Saturday, June 11, 2011

Death

My grandfather died today.

Please, don’t say, “Oh, I’m so sorry,” or any similar form of condolence in response to that sentiment.

I feel as if I am one of a random few who view death for what it is and it has little effect on me.

Death is a part of life – the only absolute in our future, really. (I’d probably make a horrible ‘grief counselor’ or sympathizer – at least in cases where the death is of someone elderly or it was expected.) While we may miss those who are no longer with us, we have to keep in mind of what exactly happens after death…

The body is dead. Nothing can change that fact.

The deceased are now free of any suffering, pain, or physical limitations. (Hooray!)

It is a transition for those who still breathe on this earth, and that should not be discounted or pushed aside. (However, not all people grieve.)

The deceased’s spirit…now this is where I’ve heard variant forms of theology, debate, or commonly accepted theory.

Depending on whom you talk to you may hear one of three things:
1. Nothing happens after you die. You have no spirit.
2. The spirit immediately goes to heaven or hell.
3. The spirit is essentially asleep, only to awaken at the return of Christ.

I definitely do not agree with the first sentiment, so I’m going to process the other two theories below.

My main point of reference is in 1st Thessalonians, chapter 4 verses 13-18.

"Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words."

The phrase “those who fall asleep” means “those who are already dead.” Evidently, from what I’ve read via biblical scholars, the Thessalonians were under the impression that the rapture was only for the living, and those who died didn’t get to join Christ “in the air”. So this passage is to help them understand what happens after death & before Christ’s return.

Once Christ returns and the trumpet sounds, the dead (or those who have already fallen asleep) will awaken; and those believers who are yet living will have their spirits leave their bodies and join the ‘already dead’ in meeting Christ (otherwise known as the rapture).

So…is it immediate? Probably not, but when we’re dead we won’t know the difference; and the living can’t possibly fathom one way or the other what it’s like.

Time for God is not like time for mankind. God views the past, present and future as one unit. If we were able to view time from His vantage point, what may seem like eons to us may appear to be a fraction of a second to Him.

We can comfort ourselves and those who yet live with phrases like, “They’re with God now,” or “They’re in Heaven with Jesus.” And I’m fine with that. What truly matters to me is what kind of an eternal perspective the living have, if any.

It eases the mind and the soul to have faith and believe that those who trust in Christ Jesus are reunited with Him – whether it’s immediately or upon Christ’s return at some unknown date. (To reference current news, every time I hear a prediction I immediately think, “We’ll we now know it’s not going to be that day.)

I am tired so I shall end with this; a favorite line used in movies dealing with death is so very relevant and true…

“Death is only the beginning.”