Just Something I Was Thinking about...
I know a few (and by a "few", I mean a LOT) of Christians - good, solid, dedicated, God-fearing Christians - who are afraid of death and dying. Why do you think that is? If we are secure in our faith: if we truly believe that we are going where the Bible says we are going to go, then what's the problem? I presented this question to my pastor's wife, who, once she contemplated the idea for a moment could really do nothing but chuckle and nod in agreement.
The funny thing is, that I ask this question as if I'm the complete opposite of terrified of my own demise myself, when in reality it totally freaks me out!! But I can't help but wonder, why? Why does it freak me out so much? What about death is so absolutely terrifying if I know in my heart of hearts that the peace of God awaits me on the other side? Everyone has to do it: there are only two people (that I can think of offhand) in all of history who didn't actually die. So what makes me so special? What right do I have to get all freaked out about it?
Jesus wasn't afraid of death. Jesus knew without a shadow of a doubt what awaited Him once His time on this earth had passed. He was likely afraid of the pain that He would endure, but that was all part of His mission: He accepted it, bore our sin in the form of physical torture and suffered until He passed on into eternal life with the Father. So if Jesus didn't fear the actual physical death, if GOD wasn't scared of physical death, then... Why am I?
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Why are you?
The funny thing is, that I ask this question as if I'm the complete opposite of terrified of my own demise myself, when in reality it totally freaks me out!! But I can't help but wonder, why? Why does it freak me out so much? What about death is so absolutely terrifying if I know in my heart of hearts that the peace of God awaits me on the other side? Everyone has to do it: there are only two people (that I can think of offhand) in all of history who didn't actually die. So what makes me so special? What right do I have to get all freaked out about it?
Jesus wasn't afraid of death. Jesus knew without a shadow of a doubt what awaited Him once His time on this earth had passed. He was likely afraid of the pain that He would endure, but that was all part of His mission: He accepted it, bore our sin in the form of physical torture and suffered until He passed on into eternal life with the Father. So if Jesus didn't fear the actual physical death, if GOD wasn't scared of physical death, then... Why am I?
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Why are you?
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I'm sorry that my morbid curiosity is in full effect today, but I'm really curious as to what you all think about this issue. I know that it can be a scary place to go to in your own mind, which is why some people just choose to ignore it, but humor me. If you do, I promise that I'll follow this post with a happy, squishy Christmas message very soon to balance things out a bit. ;)
posted by Stephanie @ 12:42 PM
15 Comments:
I think it scares me because most of the time... death is very painful. I don't like pain.
Also, we don't have a glimpse of what heaven will be like... That is we know what it will be like because of descriptions in the Bible... but we have NEVER SEEN IT. It's always easier to believe when you can see things... I believe a chair is going to hold me when I can size up the said chair... but sitting in the chair without seeing it... well, that's what faith is. Just because we have faith doesn't mean that we aren't going to be scared at times.
Anyway, for me it is a fear of the unknown.
ok so you might think I'm not being truthful, but I'm really not scared of death, maybe that is because I'm single and I don't have a husband or children to leave behind (I think that would cause some major fear and foreboding on my part if I had a family), funny but I fear other more small and stupid things (gosh maybe I'm just weird)
Ben: I'm in the exact same mindset about it as you are. Except it's magnified in my head like, a thousand times because I'm a drama queen. lol But yes, it's a fear of the pain and of the unknown for me.
Katie: You are wierd!!! lol No, I envy you actually, if you're not afraid of it... that would be SO cool.
I have no fear of death. Some days I would rather be there than here. Not in a morbid way at all.
If I had kids right now maybe that would change it, but I still think I won't ever fear death.
Steve: I totally know what you mean. If I can bypass the terrifying "dying part", sometimes I think: MAN I can't wait until that day. WOW.
Logan: Um yeah, okay well see the whole adrenaline thing will be great and everything until you're DEAD and then it won't matter anyway! lol You are funny hehehe
I completely concur with your last line by the way.
Seinfeld?
