A Reflection On Death

When I am afraid of dying

In many places in the world, Christians are put to death for no other reason than their faith. This is no surprise; Jesus said it would be so. According to recent statistics, Christians are the most persecuted religious group in the world. Still, there is something comforting in Jesus’ words: “Not a hair of your head will perish!” He has just told the disciples that some will die, yet not a hair of their head will perish. How can this be?

Jesus doesn’t define death as genuine harm. As frightening as death is to most of us, and as tragic as early death seems to us, we can all expect to die. Death is a universal experience, whether we are being persecuted for our faith or our bodies fail us for some other reason. Yet Jesus assures us that if we stand firm with Him (Luke 21:19), not a hair will perish. No real harm will come to us, because death for those who are in Christ is not real harm.

They will even kill some of you. . . . But not a hair of your head will perish!

Luke 21:16, 18