Death is a subject that takes a terrible beating, I'm afraid, one of the greatest blessings a Christian can experience,
or at least it was designed to be that way.
"So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality,
then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory." (1Cor 15:54)
"According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that
with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by
life, or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain."
(Phil 1:20-21)
"Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints." (Psa 116:15)
Let me emphasize here that dying is not a blessing to every human being, to the contrary, many millions are justified in
being terrified by it, for they will pass from this life into torments, also called tartarus, which is the "holding pen"
for the souls who are destined for hell. "Terrified" is a mild word for the emotion they should be afficted with, and I
do not say this in a gloating manner! I would never, under any circumstances, rejoice at the destiny of those wretched
souls, nor should any Christian.
Even the most wicked of villains, Judas Eschariot, Adolf Hitler, Stalin... never took the eternal salvation from a
human soul, but only their temporal life. For all the suffering they wrought, and their lack of compassion and mercy;
If any of us could merely glimpse the Lake of Fire for a moment, it would be so ghastly, so horrific, that we would
cringe with revulsion that any creature would abide there forever.
It is only the absolute, infinite Justice of The Righteous Judge, and each member of The Godhead, that are able to endure
this knowledge. When right is done, and wickedness is forever put away from Him, He, alone, can remain at peace, for the
absolute nature of eternal God is inalterable, and His Happiness is an integral part of His essence. As such, He cannot be
less that tranquil in even the most extreme circumstances.
But enough of the morbid. This section is devoted to the transcendent blessing of leaving this veil of tears, and with it,
the body of corruption which is the cause of so much anguish, both mental and physical. As humans we are captured by the
images and emotions which fall upon our consciousness, and death is many times gruesome and unpleasant. But we are given
the divine view of this event, and thus we should rejoice at the prospect of joining our Lord in Heaven.
The problem here is that we regard death only from this side of the veil of time, and fail to consider what God sees on the
eternal frontier. Granted, dying can be a harrowing and grievous experience when cancer or some other rapacious disease are
the cause, or a bloody death comes upon a loved one. But this is where the specter of grim conditions end, for within the
twinkling of an eye, the departed soul is transported across the vast distance of deep space and into the glorious world of
God's domain.
We are not informed at length of the exact nature of our arrival there, but it is reasonable to assume that God arranges
a welcoming party for us, friends and loved ones who have preceded us in this long journey. Ofcourse, the highlight of
that moment will surely be our introduction to The Savior, as we will be "face to face" with Him. This promise,
incidentally, alludes to a body (only a body would have a face), which is another rare clue to the nature of this event.
Apparently, God has arranged an "interim body" for our souls to occupy while we wait for that wonderful hour, the
resurrection, when we will receive our new body, magnificent in every detail, that will be ours forever.
Perhaps it seems presumptious of me to assume a reuninon when we arrive, well hold on, for I will go further, a
celebration will be declared in our honor, and angels and men alike will throng to the festivities. And what of
the soul that a short time ago writhed in pain? We will be all smiles, greeting old friends and meeting new ones.
Angels, who have become freinds and loved ones of our own kind, will be invited, and the whole of the murmuring
crowd will be called to attention by a host, and the victory which has brought us there will be announced,
along with our name, and thus we will stand, to a deafening wave of cheering.
Remember, friends, the ocassion will be our arrival, but not one soul there will not be mindful that the true cause of
that festive atmosphere, and the pleasant tones of loving friendship, will be a tribute to God's great Love and mercy.
This is my justification for expecting a jubilant and triumphant ambiance in that palacial room, the cheerful smiles,
and engaging conversations. God is celebrating His victory over pain and death, and this is, indeed, a meaningful moment
for Him, as well as us.
A celebration in Heaven is nothing like a celebration here. There will be no awareness of time, nor growing weary. You may
sustain a lively get together for a week, or a month, non-stop. There will be no hunger, no need of any kind. No jealousy,
contention, strife. No doubts or fears. Your expanded mentality will be able to concentrate on many stimuating activities
simulntaneously, and your multi-faceted consciousness can appreciate and enjoy on a level beyond our ability to comprehend
now. You may be engaged in a dozen enounters at once, and without even the slightest distraction from any one of them.
You physical state will be a marvel that will probably require a good while to adjust to. You will be weightless, and you
will have an energy level that is limitless, and yet, not as we are here with a stimulant that keeps us awake. There will
be no nervous reaction, but total serenity and a relaxed thought pattern. You will not be nervous, or shy meeting new
friends, but experience an inner glow of complete, yet unobtrusive, confidence. Your attention to detail and enjoyment
of each of them, will be extraordinary. And, your expressions of self will be genuine, without facade, or mental "game
playing". There will be no apprehension, disgust, uncertainty.
Your awareness of others will be total, all consuming, and in a way thoughtful and considerate of them every moment. There
will be no subjectivity or embarassment. And you will wear your warm glow of love on the outside, where others will see
it, and respond with a reflected love.
Never before have you been swept along with that undercurrent of good feeling and contentment, the absence of any need to
demonstrate self, explain self. You will languish in this wonderful state for many days as you become familiar with your
new home, and marvel at the unlimited flow of thoughts that are pure, without a shade of uncomely nuance. Every face will
transmit this same inner glow, and the communion, or what we call "bonding", will be exciting and fullfilling every moment.
And when your arrival ceremony is complete, there will be no emotional hangover, as when you take down the Christmas tree,
of go back to work after a long holiday. The level of joy and placid thoughts will continue unabated, but the subjects
you may dweel upon may increase in scope and frequency. Every activity, down to the simplest movement, will be articulate
and gracefully executed. The beauty of Heaven will be the backdrop for this unique phenomenon, your initiation into the
lifestype you will enjoy forever without end.
Far from exaggeration, if anything those splendid hours that will stretch into millenia, millions of years, are even far,
far more extravagant that I am capable of imagining, or you. These are the musings of a romantic, but the best I can conjure
are shadows and images of this dark and forebidding realm. We are not able to envision the world of God, any more than a
painted figure in a landscape, were he alive, could imagine more than the pigment and oil, and the canvas, of his one
dimensional existence. How could he concieve of flesh and blood, the sweep of clouds across a stormy sky, the fury of
an angry sea beating against the shoreline? To him, only pigment, oil and his canvas world are the elements of his dreams,
his plans for a future, and even his vague awareness of you.
Consider this when your loved one departs the earth, if they are a Christian ofcourse, before you surrender so anxiously
to grief and despair. Surely, your world is now without a dear soul, but you can rejoice for them, as they soar away
to be joined with their Creator.