I'm simply curious about something....?

Question

If Heaven is the ultimate reward for all our "hard work" here on earth....then why is it we fear death so much? Why do we cling to our physical existence if the afterlife is so much more glorious?

Answer 1

Personally, I am looking forward to going, however, I don't want to leave my family until it's my turn to go.

Answer 2

If I were really rich and powerful, and I had many thousands of people under my control, living as slaves, barely making it through life, each day more miserable than the next, I would think I had a pretty good scam going. But I would worry about these poor people catching on to the raw deal they had. I would start thinking of ways to keep these people working hard, making me money, and costing almost nothing.

I would definitely make sure these people had little or no education. Keep 'em busy in the fields. Kill a few off once in a while to keep them scared. Scared workers are busy workers.

I would probably also invent a bunch of stories that none of them could ever verify. It would be really crafty to present these stories as positive lessons with the power to enhance their lives. I'd make promises I would never need to keep, like setting up an amazing reward for people who worked really hard for all of their lives and didn't ask too many questions.

I would realize that I could set up these stories so the conclusion anyone believing them would arrive at is that doing what you're told and following the rules would lead you to a magical place where everything is perfect and you're happy forever.

I'd realize the problem was I'd have a hard time paying off on this. I could tell them that they would get this reward only after they die. I could be pretty vague about how this is going to work, and let's face it, nobody's who's dead is going to complain that they couldn't collect.

Am I right or am I right?

I'd spice things up with an evil place, too. A place as bad as the other invented place was awesome. These people don't have any education, so I might as well go for it. I'd tell them that if they break any rules they risk going to this bad place. Forever. And it's hot.

Perfect. I've got a whole crew of idiots who think if they do what I say they'll get a huge reward, but only when they die. And if they don't do what I say they go to a really hot, bad place. Obviously I've set up a pretty good incentive for them to work for me. For free.

What could possibly go wrong?

The smarter ones in the bunch would realize that they could hop on the bullet train to easy street and kill themselves. Life is miserable, they'd think, and I've been really good, shovelling all this crap and listening to that fat guy tell me what to do. If I off myself I'll be drinking margaritas before sunset tonight.

If all of this happened, I would definitely add a new rule.

As of Tuesday all suicide will be considered against the law. The usual punishment will apply. (The dark hot place.)

They'll never figure this out. What's for dessert?

Answer 3

Because it was not God's original plan for anyone to die at all, hence our natural fear of death. Death is simply a state of non-existence. The dead are unconscious, awaiting the resurrection.

Heaven is the "ultimate reward" for only 144,000 humans. All the rest have the hope of living forever on a paradise earth.

Answer 4

Only those whom are not right with God are afraid of death. For them, death is an unknown quantity. Go to the Amazing Facts website and read two free study guides by these titles:

Are The Dead Really Dead?
Is The Devil In Charge Of Hell?

I'd post the links to them, but Yahoo is now blocking posting those links. ;-)

Answer 5

Well, nobody likes the idea that they will be separated from their loved ones. Plus, it is by no means assured that we will definitely go to heaven! Those are my reasons for fearing death. I try to be a faithful Christian, but I fail in numerous ways every day. I just pray that God will give me the grace to persevere.

Answer 6

some are not afraid of death -- most are.
It's a thing that is unknown at best, everybody goes thru it.

only about 2 reports ever has someone come back from death - believe it or not is up to you.

It's a combination fear - many things together, I think.

Answer 7

Throughout the church age, historical Christianity has taught that heaven and hell are as much a reality as land, sea and space. The Bible, rightly divided certainly affirms the belief in a literal and eternal heaven and hell, Jesus Himself being most responsible for its teachings on hell. It is only in recent decades that this doctrine has come into question on a large scale by evangelicals and non-Christians. But if your to read John 3 verse10-21 I believe Jenny, you shall have no fears,. What, we are as mortals, truly is not the fear of death is the question, but most of us fear the afterlife and relating this to Hell, as this is what all should fear, if your not in oneness with God, if your in oneness with God, than God, clearly states, that For God so loved the World that he gave his one and only Son \, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God, did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. The people, who who do awful things to others only to hurt their Souls for their own gradifaction, well certainly they should fear the afterlife for their will not be the light offered to them as for their dirty deeds they have done on to others, and hate the thought of even talking about this subject for they either do not believe, or they just don't want to find the time to address God, and these issues, and by saying that there is only one place for those types of dark people to go and that place being Hell, and yes there is a Hell, and this is why we fear death for we as mortals must get rid of our egos first to except that we can talk freely about our Father, with out the fear of being rejected by someone who just doesnt want to talk about these issues as there just to boring, not to mention that they dont care nor believe that in just a blink of an eye they could die, and they would die in sin. Some people dont take God, serious, or they say oh well I will deal with God, on another day I have time, but now I must go race that race, or try to steal that buck, or tell a lie, over and over again. No , it just doesnt happen that way, even though we have the most forgiving Father, he will not except those that continue on the same evil path, and then keep asking for forgiveness, or just dont believe period. And those, that don't believe, trust me when I say to you Jenny, that anyone who does evil hatres the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But, whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God, and will never have to fear.

Answer 8

well there are a lot of people who don't fear death....there are those that see it as just another part of life, and others are just so secure in their faith that they don't fear anything. but i think for the majority of people, death is a scary thing. you don't know if you are going to be in pain, or what and you just don't know what to expect.

Answer 9

People who have a strong belief in the afterlife do not fear death.
That is why it is so difficult to keep Muslims at bay when they strap explosives to their bodies and blow up innocent people on buses.

Answer 10

Because we just don't reeeaaalllyyy know for sure. No one knows what happens after death for sure so that nagging doubt is always going to be there.
If you had pure faith you wouldn't worry but most of us don't.

Answer 11

To live is Christ to die is gain.While alive we live to serve Christ,we accept his sacrifice of his Crucifixion for our salvation.We live but we are not fearful of death.As we are with him fully in our death for eternity.Shalom