“After that the end will come, when he will turn the Kingdom over to God the Father, having destroyed every ruler and authority and power. For Christ must reign until he humbles all his enemies beneath his feet. And the last enemy to be destroyed is death. For the Scriptures say, “God has put all things under his authority.” (Of course, when it says “all things are under his authority,” that does not include God himself, who gave Christ his authority.)”
1 Corinthians 15:24-27 NLT
Adam and Eve knew nothing about death. It was a human condition that was totally foreign to their experience and thinking. Although they would not have been inherently immortal themselves, the fruit from the Tree of Life made it possible for them to live forever. But then along came sin, initially in the form of a serpent. We know the story, of course, of how God’s words were twisted in a way that seemed good to Eve. Of how Adam too succumbed to the subtle temptation, with the result that the last enemy, death, blossomed and spread over the world and over the ages ever since. God, however, still desired fellowship with His created people, and as we read through the Old Testament, we see time and time again those moments when Heaven and earth came together. A moment when God was pleased by human faith and fellowship. We read about Abraham, who pleased God with his faith – Genesis 15:6, “And Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord counted him as righteous because of his faith”. We read about Enoch, who just disappeared one day, “Enoch lived 365 years, walking in close fellowship with God. Then one day he disappeared, because God took him” (Genesis 5:23-24). We can only assume that God was so pleased with Enoch that He wanted Him in Heaven with Himself.
But ever since the Adamic expulsion from the Garden, humans have had to face the last enemy – death. It was Benjamin Franklin who wrote in 1789, “Our new Constitution is now established, and has an appearance that promises permanency; but in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes”. In this life there will come a time when we pass over the Great Divide into another existence, where our souls will survive our physical bodies. To many, the act of dying is fraught with fear, even terror, but their lives end even though they fight the inevitable minute by minute. Someone I knew, however, maintained that he wasn’t afraid of dying. It was just that he didn’t want to be involved. To others, they experience a good death. I had a friend who, with a terminal cancer diagnosis, calmly and faithfully put his affairs in order, spending his last days with his Bible and listening to his favourite worship music. The day before he died, he spent with his family, his wife and four children, encouraging them and expressing his love. And then, peacefully and full of faith, he committed himself into God’s hands. A good death, inspiring and faith-filled.
Why is death an enemy to most people? It is inevitable and final, but something that cannot be controlled. News reports appear from time to time with claims made by scientists that they can reverse or even halt the effects of ageing. The cosmetics industry makes claims that it can extend the youthful appearance of those who can afford it. All because people are afraid of that last enemy. This year, there is legislation in the UK that seeks to give people the right to end their own lives. By some twisted logic, some people would rather control their last days in a selfish attempt to avoid the uncertainties of the final moments. Depriving their friends and families of their presence and burdening them with feelings of guilt and loss.
Paul summed up his dilemma in Philippians 1:20-24, “For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honour to Christ, whether I live or die. For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really don’t know which is better. I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me. But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live”. And so it is with Christians everywhere. Jesus told us that He is preparing a place for us to live in after we die. John 14:2-3, “There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am”. And we have a glimpse of what that place will be like – to the thief on the adjacent cross, Jesus called it Paradise.
“Our mortal bodies
must be transformed
into immortal bodies“
Jesus also promised us that through His sacrifice at Calvary, those who believe in Him will have eternal life. They will never die. And it gets better. One day, we will have a body that will be immortal just like His. 1 Corinthians 15:53, “For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies“. Paul called death the last enemy, but because of God’s promises, we have nothing to fear. To him, death and consequent release from his physical body were the best options, such was his faith in Christ. But like Paul, while we have breath, we still have work to do for God.
Dear God, our Heavenly Father. We look forward to being in Your presence, a place where there is no more sickness and death. Please continue to encourage and support us as we live out our earthly lives, day by day, doing the work You have asked us to do. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Being a Pilgrim 