Bishop's Message

Before I die, I want to…

Replica of an empty tomb in Israel.

“I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live.” (Jn 11:25)

Death comes to everyone. Regardless of the differing views of death owing to race, culture and religion, it is the same for all—a cessation of all the body’s vital functions.

How do Christians view death? Let us first understand that God is the creator of life. Death did not come from Him; instead He prepared the Tree of Life for man. Death was the result of man’s choosing sin; it is for this reason death is with us. Death will be vanquished when sin is conquered. Jesus is the only one in human history who overcame sin and therefore conquered death. He died and was buried. On the third day, He rose again.

John 11:25 is one of the most important expositions of the Christian faith about life and death. The sins of all who believe in Jesus have been forgiven and the wages of sin paid. They will not be bound by death forever but, like Jesus in whom they believe, will be freed and rise from the dead with a new body.

The Bible tells us death is not the end but what we have to go through before resurrection. Thus, Christians need not be fearful of death for we know the land of glory to be at the end of the tunnel and we will have life again. We may be in a pitch-dark tunnel but we move on with courage.

There is a saying: How can you understand death if you do not know what life is? Conversely, knowing about death should make one value life and strive to live a life that is meaningful and abundant. Christians need not be preoccupied with how to face death because Christ has resolved it for us. Instead, we are to remind ourselves to live well and have a vibrant and radiant life, one that is a blessing to others.

Hallelujah! Christ is risen!

Bishop Dr Chong Chin Chung was elected Bishop of The Methodist Church in Singapore in 2016. He served as President of the Chinese Annual Conference from 2008 to 2016.

Picture by lindasj2/Bigstock.com

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