I can handle public speaking and death I'm ok with, so does that make me like in the 2% of the world who is just scared of thinks like evil clowns and snakes?
well that and dolls - childhood scary movie did that to me
Ahhh a young man who knows his Seinfeld, this almost excuses the Fonzie slip up
I'm not afraid of death. It is just another part of life. Even though I have kids, I'm still not afraid becasue I know where I'm going and where they will be someday too. Not saying that I want to die NOW, though.
Actually I like to think I'll be in that lucky group of people who won't die because I honestly believe we're on the cusp of "the end times":
50Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
51Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
55O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
56The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
57But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
1 Corinthians 15:50-58 KJV
and
13But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
5:1But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
2For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
3For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
4But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
5Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
6Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
7For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
8But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
9For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
10Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
11Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11 KJV
Stephie-Pants,
Isn't that where FAITH kicks in? It's one of those things that we believe in because the Lord tells us so, even if we're not "feeling it" so to speak.
I'm afraid, but God's grace covers me. I once had a "near death" experience. I really thought I was going to be killed. And suddenly I was very calm and ready to be in Heaven. And THANKFULLY, the other car was able to get out of my way.
Faith and grace. I'm NOT not afraid. I just press on because I know that the Lord wouldn't tell me He is preparing a place for me if it wasn't so.
**hugs**
Sorry for being so much of a no-show lately. Busy with work and life. Miss ya!
Hmmm..I think I'll comment before I read the comments.
I think you hit a point when you mentioned maybe Jesus was afraid of the pain in dying. If anything scares me, that does...a car wreck? A fire? Drowning?
But that is the only thing that scares me about death. I anxiously await the day I can be with my Father in heaven in all His glory.
Some times if I really think about it, I get sad thinking about what I will be missing here on earth (my kids kids kids growing up), but then I remember there is no sadness or pain in heaven. Take your best memory or happiest feeling and multiply it a million times, and that is what heaven will be like! Plus, imagine all the believers who will be reunited for eternity!
See you on the other side Steph!!
I'm not afraid of dying myself. However, I'm petrified that someone I love will die. I don't want them to leave me. It's kind of selfish, but that's how I feel.
Katie: hahahahaha That stupid "IT" clown was just terrifying to me as a child too!!! That's hilarious! Oh Katie, great fears! Classic lol (Not that I'm getting any enjoyment whatsoever from your crippling fear of dolls or anything... ;)
Green: I don't want to die NOW either. I feel I have too much to do yet in this life! Thank you so much for the scripture: LOVE all of it. I love how CLEARLY God speaks to us through His Word... and as I was reading all of this, I felt such a peace come over me about this issue. You hit the nail on the head by digging out these verses: thanks for sharing with us!
Jay: I do suppose that those of you who had near death experiences lack a fear of death, because heck, you were almost there once anyway! What's another go-around, right? lol
Shenna: "I anxiously await the day I can be with my Father in heaven in all His glory." Me too! AMEN sister! My thing too, is what I'd be missing on earth as well. But we just need to have faith that, like you said, there will be no sorrow in heaven: only joy that we finally get to be with our Heavenly Father!
Amber: ME TOO ME TOO ME TOO!!! Not looking forward to the day I have to let my parents: I hate HATE that thought. Ugh. That's why I'm pushing so hard to get them to be believers (mom's on her way if you didn't catch that in the last post) because at least then I'll know that this isn't the last time I'll see her.
Everyone: Thank you for all your feedback! As I'm sure you gathered, I have a rather sizeable fear of death and dying, and hearing all of your takes on it REALLY helped me gain a new perspective. Of course it's going to take a lot more prayer and the like to get me in good place with this, but your thoughts are really really appreciated!
I'm with K-T, I have no fear of dying whatsoever, I just don't want to suffer or be in pain! And I'd like to think that I would have no problem dying for my faith, but again, the suffering part is a whole other subject! But thanks for being honest and making us think on a subject that is all too real.
Good post!
For me it's not about the dying.
It's fear of living and not being all that God wants me to be before I go. Now that scares the tar out of me. The dying part is easy.
~Jenny
I am not afraid of death really, i look forward to the afterlife. However, right now i am young and there is so much i'd like to accomplish before death. I am just worried I will die before i can accomplish all i'd like to do in life.
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