The Letter to the Church Chapter Fifteen: Falling away is not about dying young but about dying without fulfilling what God created you to do.

It is surprising how familiar it is. When you pass by a place and hear that someone has died, often the family members are in pain, and some quickly seek to know what the deceased said last. Even in remembering the person, neighbors, friends, and others are curious to know their final words. Where did death come from? Who created death? What was death created for? Many people hate it because it brings grief, but others have made it their friend because it is what will lead them to a place where they will no longer die. Let me also say that those who fear it (death) are like those avoiding going to a good or bad place depending on the master they serve and that those it takes do not suffer; rather, it is those they leave behind who feel the pain. Death that is not from God may be defeated and cursed.

Where did death come from?

You may have asked yourself this question before, or perhaps you’re asking it now because I’ve written about it here. Various scholars have discussed this topic, and different pastors have claimed that death was created by God. But today, I will focus on what the Holy Scriptures say about it.

But the tree of knowledge of good and evil should not be eaten from, because the day you eat from it, you will surely die (Genesis 2:17). Let us reflect on the following words:

1. God was the first to speak the word “death.”
2. God spoke the word “death” before man sinned.
3. If God spoke the word “death” before man sinned, it means that death existed before sin came into being.
4. Since God spoke the word “death” first, who created death?

The late Dr. Myles Munroe, in his seminar titled “The Birth and Death of Death,” said that death was created by God, but it was created without power, and we could call it neutral. He continued by saying that after God created death, He compared it to a lion without teeth and hunger, frightening but not capable of devouring or harming. Let me add that it is like a bee without a sting. Death has no power; it is given power by sin.

However, if indeed every creation has its source in the Creator, would that mean that death also has divinity? I do not wish for us to be divided over this because not everything is necessary to understand, as what is hidden belongs to the Lord our God, but what is revealed belongs to us and our children forever (Deuteronomy 29:28). Thus, what God has given us to know is that He spoke of death before sin, but did not reveal where it came from, even though some have said that it was created by Him. Knowing where death originated is important but not essential for obtaining eternal life.

Believing in death is our friend because it will lead us to the hope we await, which is eternal life. But for those who do not believe or are pagans, death is an enemy because it will lead them to eternal torment where the worm does not die and the fire is not quenched (Mark 9:44).

Falling away is not dying young but dying without doing what you were created to do.

I am alive to know God and to make Him known to others, to honor Him and glorify Him, and to fulfill the work He has given me so that I may go home afterward. I once heard a teacher boldly say that God said a person’s lifespan is 120 years and that if someone surpasses this, they are lying about their age, which would contradict the Scriptures. I pondered this for a while and realized that God spoke of an average lifespan, so it is possible to exceed it.

Dying young or at a young age is not a decline or a problem. For example: In a national exam, students are often given two hours, which equals 120 minutes, but a student does not have to use all that time to complete the exam. Some students complete it in 40, 50, 60, or 70 minutes, while others may not finish in time. This analogy is similar to our lives on earth. Some people understand their purpose and fulfill it in thirty years, others in forty, eighty, and so on. If I finish my exam early, who will prevent me from going home? If I complete what I was created to do, who will stop me from returning home? Let us remember that one’s home is where he sleeps, not where have spent a day.

A child who refuses to go home is a angry one, and if a Father/God calls you and you refuse to answer, you would be called disrespectful. Therefore, if you complete your work and are called home, passing through death will bring you to your Father, your home. Dying young is not a decline but decline is to die without fulfilling your purpose.

Lesson and Conclusion

If you complete your work on earth by the age of thirty, then go home. If you wish for an extra year, you may not use it well, as others may misuse it (e.g., King Hezekiah). Since I do not know if an additional year would be used well, I prefer to return home as it is better to go to a place of rest than to remain here (this idea reflects my personal view but aligns with the Scriptures). Many say that when a person dies, they were needed. But who knows the creation better than the Creator? When God releases you, He sees that you have completed your task. Those who grieve due to the loss of their loved ones should take comfort, for we will see them again, and the Creator does what He wishes for the benefit of His kingdom. If you wish to receive help and learn based on the Word of God and methods to handle your pain and wounds, you can write to us, and we will connect you with someone who can assist you. Click here!