Why Do People Die?

Did you hear about the craziest statistic ever? 1 out of 1 people die. No one can escape death. It’s a fact of life and the reality is that its next victim could be you.

• On the 25^th of December 2004 all was calm. The very next day, 26^th December 2004, death through the tsunami claimed over 200,000 lives.
• September 9/11 – death took over 3,000 lives.
• Death through the Nazi regime took over 6 million lives.
• Everyday thousands of people die. Unknown, silently and unheard.

But the major question that arises is; why do people die?

Some religions believe in the idea of reincarnation. Some believe in karma and the hope for a better next life after death. Some say life is like a bubble which must burst one day or another. Some claim that we are part of evolution and when our molecules die, we die. I’ve even heard one of my lecturers at my University saying that “we are all just a bunch of electrons and protons”.

These arguments seem “right” to those who do not really wish to know the truth behind death and its consequences. Many are being deceived by other religions and modern day sciences. They miss the main point though. Why death?

And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the tree of the garden; but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said,” You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it lest you die. (Genesis 3:2-4)

It is clear from these verses that God had ordered Adam and Eve not to eat from the tree of knowledge because they would surely die the day they would eat from that tree. Satan in the form of serpent  deceived Eve that led to Adam and Eve’s disobedience.

Many of us at this point may think but they did not really die!

Did they?

Did God lie to them?

No. God never lies (Numbers 23:19, Titus 1:2). Adam and Eve died because of their disobedience. It was the day of their spiritual death. They blamed God for their fall. Genesis 3 shows further how death entered the world and the consequences of sin:

In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread. Till you return to the ground, For out of it you were taken; dust you are, And to dust you shall return. (Genesis 3:19)

Adam and Eve’s disobedience brought sin into this world; the world which was perfect and sinless. Sin not only brought spiritual death but physical death too. God created bodies for our immortal souls, but sin took over and everything started dying.

How many times have you seen people blaming God for their sickness or disease?  They curse God’s name when they go through sickness or when their loved ones die. But, let me remind you that it is not God’s fault. Adam’s fall brought death into this world. God created a good world free from disease. Many blame God for their sickness, but they never try to find the reason behind their sufferring. Bible says,”Everyone has sinned” thus everyone is bound to get sick. You can be sure that your body will die at some point, but what will happen to your soul?

…and it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgement.” (Hebrew 9:2)

The Bible talks about the judgement and justice of God. When each of us die will shall stand before God and be accounted for and give an account. We can be sure that the moment we die, we will be standing before God’s righteous Judgement! He will judge every human who has ever lived on the earth. I often hear people saying (mainly young people) “only God can judge me”. I sure hope they know what judgment really means or for that matter, what it look like?

Thank God for the Bible, His Word which reveals to us deep and mysterious things which no man can reveal to us. Thank God the Bible gives us the truth and answers. Read on to see a glimpse of what that judgement shall look like.

Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from those face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was no place found for them. (Revelation 20:11)

Death of the body is inevitable. No one can escape it. However, people still living in their sins are spiritually dead and if they are spiritually dead it is impossible for them to inherit the kingdom of God. This means the only place for them will be hell, which the Bible calls the second death.

We must acknowledge the power and glory of God and His sovereignty over the entire universe. He was in control, is in control and will always be in control.

At this point you must be thinking, “I wish I have never read this article. The person who wrote this has given me news that has given me no hope”. We were indeed hopeless and condemned. We were going to die in everlasting hell. In order to escape from this someone had to die in our place to take our punishment. A sinless sacrifice was needed.

Here’s the good news, the Gospel. God sacrificed His only begotten son, JESUS CHRIST the perfect Lamb of God who was slain on the cross. He died for you and me on that gruesome cross. He bore our sins and died on the cross. The power of the death was cancelled and overcome by the death of Jesus Christ and we can be made alive through the death and resurrection of Christ.

For as Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. (1 Corinthians 15:22)

Praise be to God. He is gracious and merciful to us. Adam’s disobdience brought sin and death into this world but Christ freed us from the curse of death. He reminds us that our bodies will die one way or the other. However an even bigger reminder He warned us about is our souls (Luke 12:4-5). I pray that you may believe in Jesus and become BORN AGAIN. It is impossible to know and be with God and escape eternal death without being born again (John 3:3).

You will die one day regardless of what religion you belong to; there is only “One” who can give you eternal life (and it is free) and His name is Jesus Christ.

In Christ Alone

Sonny