The Art of Dying Well

By Steve Cornell

I believe in the dignity of humanity. Made from the dust of the earth in the image and likeness of God, humans are the crowning work of the Creator. Yet we are a fallen race. This means that along with our dignity we must acknowledge our depravity. It shouldn’t be too hard to make this dual confession. Side by side in our history, we find human examples of great acts of kindness and heroism and horrific acts of hatred, violence and destruction. Clearly, we have fallen from our dignity by rejecting the rule of our Creator. Our dignity has been deeply marred. Because of this simple yet tragic fact, “From dust we have come and to dust we shall return” (Genesis 3:19). Yes, “Death is the destiny of every person and the living should take this to heart” (Ecclesiastes 7:2). It doesn’t matter if you are rich or poor, influential or unknown, educated or uneducated, religious or heathen—each one of us will draw our last breath and die.  

Over the past fifty years in our nation, we have created a culture more significantly insulated from death than previous generations. We’ve moved aging and dying out of our homes into hospitals and convalescent homes. Suffering and death is more often something we visit rather than something we live with daily. In previous generation, aging parents were brought to the homes of their children to finish their days on earth. This came with hardships, discomforts and sacrifices but it also yielded an important education in what earlier generations called, “The art of dying well.”  

Before taking matters too far, we should pause and acknowledge several truths about death and life.

1.     Death is an enemy and a thief –not a welcomed friend.

2.     Death reminds us of our sin and the curse

3.     Death separates us from our loved ones

4.     Death is an occasion for grief and sorrow.

5.     Life is precious as made in the image and likeness of God.

6.     Life should be protected.

7.     Life must be valued and promoted over death 

Yet, with these important acknowledgements in place, life in our temporal, physical bodies is not ultimate and should not be elevated above matters of eternal consequence. Jesus stated this plainly in Luke 12:4-5:

“I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.”

One has well stated that, “Believers are not to cling to the trappings of this life till the very end. Rather we should slowly lose our grip on this world as our affections are gradually transferred to the next. This must start early in our Christian lives. It is imperative that, as maturing Christians, we begin early the process of dying. We must no longer fear death; we must see it as a defeated enemy. We must begin to relinquish the material values of this life and to focus increasingly on the life of eternity that God has prepared for us. It is with these perspectives that we will be prepared to face the latter days of our lives.”

“He who fears death or is not willing to die,” wrote Luther,  “is not sufficiently Christian. As yet such people lack faith in the resurrection, and love this life more than the life to come” (quoted in A Commentary to the Epistle to the Hebrews by P. E. Hughes, [Grand Rapids, 1977: Eerdmans] 114).

Think of how Jesus faced death with majestic calmness and selfless focus as he hung on that brutal instrument of torture. His followers ran for fear of their lives. The soldiers mocked him and divided his garments. The religious leaders could only express their outraged over the sign on Jesus’ cross. The crowd ridiculed Jesus and shook their heads in disgust. While this was happening, what did Jesus do? He committed no sin and never uttered a deceitful word. Though repeatedly insulted, he did not retaliate. Though he suffered so greatly, he uttered no threats. Instead, He “kept entrusting himself to him who judges justly” (I Peter 2:23). In the garden of Gethsemane, after loud crying and tears to the one who was able to save him from death (Hebrews 5:7), he embraced that Father’s will to be our sin offering. As he hung on the cross dying, Jesus was prayed for his abusers (Father Forgive them), tended to his mother, ministered to a criminal and accomplished our salvation.  

When the appointed time had come for him to die, no man took his life from him he laid it down by himself (John 10:18). Jesus called out with a loud voice: “Father into your hands I commit my spirit”. Then he breathed his last breath and died. What dignity!

But the story didn’t end with death because, “God raised him up putting an end to the agony of death since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power” (Acts 2:24).

Because Jesus broke the power of death, those who trust him as their Savior should have a radically different view of death. This is where the Scripture offers unparalleled perspective, comfort and hope. If you have come to Jesus and trusted him as Savior, he wants you to be clear that “whoever comes to me I will never drive away” (John 6:37).

Those who come to Christ have been given to him by God the Father and Jesus said, “I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:39-40). Jesus was unequivocally clear when he said, “…because I live, you will live also” (John 14:19).

Those who belong to Jesus should adopt the perspective described in Romans 14:8, “If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.” The reason we have this understanding of living and dying is that, “He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep (i.e. alive or dead), we may live together with him” (I Thessalonians 5:10). Yes, “…the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). If you trust in Jesus as your personal Savior, remember his words, “Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades (Revelation 1:17-18).

Jesus gave direct orders when he said, “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:1-3). Consider some of the features of the place awaiting us: “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (Revelation 21:3-4).

In view of these words of hope, we join the apostle in confessing that, “…we prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord (II Corinthians 5:8). Even while we desire to serve Christ in this life, we live with tension because at a deeper level, we “desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better (Philippians 1:23). Although death itself is not desired, the destiny awaiting those who belong to Jesus should be strongly desired. This is why the apostle can write, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). We cannot live or die well unless we take ownership of these words. This must become our life purpose statement: “to live is Christ and to die is gain.”

Steve Cornell

By Steve Cornell Click here for bio and archived articles