As we age, we start to come to terms with our own mortality, which can often cause debilitating anxiety. This is why it’s important to have assurance and understanding of where we go when we die.
"For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out." -1 Timothy 6:7
Maybe you don’t care about where you go when you die and you are able to live a meaningless existence. The things you do make no difference because you’re ultimately an evolved ape and you’ll die like one too.
Yet, unlike an ape, you worry about your death and you fear it's finality. You think of your age and consider all that you’ve done and what you could do to atone for your embarrassments and shortcomings.
The thought of dying with all of your imperfections, mistakes, missed opportunities, mess-ups…sins if you will...makes you cling to life harder. What would you do to extend your life just a little longer? What could you do to set things right before you die?
"...what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" -Mark 8:37
But if you believe your human existence is a gift from God, then maybe you see yourself with a higher purpose than an evolved ape. Perhaps you perceive an all-powerful creator orchestrating absolutely everything around you and you sense that there is nothing hidden that shall not be made known. You have a desire to do good works and to spread goodness in the world, but you still question the ultimate purpose of life.
If you believe there is an all-powerful, all-mighty, all-knowing creator, then the answer is: All things are for the sole purpose of glorifying God. This includes life, death, sickness, health, good and evil. As hard as it might be to grasp, all of it be to God's glory.
And the entire purpose of your life is to fear Him and to keep his commandments.
“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.” – Eccl 12:13-14
Understand that your good works and acts of kindness will always fall short.
“But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags…” -Isa 64:6
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God…” -Rom 3:23
God loves you and only desires your penitent heart and full allegiance. Don’t worry, the good works will follow.
“We love him, because he first loved us.” 1 John 4:19
He loves His creation so much that He sent his Son Jesus, God in flesh, to make the ultimate atonement for our sins.
“….though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” -Isa 1:18
God in all his love and mercy offers us full atonement and life everlasting through faith in the Christ. So where will you go when you die?
“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” -John 3:36
If you’re seeking peace with the thought of your mortality, seek your Creator through Jesus Christ.
"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." -John 14:27
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