The Good Side Of Death

February 24, 2017 | By Chuck

If we're honest, most of us try to avoid the topic of death. Sure, we know that death is a fact of life and that we'll all face death someday.(Eccl.3:2; Heb.9:27) Most of us have even lost loved ones and friends to death, so, death hasn't left the best impression with us. We don't want to think of losing loved ones to death and it's almost impossible to fathom our own death. Let's face it, this topic of death is just not one of our favorites. We want to act as though death isn't real, like it's not lingering and like it won't show up somewhere in our lives at some point. What if I said there are worse things in life than death? Having been around death so many times over the last twenty years and having studied the Scriptures, I've come to understand that there is a good side to death. That may seem absolutely ridiculous to you, but allow me to let the apostle Paul explain. "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain."(Phil.1:21) Paul says his life was all about Jesus and so death was no threat to him at all. In fact, Paul refers to the good side of death when he writes, death is a gain. For the Christian, death offers no threat or intimidation and takes nothing away. The good side of death for the Christian is that he or she gains eternal life in heaven. "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."(I Cor.15:55-57)