Dear Cornerstone Family,
Let the reality of this next statement settle on you for a moment: you are going to die. It could be today or tomorrow, or maybe 60 or 70 years from now. For most of us, it will be sometime between now and then. Nevertheless, the fact remains, if the Lord doesn’t return before long, we are going to die. You are going to die.
In modern times, we work hard at not thinking of death. We’d rather focus on the temporal matters right before us and get on with it. But Christianity teaches that when we refuse to take death into account as we live, we’re destined to live deluded and deceived existences. When we stave off thoughts of our own mortality, we’re doomed to waste our lives on trivial matters. For, as Moses reminds us, we never gain a heart of wisdom if we don’t learn to number our days (Psalm 90:12).
Historically, the church understood this. If you’ve ever visited Europe or a historic U.S. city and had the privilege to tour some ancient churches, you’ve likely noticed a graveyard surrounding the church. Lining the pathways leading to the church’s entrance are tombstones with images of skulls, or skeletons, or angels. Bits of Scripture inscribed on the stones reminding you life is vain and fleeting (Ecclesiastes 1:2), to die in Christ is gain (Philippians 1:21), to lay up heavenly treasure—the only treasure that lasts (Matthew 6:19-21).
Aside from the fittingness of being laid to rest where you were most at rest in life—in the presence of God and His people—the graveyard served as a living reminder of mortality to the living. Each Lord’s Day, worshipers literally stepped over the dead on their way to offer a sacrifice of praise. They faced eternity on their way to meet with the Eternal.
Now, lest we misunderstand, remembering that we are all dirt—and the dirt we’re made of has an expiration date—is not some dark, morbid reflection. Instead, it is intended to clear the mind’s eye, to help us see and live with eternity in view. When we remember our death, life is clarified and ordered. The things that seemed so important just a few moments ago disappear from view as eternal matters take the foreground.
Moreover, remembering our death leads us ultimately to Jesus Christ, for remembering our death is humbling. We come to terms with our weakness, our neediness. It brings us to our knees, to recognize our need for a Savior and the fact that we have one.
So, as we take time to remember death, let us recognize one more thing. Right at the center of all we believe is a cross and a resurrection—a death that put to death, death. Which is to say, when a Christian remembers death, he remembers Christ, and to remember Christ is to remember life. So, take heart, brothers and sisters. You are dust and to dust you shall return. But dust you will notremain. Let’s remember Christ—and live!
