PASTOR’S CORNER, Tyler Prater, Fellowship Baptist Church, Liberal
Death is the one experience none of us can escape – and yet, most of us spend our lives trying not to think about it. We keep ourselves busy. We scroll through our phones. We fill our calendars. But eventually, death forces its way into our lives – through a news headline, a diagnosis, an accident, or the loss of someone we love. And in those moments, a question rises that can’t be ignored: Is there hope beyond death? That question isn’t just academic. It’s deeply personal. It touches every one of us, regardless of our background, our beliefs, or our successes. It’s a question we must face, and one that demands a real answer.
Ecclesiastes 7:2 says, “Death is the destiny of everyone; the living should take this to heart.” In other words, wise people don’t avoid thinking about death. They face it honestly.
Death was not part of God’s original good design. In the beginning, God created a world filled with life, not death. But when humanity rebelled against God in the Garden of Eden, sin entered the world – and with sin came death. Death is a painful reminder that the world is not the way it was meant to be. But if death is the penalty for sin, what hope can we have? If everyone dies, is there any way to escape its finality?
This is where the message of Christianity offers stunning hope. The Bible teaches how death was defeated through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus didn’t just teach good moral lessons or model a kind life. He came into our broken world for a purpose – to confront death head-on and overcome it. He lived a perfect, sinless life, the life we should have lived. Then He died in our place, bearing the punishment for sin we deserved. And three days later, He rose from the grave, conquering death forever.
His resurrection wasn’t symbolic. It was a real, historical event, witnessed by hundreds of people. The apostle Paul wrote, “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day… and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve” (1 Corinthians 15:3–5). Paul even noted Jesus appeared to more than 500 people at once – many of whom were still alive when he wrote, meaning eyewitness testimony could be confirmed. The resurrection of Jesus changes everything. It proves death does not have the final word. It proves that there is life beyond the grave.
And it offers hope – not just vague, wishful thinking, but a concrete, anchored, living hope. Jesus made a bold promise: “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die” (John 11:25–26).
What does it mean to believe in Him? It means to trust in Him personally – not just acknowledging that He existed, but resting your whole life and eternity in His hands. It means admitting our sin, turning to Him in faith, and following Him as Savior and Lord.
For those who trust Christ, death becomes a doorway, not an end. The Bible says, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). It’s not that Christians don’t grieve. We grieve deeply. But we grieve with hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13).
One day, God promises to make everything new. Revelation 21:4 gives a breathtaking vision of that future: “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” This is not just wishful thinking. It is the sure promise of a faithful God.
So what does this mean for you today? First, it means you don’t have to live in fear. Death is a fearsome enemy, but it has been defeated. If you are in Christ, your future is secure, no matter what happens in this life.
Second, it means your life matters. If there is life beyond death, then how you live now matters. Loving others, seeking justice, living with integrity, sharing the good news of Jesus—these things ripple into eternity.
Third, it means you have a decision to make. Hope beyond death is not automatic. It’s a gift offered to you, but it must be received by faith. Jesus invites you to trust Him—not just to add Him to your life, but to entrust your life—and your death—to Him. There is no greater decision you can make. None of us knows when our last day will come. But all of us can know where we stand with God today. There is hope beyond death. His name is Jesus. Trust Him today.
