The Sting of Death

“But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 15:57, NIV.

“Oh, let’s don’t talk about death. We’re getting closer and closer to that age,” said Tani*. “Young people joke about it and use it lightly in conversation, but it’s best at our age not to talk about it.”

As Christians in Japan share about their relationship with God through Jesus’ death on the cross, they encounter many barriers and superstitions regarding death. If you talk about death, you might die. Or at the least, if you talk about death, it’s possible something bad will happen to you. 

When Tani was asked what she thought would happen to her when she died, she replied, “I don’t think about it. It’s not good to think about things like that.”

*The local person’s name has been changed for her privacy.

Pray that:

Tani and other Japanese will fear death to the point they want answers to what happens after death.

While young people are “open” to conversations about death, they will learn why Jesus died on the cross for them.

Japan’s aging population will meet Christ soon and live the best years of their life here on earth before living with Christ in eternity.

Pacific Rim is a region of the International Mission Board, SBC.