You Are Never Too Young To Die

I read an article some time ago which holds a peculiar relevance to me on the occurrence of my father’s passing. It was entitled: “Few see themselves as ‘old,’ no matter what their age.” In a survey of 3,000 adults, those under 30 said that 60 is old. Those over 60 said 75 is old. At our wedding (25 years ago), my father was not quite 60. I thought he was old. Now that I am 61, I no longer think so!

However, I do find myself checking the obituaries more than I used to, to see if any of my high school classmates have died! But personally, the more I attempt to live the truth that I am dead to this world and alive to God, the less I care about my age, or concern myself with how many days are left to me.

In 1994, it seemed that my younger brother died much too young at age 38 from cardiac arrest. But if you and I are truly not ‘of this world,’ can there really be any such thing as an ‘untimely’ death. As a “son of God,” neither your life nor your time is your own (1 Cor. 6:19). And if you are truly experiencing your death to (separation from) this world, it seems to me that it almost makes physical death irrelevant. Over this last year, I reminded my father many times that he was never going to “die”—because he had already died in Christ. That’s why we use the word “pass”—we simply pass out of time into eternity.

Paradoxically, as a ‘spirit’ being, you are ageless but always getting ‘younger.’ Paul says If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature…all things have become new…our inner man is being renewed day by day… [Therefore, you should] walk in the newness of life (2 Cor. 5:17; 4:16; Ro. 6:4). And don’t forget: “all things new” may begin on this side, but it continues on the other—with new heaven and earth, a new Jerusalem, a new name, a new song. Jesus said Look, I am making all things new! (Rev. 5:9; 14:3; 21:1,2,5).