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  What does the Bible say about death? There is no other way to look at life, having the right perspective, than to view it with death in mind. Therefore, death reminds us of the end of a beginning. And, this should turn our attention to the Creator and Sustainer of life. Death is the great equalizer as William Shakespeare iterates in the Hamlet, but in reality death symbolizes a separation, in two different ways: 1.) Separation from the living, and 2.) Separation of the wicked and the righteous dead also (cf., Luke 16:22-26; Ecclesiastes 12:13-14; 1 Samuel 2:3, 10 et al.).

  Death, because of separation, is sad and a hard matter, but it is the consequence of sin that is really hard, and as some things in the Bible are “hard sayings,” these are difficult matters to handle (John 6:60). After these hard sayings by Jesus—hard matters to handle—“many of His disciples went back, and walked no more with Him” (6:66): Death is a great test. It is a hard matter, and it is something that most dread, but this is not, necessarily, the way God looks at death. For the saint, to God, death is a precious matter, but more will be said about this later (cf., Psalm 116:15). However, we need to learn to view death as God does.
Because of sin, man dies. It is the unalterable consequence of sin, and God said this would be the case in the event that Adam and Eve would sin (Genesis 2:17; Romans 5:12; 6:23). So, death has passed upon all mankind because the wage of sin is death. We suffer in the flesh because of sin. All suffering, in fact, is due to sin, and God is not the author of such. Let no man say when he is tempted that he has been tempted by God. Why? Because God tempts no man according James 1:13. Every man is tempted when he is drawn away by his own lust and enticed; and when this lust has conceived it turns to sin/transgression. Sin, here, brings forth death, and this is man’s age old problem (James 1:13-16). James’ solution here is one of choice. He simply says: “Do not err, my beloved brethren.” It is a choice to sin, not an obligation. If man could not keep from sinning, man could not keep from doing good. Man must work hard to overcome sin and therefore do good. More to come…