There is nothing wrong with dying, that is, if you are a conscientious disciple of the Lord Jesus.

Perhaps the greatest fear of man is death. Except for those who have a terminal illness that causes them to suffer continually, the average person panics at the thought of death.

We are going along fine. Then we find a lump. Next is the biopsy and the miserable days before we hear the result.

Let's talk about those days in between the biopsy and the result of the test.

Will the results be positive or negative? Our week is ruined. Right?

Jesus Christ came to deliver us from the fear of death. By His death He made it possible for us to hope in a future life. Not a future life in a mansion in Heaven, as the present, impractical mythology sets forth. Who would want to live in a fancy house, wear golden slippers, and play a harp? If you are into harps, save up your money and buy one second hand.

Our heart will inform us that harps and slippers are at the bottom of the list. What we want is love, joy, and peace in an earth-like setting with none of the pains and problems of earth. If you are a sincere Christian, this is what you are going to get in the Day of the Lord. Paradise is to be restored to the earth.

But where will we be in the meantime—before the coming of the Lord?

You will be somewhere in the spirit realm. The Bible doesn't have much to say about this interim period except it will be a time of rest, and we will be gathered to our people.

But it is not the interim period of spirit existence that the Lord came to proclaim. It is real flesh-and-bone life in a real world on a real earth among people we know. The Presence of God will be everywhere. The children will be able to go swimming without drowning. Honest! I'm not kidding! This is what is coming up.

The person who turns away from God does not have this hope, unfortunately. Life after death for the wicked could be very bad indeed. Something like waiting for a court appearance in which the maximum penalty is eternal suffering.

People of today think that such a thing as eternal suffering is not possible. If it's all the same with everybody, I'd just as soon not wait to find out.

Go ahead and have your fun. But it is a fact of history that a man named Jesus of Nazareth came to earth. Read what He said and make up your own mind. I did, more than fifty years ago, and I'm here to tell you that nobody else on earth has got it right. And I wasn't raised in church. I'm just a dude like you and I've got better things to do than sit here writing lies to you.

The same may be said of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

If you are serving God, God will take care of your loved ones better than you ever could. To you death means the end of paying taxes, tiredness, dread, and everything else that makes life unpleasant.

There is nothing to worry about while you're waiting for the results of the test (I keep telling myself).