Published on 09/7/2006

If only someone could offer a warranty for the powertrain inside my body and yours. Or guarantee a smooth future for our country and its politics. Or promise us that we won't die of cancer. As we saw yesterday, the death rate for the human race is still 100 percent. As we begin thinking about the five-year anniversary of 9-11 this Monday, it is appropriate to be sure that we are ready for death whenever it finds us and those we love.

Commentary

According to this morning's Wall Street Journal, death rates have decreased for 11 of the 15 most common cancers in men and 10 of the 15 most common in women. However, thyroid cancer has jumped to surprising levels. Meanwhile, England's Tony Blair is facing a growing revolt in his Labour Party. Yesterday, seven junior members of his government resigned, protesting his refusal to say when he'll step out of power. The revolt raises fears that the eventual change of leadership will be rancorous and messy.

Closer to home, General Motors is announcing that it will extend its warranties for 2007 vehicles, giving powertrain coverage for five years or 100,000 miles. The move matches warranties offered by several of GM's competitors.

Today's question: why does an all-loving, all-powerful God allow death to exist? The simple answer: because of sin. The Bible says, "Sin entered the world through man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all have sinned" (Romans 5:12). This wasn't God's intention. He created a perfect world for his children. But when sin entered, death stayed. Death exists, not because God doesn't love us or isn't powerful, but because of sin.

Sometimes we die because of our own sin, as did the thief at Jesus' side. Sometimes we die because of the sins of others, as when a drunk driver kills a child. Sometimes we die because of the sin of humanity, for this is a fallen world. But we all die.

God doesn't stop death, so that we'll not live forever in our fallen world and bodies. His word is clear: "Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable" (1 Corinthians 15.50). Physical death frees us to live forever in glorified bodies with God in his heaven. Then one day, death will be destroyed forever: "Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of five" (Revelation 20:14). His word promises: "There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." (Revelation 21:4). If Christ is your Lord, when you die, you don't. Let's conclude tomorrow.