Have you ever stopped to consider what you will be thinking when you are close to the end of your life? For me personally, this is a scary topic when I actually stop and think about it. One which I find is rarely talked about—yet one day we will all come to that place, there is no escaping it.
Alone.
After you have passed, you will no longer be in contact with the physical world. All your things—gone. People—gone. Just you, maybe alone initially for some time, moving on to what I feel is largely the unknown. So, it is essentially sin to not trust in God, yet I still have a fear of the unknown.
We’re fallen so it’s easy for us to fall into sin, but also, I feel a portion of the root of our fear is unbelief. We have to trust and believe that God is truly in control and trust and believe that God will care for us. This really hits home when thinking about death—we have no control even if we wanted to take control.
What exactly will happen? As usual, I turned to the Bible and prayer for answers.
Paradise
There are hints in the Bible of a heaven we will go to, the thief at the cross with Jesus is an example. ‘Today you will be with me in paradise’ Jesus says to him when hanging on the cross.
But then, in the book of Revelation, chapter 21, it mentions a new heaven and a new earth, with a new Jerusalem coming out of heaven for God to dwell with his people.
So, I am guessing, we might wait in heaven before this? Maybe for thousands of years? I pondered these questions with God in prayer and felt a few scriptures stood out.
It is written in second Peter, Chapter 3 verse 8, ‘But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.’
This scripture indicates to me, the spiritual dimension is non-linear, and time may not be how we know it to be here in the physical universe. I thought, this makes it possible for us all to reach the other side at the same time.
If time in the spirit realm is not related to our time in the physical realm, then those who died 1000 years ago and those who died a day ago, could arrive to the same destination at the same time.
I am not trying to make gospel of this theory, but it is interesting to ponder, especially since there is no mention in the Bible of waiting after death, yet we will end up somewhere.
Nevertheless, I still feel afraid of that day I will leave this physical world.
Realistic fears
Will God turn around and say ‘depart from me, I never knew you’ as is written in Mathew chapter 7, verse 23? I think this statement from scripture scares me the most about passing away.
While we are here, we have the chance to change, and walk the path the best we can with God.
The context of Mathew chapter 7 verse 23 relates to us performing works by our own accord, even supposedly godly works, rather than following the will of our Father in heaven.
I would be incredibly sad to arrive in the next life and be told he never knew me, so learning and understanding to follow his will and throw away the desires of the flesh has become of increasing priority in my mind.
I recently read the supposed last words of Steve Jobs, an original founder of Apple Computer. It turned out it was largely unverified, but it still got me thinking – there were still some standout truths in it regardless as to who said it. It echoes wealth on your death bed is meaningless, the only thing which matters is the people you love.
How true is that! The scriptures state the greatest commandment with the highest priority, found in Matthew chapter 22, verses 36-40 are:
- Love the Lord God with all your soul and all your strength and
- Love your neighbour as yourself.
I find it interesting, the two things Jesus mentions are the two things which are eternal.
The further from God I fall in the busyness of life, the greater becomes my fear of such things. The fear of death—the biggest fear many of us have as we have absolutely no control over the fact we will one day pass away. We are at the absolute mercy of our Lord to take control at that time and day. All we will have at that moment is our relationship with our Lord. Will he know you?
All the more reason to seek him daily and not be lead astray by the emptiness of the world.
Michael Dahlenburg is an electronics technician currently working in the ATM industry. He is non-denominational and has previously been involved in church plants and assisting those in ministry. His interests include; enjoying family, home DIY, gardening, most things tech-related and driving his wife crazy with a constant stream of inventions!
He lives with his wife Michelle and three children in God’s own land of Southern Adelaide, Australia.
Michael Dahlenburg’s previous articles may be viewed at www.pressserviceinternational.org/michael-dahlenburg.html
Michael Dahlenburg is an electronics technician. He is non-denominational and has previously been involved in church plants and assisting those in ministry. His interests include; enjoying family, home DIY, gardening, most things tech-related and driving his wife crazy with a constant stream of inventions! He lives with his wife Michelle and three children in God’s own land of Southern Adelaide, Australia.Michael Dahlenburg’s previous articles may be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/michael-dahlenburg.html