It is natural to feel discouraged and even fearful when facing a terminal illness. Dying or the process of dying via an illness can be unpleasant. In some cases, painful. And nobody likes pain.

And for many people, they fear for no longer being with loved ones.

"For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better." (Philippians 1.21 NLT)

Many Christians know this verse and yet they still fear dying.

But the word "terminal" has more than one meaning. Two of the several meanings, per Cambridge:

• "(of a disease or illness) leading gradually to death" or
• "the area or building at a station, airport, or port that is used by passengers leaving or arriving by train, aircraft, or ship".

The "terminal" as in the second meaning implies that it is a place Christians arrive and then leave for heaven. The real destination is not the terminal itself, but heaven.