Hebrews 9:27 says that “it is appointed for men to die once … .” Death is a reality we cannot escape, but it is also a transition to a greater life we cannot afford to deny.
I have had cancer surgery, followed a year later by radiation treatments and chemo infusions. I really want to see my grandchildren grow up. That may be selfish, but I will admit that I love them dearly. When I shared with my radiation oncologist that I wanted to live long enough to celebrate my 50th wedding anniversary with my patient, loving and godly wife, he said basically he thought that should happen (our 50th is in six years).
Then, I told him I wanted to see all four of my grandchildren graduate from high school. His reply was, “It’s good to have goals.” I took his observations to mean that six years was a very real possibility, but that 16 years was “iffy.” I may not have the blessing to watch them all graduate, but I want to see all of them come to know Christ as Savior. That is something I pray for every night.
As I have pondered death off and on over the past two years, I have also grown more secure in what happens at death. I recently completed my book on angels, and it is going through the final edits now. Angels are so wonderful — one appeared in my life 24 years ago during a medical event when I was returning from an overseas mission trip. Angels, I am convinced, will be present at our time of death, and one or more will escort us into the presence of Jesus.
In the story of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16, the rich man died and lifted up his eyes in the torment of Hades. When Lazarus died, however, “he was carried away by angels to Abraham’s bosom” (v. 22). As I researched and read trusted Christian scholars, preachers and writers, it became clear that they saw in this verse a picture of what happens when a believer dies.
Billy Graham wrote, “When my time to die comes, an angel will be there to comfort me. He will give me peace and joy even at that most critical hour, and usher me into the presence of God, and I will dwell with the Lord forever. Thank God for the ministry of His blessed angels.”
The old spiritual “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” captures the confidence of believers at death. “I looked over Jordan and what did I see, coming for to carry me home! A band of angels coming after me, coming for to carry me home.”
When Charles Haddon Spurgeon, the great British preacher, was dying in 1892, he said, “I can hear them coming! Don’t you hear them? This is my coronation day. I can see chariots. I’m ready to board!”
Death is real, but it is also a passageway to our heavenly home and into the presence of God forever. That we will die is a fact. How we die is the question. We can die in faith anticipating the transition to a greater life, or we can die clinging to life in this present world. No believer dies alone. That thought can be powerfully comforting to families that have relatives who died alone from COVID.
In far too many cases, caring friends and loving family members could not be with their Christian loved one when he or she passed. I am confident that Jesus was waiting, and angels were there to comfort and be with them as they exited this life and entered the next. Even if no human being is around, an angel or angels will be there when we die. They will escort us into the presence of the King of kings and Lord of lords.
There is a certain sadness when we contemplate our death. We look at the world around us and see so many things that bring us happiness and joy. I want to see my grandchildren grow up, and I want to celebrate 50 years of marriage to my loving wife. I want to see all my grandchildren born again and serving Christ before I die. I want to live as long as I can, but, above everything, I want to die resting in the peace that Jesus gives.
Hebrews 12:1 says, “[L]et us run with endurance the race that is set before us ….” One day our endurance will dissipate, and our race will end. But there will be a new life waiting for us where endurance will never wane.
Death is inevitable. Heaven is real. Jesus is Savior. Angels are an integral part of God’s plan. Hebrews 9:27 says the angels are “ministering spirits sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation.” They serve us in this life and are with us in our journey through death. We can live with confidence until we die and when we die.