Death is an inevitability for everyone (see Hebrews 9:27). Even those who are “gathered together with the Lord in the air” (1 Thessalonians 4:17) will experience a form of death. Let me explain. Death, according to the book of James, takes place when the spirit separates from the body (see James 2:26). Those who are gathered up to the Lord, who do not experience conventional death, will experience “mortality putting on immortality” (1 Corinthians 15:54), which is death to mortality.
Sickness is not necessary to make death happen. Moses died at 120 years old, yet “his eye had not grown dim nor his strength abated” (Deuteronomy 34:7). God clearly played a role in Moses' death– this is implied in Deuteronomy 34:1-6.
There is some additional good news about death. Death has lost its victory and sting (1 Corinthians 15:55-57). For the Christian, death means being with Christ (2 Corinthians 5:8) and is preferable (Philippians 1:23). It was revealed to John the Revelator that “from now on,” people who die “in the Lord” are “blessed” (not cursed). In the same breath it tells us that the Spirit attests to this and adds,“so that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow with them” (see Revelation 14:13). Simeon, after holding the infant Christ asked God to dismiss him in peace, that is, assist him in dying a peaceful death (see Luke 2:29). And, Ecclesiastes (7:1,2) tells us,
A good name is better than fine perfume,
and the day of death better than the day of birth.
It is better to go to a house of mourning
than to go to a house of feasting,
for death is the destiny of everyone;
the living should take this to heart.
The Bible has a lot of good to say about death. Did you know that God considers the death of His faithful servants to be precious (see Psalm 116:15)?
Which of us hasn’t had a loved one face severe suffering and has wished for death so that we can see their suffering end and our suffering mitigated?
More next week.