Be Confident in GodNäide

Being confident when facing death

“O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?” (1 Corinthians 15:55)

Most people are afraid to die. Many are not sure what will happen after death. They don’t believe in God and assume there won’t be a hereafter, but what if there’s truth in those religious claims about a judging God or about karma...? And even if there’s no conscious existence after death, the idea of one’s body dissolving to dust and ashes is not appealing at all. In general, death is something fearful.

This is not so for Christians. The apostle Paul explains why we can be confident in the face of death. When we die, we will be ‘more alive than ever’ in God’s glorious presence. Paul longs for this moment, when “what is mortal may be swallowed up by life” (2 Corinthians 5:4).

I’ve witnessed this longing in the lives of some dear friends. One was suffering from cancer, had undergone chemo treatments and major surgery, but he did not recover from his illness. Instead of being disappointed or angry with God, he testified of his longing to be with the Lord Jesus. Last week, God took him home. Another friend is over 90 years old. She has enjoyed God’s goodness in her life and is now waiting to meet her Savior in person. It’s so encouraging to see fellow Christians’ confidence when facing death!

What emotions does death arouse in you? Do you know examples of people who were able to confidently let go of life?