We all know that we are going to die someday. Still, that often seems distant and surreal. Occasionally, an event may make death, including your death, a little more real. A pandemic can fill that role.
Most people won’t catch the coronavirus, I think. Most who do catch it won’t be that sick or even show symptoms at all. But some will face death and plenty will experience it. How ready are you? It is fair question to ask yourself at any age or in any form of health.
Your answer will be very much influenced by your worldview. If you believe in some form of reincarnation, death may scare you, but the results are not final. If you believe that you must stand before an almighty, but somewhat unpredictable, Allah; then death is very intimidating. If you are convinced that there is nothing beyond the grave, then death is depressing but unavoidable and not a big deal. If you believe in some generic form of Heaven for being good enough, then death is again frightening and uncertain. How convinced are you that any of these worldviews are accurate?
I am personally quite convinced that these worldviews are all inaccurate and that one’s worldview does not shape what happens after death. What comes next comes regardless of what you have believed. I am also convinced that in the history of mankind only one person gives authoritative insight into what happens next and also provides a good outcome. That person is Jesus because:
- He has many credible witnesses that testify that He did miraculous things, including raising people from the dead
- He has many credible witnesses, including former doubters, that He rose from the dead
- He fulfilled prophetic writings that were clearly written long before His birth.
- His teachings fit with our experience of self and the world.
- Archeology affirms many of the details that surround Him
- Out of body experiences seem to confirm the existence of both Heaven and Sheol.
Jesus himself states, “I am the way and the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me.” Jesus and the New Testament authors explain why this would be so. God requires sinlessness, and none of us meet that standard. Someone had to be a sinless human being in order to fulfill God’s Law and take the consequences of sin on themselves. To be sinless, you would have to be born sinless and continue to the end. The Bible explains that we are all sinful from conception onward. Jesus’ unusual birth (a virgin birth) allowed him to be born without a sinful nature (genetically distorted to naturally be alienated from God). Jesus is unique in this way. Also, if any other process could give us eternal life with God, then Jesus would never have been asked to do what He did. He not only died on the cross, He was forsaken by the Father as our surrogate.
Connection to Jesus to receive the benefits of His life and the promise of eternal life is both simple and impossible. In our natural condition we would never believe Jesus’ story or His promises. That’s what sinful nature does. It is a good thing that God is working to supersede sinful nature or it would be impossible. God creates faith. Some highly unlikely people have come to have faith: hardcore atheists, very evil people, strong adherents of other worldviews. God wants to save people. He wants us to be ready. We and our children can be connected to Jesus and eternal life through baptism. That much is simple.
Being Heaven-bound (saved) doesn’t necessarily mean that you won’t have questions or doubts. When God does get a hold of you there are signs: growing confidence in Jesus, growing confidence in your own salvation, a love for God, a hunger to learn, etc. Our circumstances and the remaining flaws of our sinful nature may diminish some of the signs; but we may still be ready, especially if we have been baptized.
It is a great feeling to know that you are ready. In fact, more than ready–looking forward to it. As this blog explains, there is much to avoid (Sheol, Hell) and much to look forward to (Heaven, Resurrection and the New Earth). The greater your confidence is in Christ, the less a pandemic seems like a reason to panic.
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