The Inevitable: Death
Death…not something we enjoy thinking much about. It’s heavy. It’s hard. It’s painful.
Is death final? Is death something to be feared?
These, and questions like them, are the thoughts we often consider when we are faced with the reality of death. It’s a part of life. It’s inevitable, whether we want it to be or not.
There are few certainties in this life, and death is one of them. I believe it was Benjamin Franklin who said, “In this world, nothing is certain except death and taxes.” It’s a catchy phrase and perhaps even laughable, but I’m not sure that it’s entirely true. Aren’t there other things that are also certain?
Admittedly though, death cannot be avoided no matter how hard we try. Oh, but we do try! Billions of dollars are spent every year to delay the inevitable; but no matter how many anti-aging products we try, death eventually comes for us all. We distract ourselves from the reality of death because we fear death. We fear death because we are tempted to think it is final.
But what if we lived with the inevitability of death in sight? What if hope could be intrinsically linked to death?
Would this change the way we lived? Would it bring a deeper sense of purpose to our days?
As a woman of deep faith in Jesus, I know that death is not final. I know that we will all die once, but we will all live twice—once here and now on this earth, and once again in eternity. Whether you believe in the afterlife or not, the fact remains that your days are numbered. So are mine.
So, what are we doing with them?
The ancient book of wisdom in the Bible, Proverbs, is primarily a collection of wise sayings and principles by which we should live. In many ways, the Proverbs can be read like “cause and effect” statements. For example, if you do this, then this will happen. So, don’t do this, and then you will not reap the consequences of that. Get it? They are simple and easy to understand, and that is why many people love them.
Here are just a few:
“…but whoever listens to me [wisdom] will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm.” Proverbs 1:33
“For the one who finds me [wisdom] finds life…” Proverbs 8:35a
“There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.” Proverbs 14:12
Sounds like wisdom is a pretty important element to a life of purpose, meaning, and hope.
Deep down, we know this to be true. We want there to be more to life than just chasing after the next best thing, climbing the ladder, surviving but not thriving, distracting ourselves from and fearing the inevitable. Right? So maybe there’s hope in accepting & reflecting on our inevitable death? Can this reflection motivate us to pursue wisdom?
I invite you to explore these few Proverbs and consider what a life of wisdom would look like. Consider how our perspective on death could shift from fear to hope, if wisdom guided and directed our days.
Additionally, if you feel overwhelmed and need hope this week, please check out this additional blog post on hopelessness.
If you have some more committed time, consider reading this book specifically addressing authentic Hope.
