My purpose is to give peace and comfort to individuals and their families on what the Bible has to say about death.
Lying in the hospital bed with my family by my side, I was told by the doctors I had some problems in the stomach and liver that needed immediate attention and needed to be treated at a regional hospital. It turned out to be cancer in the stomach, liver, pancreas and lung. I was blessed with a great medical team that saved my life. During that time, though, I realized my physical life was probably not going to be the same and yes, a physical death was probable at that time.
Being a Christian and having an understanding of physical and spiritual death, it put this life into perspective for me. Death seems to be a subject that makes a lot of people feel uncomfortable even talking about it, due to the unknown, but let’s look at what the Bible says.
"And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being." (Genesis 2:7) Adam was the first man in the Bible and was made by God from the dust of the ground (physical life) and man became a living soul (spiritual life).
"Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, And the spirit will return to the God who gave it." (Ecclesiastes 12:7) "His spirit departs, he returns to the earth: In that very day his plans perish. (Psalm 146:4) One thing that is certain is that our physical body will return to the earth, which is a physical death.
"Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned." (Romans 5:12) Physical death is the result of sin; from the moment of conception the physical death starts it role. For some it is minutes in the womb and for some over a hundred years. The oldest man in the Bible is Methuselah at 969 years. (Genesis 5:27) "And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." (Matthew 10:28) "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23)
This is a reference to both the physical death and spiritual life: "Then he said to Jesus, ‘Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.’" (Luke 23:43) Physical death to eternal spiritual life: Spiritual life was given to the thief on the cross with the thief believing Jesus would conquer death and our Lord assuring him that TODAY he would be in Paradise.
The fact is that the Bible is very clear in teaching that there are two types of death: 1. physical death, and 2. spiritual death (or spiritual life). There are many more references in the Bible regarding the topic of death, sin and spiritual life. Talk to your clergy and/or get into a Bible study that will give you an understanding on reading the Bible.
Share Your Thoughts
What approach have you taken to cope with your diagnosis emotionally? Has your faith played a role? Share your comments below.
