To think about death is not something we like to do. Even though we know that we will die eventually, we love to concentrate on other and seemingly more important and pressing matters. It is indeed not pleasant to think about the inevitability of our death. Still, the Bible is filled with admonitions in this regard, and it gives us advice as to how to deal with this subject matter in a balanced and right way.
Death is unavoidable. Psalm 89:47-48 tells us: “Remember how short my time is… What man can live and not see death? Can he deliver his life from the power of the grave? Selah.” Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 states as a matter of fact: “To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, And a time to die…”
King Solomon states in Ecclesiastes 9:5: “For the living know that they will die…”
In addition, we read in Hebrews 9:27: “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.”
Death does not end it all. Rather, there will be a resurrection for all of us, followed by a judgment. Romans 14:10, 12 tells us: “For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ… So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.”
We need to keep this fact strongly in mind. An accounting is coming, and we decide now, by the way in which we live, how this accounting will proceed.
That is why Moses was inspired to write in Psalm 90:10, 12:
“The days of our lives are seventy years; And if by reason of strength they are eighty years, Yet their boast is only labor and sorrow; For it is soon cut off, and we fly away… So teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom.”
The wisdom Moses is referring to relates to the way we live and conduct ourselves, knowing how short and fleeting life is and that an accounting is coming. Paul tells us in Colossians 4:5: “Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time.” Compare also Ephesians 5:15-17:
“See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”
A similar thought is expressed by King Solomon who wrote in Ecclesiastes 7:2:
“Better to go to the house of mourning Than to go to the house of feasting, For that is the end of all men; And the living will take it to heart.”
David was very much aware of the fact that his death was a certainty. He wrote in Psalm 39:4-5:
“LORD, make me to know my end, And what is the measure of my days, That I may know how frail I am. Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths, And my age is as nothing before You; Certainly every man at his best state is but vapor. Selah.”
Knowing this, our whole outlook on life should be one of humility and submission to God. It should not reflect the attitude described in James 4:13-15:
“Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit’; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.’”
The realization of the certainty of our death should motivate and encourage us to conduct our lives always in a manner “worthy of the Lord” (Colossians 1:10; compare 1 Thessalonians 1:12 and Ephesians 4:1).
When we are young, we might think of death as something so distant that we might not have to give it serious consideration. But Solomon encourages us even then: “Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth… Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil” (Ecclesiastes 12:1, 13-14).
But apart from this seemingly “distant” reality, it may not be that distant at all. The reason being, no one knows the time of his or her death. Ecclesiastes 9:12 tells us: “For man also does not know his time.” Compare also Isaac’s words in Genesis 27:2: “Behold now, I am old. I do not know the day of my death.” Neither do we. For us, death may come at any time. Even though true Christians are never victims of time and chance, they still can die suddenly and unexpectedly when and if God allows it. We should therefore always live with that realization in mind.
Of course, Christ knew exactly the time of His death. He knew that He would die at the age of 33 on Wednesday, the Day after the Passover evening on Tuesday, just before the First Day of Unleavened Bread in 31 AD. The Two Witnesses will know when they will die—3 ½ years after proclaiming God’s words during the Great Tribulation. As we explain in our free booklet, “Are You Predestined to be Saved?,” the time of our death has also been pretty much determined by God (even though we don’t know it), but this does not mean that circumstances might not change that time which had been allotted to us. When we fall away from God, we might die prematurely (compare, for example, Psalm 55:23). God may also give us some extra time to come to repentance (compare Luke 13:6-9). God might add days to the [predetermined] life span of His people if this is reasonable and in fulfillment of the wish of the person.
We read about King Hezekiah in 2 Kings 20:1-6:
“In those days Hezekiah was sick and near death. And Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, went to him and said to him, ‘Thus says the LORD: “Set your house in order, for you shall die, and not live.”’ Then he turned his face toward the wall, and prayed to the LORD, saying, ‘Remember now, O LORD, I pray, how I have walked before You in truth and with a loyal heart, and have done what was good in Your sight.’ And Hezekiah wept bitterly. And it happened, before Isaiah had gone out into the middle court, that the word of the LORD came to him, saying, ‘Return and tell Hezekiah the leader of My people, “Thus says the LORD, the God of David your father: ‘I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; surely I will heal you. On the third day you shall go up to the house of the LORD. And I will add to your days fifteen years…’”’’
Here, Hezekiah made it very clear to God that he would love to live longer and that he felt he was not ready to die, and God honored that. We even read that holy women received their dead husbands back in a physical resurrection (Hebrews 11:35). But this is up to God and His prerogative, depending on the individual circumstances.
Returning one more time to Hezekiah, notice that God had told Isaiah to admonish Hezekiah to set his house in order. This is good advice for all of us at all times, since we don’t know when we will die. This would include taking care of our affairs, especially for those whom we may leave behind. A beautiful example can be seen in Christ’s words at the stake, when He told His beloved disciple John to take care of His mother Mary.
The Study Bible included the following comments:
“‘Put your house in order.’ This directive implies that Hezekiah should prepare for his impending death by settling his affairs, both personal and political. In ancient Near Eastern culture, this would involve ensuring a smooth succession, addressing any unresolved issues, and making peace with God and others. The instruction reflects the biblical principle of stewardship and responsibility, emphasizing the importance of being prepared for the end of life.”
When we live with the realization that death can come to us at any time, then Solomon’s statements in Ecclesiastes 7:1 really strike home: “And the day of death [is better] than the day of one’s birth.” He adds to this in verse 8: “The end of a thing is better than its beginning.”
When we are born, our whole life is in front of us, and it is up to us what to make out of it. When we live a life pleasing to God, then we have accomplished our purpose, when we die. That is especially true for us when we become converted. At that time, we just begin our travel towards eternal life and the Kingdom of God. When we die, having stayed faithful, we will enter into eternal life at the time of our resurrection.
Job exclaimed in Job 14:14, focusing on the time of his death: “If a man dies, shall he live again? All the days of my hard service I will wait, Till my change comes.” And Isaiah 26:19 states with conviction: “Your dead shall live; Together with my dead body they shall arise.” This is the hope and the power of the resurrection, which is taught throughout the Bible (compare Acts 23:6; Philippians 3:10-11).
With that frame of mind, we don’t need to be afraid of death. Even though death is our enemy (1 Corinthians 15:26), it has no permanent power over us when we are in God’s loving hands. We read in Hebrews 2:14-15:
“Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.”
The Apostle Paul was not overly concerned or afraid of his death if that meant, serving Christ. He told the brethren who were weeping for him, anticipating his arrest and captivity:
“What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 21:13). He even said in Philippians 1:21-26:
“For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. For I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you. And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith, that your rejoicing for me may be more abundant in Jesus Christ by my coming to you again.” (Compare also 2 Corinthians 5:8).
Paul was ready to die, whenever that time would come, because he knew that he had lived worthy of Christ and that his physical death did not end it all. He told Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:6-8:
“For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.”
He did not fight the time of his death. It seems he was more than ready to die, because he knew that he had qualified and that he would be in God’s Kingdom.
Some of the ancients are described as those who died “full of days.” They lived their lives, and in death they looked forward to their eternal life in the Kingdom of God. Psalm 116:15 says about them: “Precious in the sight of the LORD Is the death of His saints.” God says the same about us, as long as we can declare with confidence and conviction: “For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s” (Romans 14:8).
Lead Writer: Norbert Link