s presence now because of the suffering we experience, we will see Him just as He is.

Death is the end of fear (1 John 4:18). We live in fear presently because we recognize the Creator will judge our actions. In heaven, the perfect knowledge of the Father’s love will drive away that fear.

Death also ends sadness (Revelation 21:4). Sadness is the endgame of a world gone bad and wishing for something better (Romans 8:22). But God promises to wipe away every tear from our eyes, including our regrets and pains. Complete joy and peace will flood over us.

While we know little about heaven, we can be sure our physical death marks the start of an experience unlike our present one.

Anticipate the day when you will celebrate the death of death itself.

(Photo courtesy of pixabay.)

(For more devotions, visit Christian Devotions.)