How do we cope with our future, the unanswered questions of what may come? Our deathly fears may include concerns about pain, suffering, unconsciousness, and the dying process. Death is a certainty that impacts all of us. When, where, and how are unknown aspects surrounding our inevitable end to this earthly life. The heavenly promises in God’s Word help shed light on the fears surrounding death. The biblical descriptions of eternity with Jesus help us fight the fears of death and dying.
What is our ultimate outcome?
Physical death is the unavoidable conclusion to earthly life. Although people may make changes to improve health and lifestyle, they cannot escape dying. Notice though, that the Bible gives us two instances when God took people without them dying. Enoch (Genesis 5:24 & Hebrews 11:5) and Elijah (2 Kings 2:11) did not experience death on earth. So those two, plus the ones who are alive at Jesus’ second coming (1 Thessalonians 4:17), will not face death. But the rest of us can be certain of death as our life’s outcome. Yet God offers us more beyond that death.
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23
God’s son Jesus came in person, explaining His love and forgiveness of sins to all people. Jesus gave a personal invitation to eternal life for all who would choose to belong to Him.
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. John 10:27-28
When we believe in Jesus, He offers forgiveness and eternal life with Himself and God the Father. After Jesus spoke of preparing a place in His Father’s house for believers (John 14:1-4), He explained the connection:
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6
What will heaven be like?
Heaven is also called life everlasting, paradise, eternal home, and the Promised Land. Interestingly, God created that longing for immortality within us.
He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. Ecclesiastes 3:11
We may not fully understand God’s plan, but His Word presents aspects of eternal life with Him. One of my favorites describes what heaven will be like when sin and death are vanquished.
He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. Revelation 21:4
How do we fight deathly fears with heavenly promises?
In Peter’s book, he writes of the day of the Lord, judgment, the new heaven, and the new earth. This is one verse that gives us hope for God’s promise of heaven:
But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells. 2 Peter 3:13
But this is not a passive looking forward. Instead, we live confidently with God’s assurance of eternal security.
Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 1 Timothy 6:12
The perspective of eternity with God helps us turn our hearts from deathly fears to God’s eternal glory in heaven.
For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:17-18
Lord God, help us fix our eyes on You, fighting deathly fears with the promise of spending eternity with You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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