This week, the world was shocked by the passing of legendary wrestler Hulk Hogan. He is the third prominent Christian to die this month, amongst others like John MacArthur and Malcolm Jamal Warner.
Again, we see that God’s people aren’t spared from suffering or death. Hulk Hogan’s death hit close to home to me personally because I live in the community he is from, and I grew up watching him with my father and little brother.
Less than a week after his death, there is already a potential feud over his estate and money. After being a worldwide celebrity and living a luxurious life, Terry Bollea wasn’t able to take anything with him when he died:
- Money
- Fame
- Cars
- Homes
Although Hulk Hogan was an outspoken Christian, his life was riddled by controversy in recent years. It was clear to the world he was in a spiritual battle between truly living and being dead in his sin (Ephesians 2:1).
The Bible is clear this temporary world will end and every living thing will face death (Hebrews 9:27, 2 Peter 3:10, Revelation 20:7-10). Death entered the world because of the fall in the garden (Genesis 3:1-27).
What Is Death
Death isn’t something anyone wants to talk about because it makes us sad, regardless of who has died. Because of sin, we must all face death in some form at some point in life. Death is defined as “A permanent cessation of all vitals; the state of being no longer alive.”
Death can be either physical or spiritual (Genesis 3:19, Romans 6:23). Death is one of the consequences of living in this fallen and temporary kingdom. Death comes to everything alive in this kingdom at some point.
That is why the Bible has a lot to say about death (Ezekiel 18:32, Hebrews 2:14). I have faced a lot of death in my life. In my early 20s, I died in a car accident and in my late 20s, I watched both of my parents waste away from cancer and die.
I can assure you that none of us will take anything with us to the grave, not even memories. It was those hard lessons in my 20s that taught me the truth about death and true life. If you are like me, you understand that death comes for us all.
The older I get, the more I understand why God’s people shouldn’t fear death, but even desire it (Romans 14:8, 1 Corinthians 15:51-57, 2 Corinthians 5:6-8, Philippians 1:21-24, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Revelation 9:6). The Apostle Paul remembered his Jewish education about death and what it means for God’s people.
Māveṯ
The Torah tells us death entered the world after the fall in the garden when man chose Satan’s way over God’s way and life (Genesis 2:16-17). Because the first Adam chose death over life, we all live under the curse and face death (Genesis 3: number 17-19).
The Hebrew word in the Old Testament for death is māveṯ, and it can also mean “Dying, slay, dead, or realm of the dead,” depending on the context it is used in.
The ancient world was full of death and destruction because of mankind’s sin (Genesis 6:4-7). God’s plan was to use His people to help repair the world and bring life and hope back into the darkness (Genesis 12:1-3, Exodus, Leviticus 20:26, Deuteronomy 7:7-9).
Judaism doesn’t view death as the end of life, but only as one stays in the circle of life (Psalm 23:1-4, Ecclesiastes 3:2, Isaiah 25:4, Hosea 13:14):
- Birth
- Bar & Bet Mitzvah
- Beit Mitzvah
- Confirmation
- Consecration
- Marriage
- Death
- Mourning
Jesus continued this emphasis on death and true life during His earthly ministry. He taught His followers that if they didn’t die to themselves daily, then they couldn’t follow Him (Matthew 10:38, Luke 14:27).
Our Lord died Himself to conquer death so that we might all live and not be afraid of dying (John 3:16; 11:1-57). The second Adam points us towards true life, not temporary happiness and greatness that lead to death.
Jesus promised that He came so that we may have true life, not temporary happiness like this world (John 10:10). He taught His followers to store up treasures in heaven, not seek temporary earthly pleasures that won’t last (Matthew 6:20).
Unfortunately, there are many believers who choose to follow a man and a political party who uses the same playbook as Satan did in the garden and with Jesus in the wilderness (Genesis 3:5, Matthew 4:1-11). These people focus on temporary pleasure and earthly greatness, instead of true life.
Walmart Stabbings
In other sad news this weekend, a customer entered a Walmart in Michigan and stabbed 11 people, six of them are currently fighting for their lives. With the increase of senseless violence and the spread of wars, it’s more important to choose real life over temporary pleasures in this fallen kingdom (Joshua 24:15, Hebrews 11:6, 1 Peter 2:9).
This world can only bring temporary happiness, and we will take nothing with us when we die. When we choose life and God’s way, we may experience temporary pain, but what awaits us in Heaven is so much greater than anything this world or a man can offer us without pain or death (Isaiah 40:3, 2 Corinthians 4:17, Revelation 21:4).
Unfortunately, there are false teachers and wolves who have deceived God’s people into focusing on this temporary kingdom (Matthew 7:14, Romans 16:17-18, 2 Corinthians 11:13, Colossians 2:8, 1 John 4:1-6):
- Greedy
- Deceptive
- Power-Hungry
- Unloving
Those lead to death. God’s people have forgotten that we are only foreigners passing through this temporary kingdom (Leviticus 25:23, 1 Peter 2:11). God’s people are to focus on our heavenly home, where we spend eternity with God (2 Corinthians 5:8, Hebrews 9:27).
It is impossible for a child of God to live their best life in this fallen kingdom that is dying, because our best lives await us after māveṯ!
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