Q. With the threat of terrorism and nuclear war hanging over our heads, I’m worried about the survival of my kids and grandkids. I mean, what kind of a world will they live or die in? I worry about them and wonder if any of them will survive the next fifty years on planet earth.
Answer:
100% Probability
It’s a depressing thought, isn’t it?
I can assure you: They will all die. All of us are terminal and have a 100% probability of death. The question is “when?” Yet, even the question of “when” is addressed in Psalm 139:16 – “All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” We wouldn’t even be here had God not ordained the days of our lives on planet earth.
Shaking our Fist at God
It is almost a type of dry humor when people shake their fist at God for being cruel or unfair, for causing disease and starvation and wars, when they wouldn’t be here in the first place were it not for a Creator. Furthermore, many of earth’s woes are due to man’s failures and sin – not because of God.
Can people not see that their very lives are a miracle? Can they not see that the abundant animal life, the prolific production of hundreds of varieties of fruits, vegetables, and grains speak of an abundant God who lovingly made provisions for mankind? Are we that ungrateful?
The Worst Problem in the Universe
I don’t mean to sound as if I’m countering your point. Death and dying is, without question, the worst problem in the universe. New Agers and cynics who attempt to teach death as a “natural” part of life are delusional.
Don’t let them fool you. They, too, weep real tears when their children die or they lose a beloved family member. Death is a tragedy, and everyone knows it. We shouldn’t pretend it isn’t.
God Communicates
If there is a God, you might think He could communicate to us concerning the agonizing problem of death, wouldn’t you?
Well….He did!
Flesh and Blood Embryo
God is God and He can do what He wants. In our world and space-time continuum, God chose to become a flesh and blood embryo and grow into a man like one of us. What a novel idea! – for God to become a man who “lives as a creature among His own creatures” (Lewis 1996, 44).
But, then God died, just like we die.
(Please don’t ask how God can “die,” yet still run the universe. That touches upon the subject of the trinity). Anyway, if it’s hard to figure-out how God Himself could “die,” then maybe we need to bone-up on physics and learn about multiple dimensions and parallel universes. Maybe our concept of God is just too small.
Flesh & Blood who Dies
But then, why did He die like we die?
I think it’s clear that God died to show us in a tangible way that He retains complete power over death resulting from sin. Think of “sin” as a massive genetic defect which caused mankind and the entire universe to become subject to the 2nd law of thermodynamics – decay, dying and death.
Unique Qualification
In that sense His mastery over death gives Yeshua – Jesus Christ – a unique qualification to tell the rest of mankind what is wrong with them and their world.
After all, Buddha isn’t alive today. Neither is Muhammad. Confucius is dead. The Mormon prophet, Joseph Smith, is dead and buried. Can you think of any person written in the annals of history other than Yeshua who is thought to be alive today?
I won’t list the logical reasons here why we believe Jesus is God. That fills volumes of evidences – called “apologetics” for a thinking, reasoning person.
God Makes the Rules
But, I would suggest we remember that it is God who makes the rules – not you or me. It seems that we managed to muck up the DNA of life and threw a monkey-wrench into the fabric of our universe causing everything to begin dying. Because this happened through the evil mischief of an alien creature called Lucifer, we have been “stuck on stupid” ever since. In other words, we can’t even think straight anymore. Adam was probably a brilliant man. Through the passage of time we have probably descended – not ascended in intelligence.
Man only Dies Once – then comes Judgment
I apologize for being a little harsh today. We have lost two close family members within a short period of time. Neither was a believer. I am well aware that Hebrews 9:27 tells us, “it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment.”
There are no second chances. (That isn’t my wish or desire – it is “revealed” information). We don’t come around a second time.
For Believers Death brings us Home
For believers, “We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord…we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:6-8).
If your children and grandchildren are believers you have much to be thankful for, my friend. You will be reunited with them forever after all of you die on earth. Death is not the end for you.
Neither terrorism, nuclear war, sickness, nor anything else can separate you from God or from one another. All of you have a glorious future in a stunningly beautiful, new universe where you inhabit a shining, brilliant city called the New Jerusalem.
Death is a Tragedy – if you are not a Believer
But, if you are not a believer, you have much to mourn. Your Christian friends and family have probably tried to throw you a life-saver. But, you have rejected direct communication from our Holy God. That is your personal choice – and your loss.
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References:
Lewis, C.S. 1996. The problem of pain. N.Y.: Touchstone.
Muncaster, R. 2004. Examine the evidence. Eugene, OR: Harvest House.
Ross, Hugh. 1996. Beyond the Cosmos. Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress.