Only two people haven’t experienced death and are physically enjoying heaven. Just two. Enoch, who walked with God right into heaven (Genesis 5:24), and Elijah, who was carried past death into glory in a whirlwind (2 Kings 2:11). Unless the skies peel open and you see Jesus descending with all the heavenly hosts with him, there’s a pretty good shot that you’ll experience death.

That can be a scary thought. Death. So final. So inescapable. Many Christians fear death itself and then feel guilty. They wonder, “Do I have weak faith that I’m honestly afraid of death?” 

Have peace; you can fear death and still have strong faith. There’s nothing wrong with fearing the possible pain and process of death. That’s natural. That’s human. We are built with a natural fear of death to stop us from doing dumb, reckless things that kill us. But if you don’t fear what happens eternally after death, you have confident faith. In the end your soul will speak with the same boldness as your dear Savior, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit” (Luke 23:46).

Faith speaks as we spend our last minutes on earth. Author Heinrich Heine proclaimed, “God will forgive me. It is his profession.” Pastor John Newton, author of the famous hymn “Amazing Grace,” declared in faith: “I am in the land of the dying, and I am soon going to the land of the living.” Faith speaks.

What do you want your final words of faith to be?