Few people contemplate death because it's an extremely depressing subject. Not only is death the destiny of all human beings, but it underscores the brevity of life.
And so, death is a topic that most folks avoid like a deadly plague until they're faced with the reality that their life is coming to an end.
Why do most people hate the topic of death? Because it terrifies them. Why? Because they don't know what happens after they die or where they'll be going.
Atheists reason that nothing exists beyond physical death because "when you're dead, you're dead." But that's ludicrous not merely because the Bible reveals that life goes on beyond the grave, but many folks who have never read the Bible have described graphic details of heaven and hell during near-death experiences.
Jesus Christ frequently talked about life beyond physical existence during his ministry in ancient Israel. In fact, he talked more about hell than he did about heaven. Why? Because hell is the destiny and abode of all sinners.
For example, here's what he said concerning the deadliness of sin: "If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell." (Matthew 5:29-30)
Did Christ really encourage mutilation as a solution to combat sin? If it could prevent someone from being condemned to hell, then he encouraged it.
But Christ doesn't want us to mutilate ourselves in order to stop us from sinning. Even if mutilation could prevent us from sinning, it can't atone for the sins we've already committed.
And that's the reason why Christ came into this world: To pay the ultimate price for our sins on a Roman cross that we could never pay ourselves. Jesus said this: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16)
The eternal life that God promises us through our faith in Christ's atonement for our sins and His resurrection from the dead isn't some vain hope. It's real.
And it's a free gift that God offers to us no matter who we are or where we come from or how bad we are. For unlike fallen human beings, God doesn't play favorites. (Romans 2:11)
The security of eternal life in Christ is underscored by the writings of God's ancient prophets who recorded His words long before Christ appeared on earth.
For example, the prophet Isaiah, who lived over 700 years before Christ was born, recorded this: "But he (Christ) was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed." (Isaiah 53:5)
God's word emphatically teaches us that the work of our atonement was completed 2,000 years ago by Christ on the cross. There's absolutely nothing we can do to save ourselves. Rather, it's up to us to believe that Christ paid for our sins and publicly confess that before the world. (Romans 10:9-12)
The apostle Paul said it best: "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works so that no one can boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9)
Therefore, no one needs to fear death if they've been born again by faith in Jesus Christ. And eternal life in Christ comes not by infant baptism, adherence to a system of religious sacraments or by one's own good deeds. It comes strictly by faith.
If you don't believe that, or refuse to because of religious or cultural reasons, then you should fear death. And you should be very afraid of what comes after you die.
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