Rebellion against God, a willing denial against obedience to His will, of not believing on His Son Jesus Christ and what was done for us on the cross has a very serious, long term adverse side effect, to say the very least. The problem, as it were, is that in the life of men, life seems long, for the very young, an infinity of time, for those who are reaching maturity, to use the term loosely, it is still quite lengthy, and for the aged, there is still time, there is always time. “Therefore they shall be as the morning cloud, and as the early dew that passeth away, as the chaff that is driven with the whirlwind out of the floor, and as the smoke out of the chimney.” (Hosea 13:3)
Most people, when and if they contemplate their death, give pause only to that singular moment in time, and not just because of the fear of pain, which when questioned on the matter is always their first excuse for not contemplating it, but because of the unknown, the uncertainty of what is after. It is the furthest point in time that a man can ponder, and so, for the most part, they will not search out the truth of the matter, they do not expect it, and so it will not happen. That one moment of time is the most frightening aspect of life that enters into their minds.
To those who do not have within them the knowledge of the full assurance of the Word of God, there is no guarantee of hope for these individuals, and where there is no hope, there is fear. “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” (John 14:3) I have met many Christians that refuse to speak of that moment, they will converse about this life, and as much as they are knowledgeable about the subject, the eternal life to come, but not about that one singular point, at least not in any depth. “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” (1 Cor. 15:55)
This verse has nothing to do with physical pain, it is the truth of the mind not fearing that moment, the moment we close our eyes here on this earth for the last time. Only those who have spent much time studying this moment when related to themselves, and believe without question the promises of God, will speak about their death with the same calm, casual assurance as if they were talking about the weather that day, it is a simple commonplace occurrence that will happen. By doing so, fear is cast out, the one great fear, and life can truly be lived. Anyone who will not, any who falter at this step, can in no way live out Philippians 1:21, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”
The truth that sets us free in this area is the only truth that can free a man to be profitable for the Kingdom of God. “Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” (Matt. 6:34) This leaves no place for the fear of death, accepting John 16:33, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” This speaks of the knowledge that this life is transitory, and that it should not be the main focus of our thoughts. But most will not do this, death may be expected by them, but not contemplated in depth, for them, what is now is more important than what will come after, and so they have become part of the world, and only those who are serving Christ can truly say with Paul, “Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.” (Phil. 1:24)
For those that are saved by the grace of God, the work for the Lord does not stop when we reach His Kingdom, it begins, and this earth and our lives on it are, to a degree, the training ground, the preparation for that work. If you are expecting an eternity of vacations, of time off, so to speak, in heaven, I believe that you are sadly mistaken. What we do here in this life matters towards the Kingdom, and the sooner you realize just how short that life is, the sooner you will begin to serve effectively.
