Some people look at this life and believe this is as all there is. This is the end of the road. A dead end. People have bucket lists and sing songs about living like each day is their last. They believe that what is on Earth is everything. Their goal is to fill their lives with relationships, material things, and activities so that their lives on Earth matter. They meant something to the world because of all that they had. They hold on to their life here on Earth and find it a great tragedy when a life ends. Fear comes over them when they envision a life after the current.
This entire concept of fear and holding onto the now boggles my mind!
I understand that for people who do not have faith, the “what comes next?” can be terrifying. What confuses me the most is that Christians experience these feelings as well. Now, I am not trying to belittle death and the heartbreaking feelings that it often brings. I have experienced them myself. What I am trying to grasp is how people who believe there is a God and a Heaven, can be afraid to die or not look forward to their Earthly death?
Earth is not all that bad. I am glad I am alive, and I am thankful for my many blessings the Lord has given me here on Earth. I look at these wonderful Earthly blessings as just a preview of the exceptional blessings to come in Heaven. But, at the same time, I cannot wait to die! I find myself homesick for Heaven.
I agree with Philippians 3:20-21 when it states, “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.”
Earth is not my home. I do not feel I belong here. To me, my time on Earth is just a journey. A journey to express the love of Jesus so we can all get to the place our souls truly belongs. It is like driving from Indiana to Florida. The drive is often uncomfortable, as you are packed like a sardine between bodies and luggage in a box on wheels. You survive on junk food and pray that within the next mile there is a rest stop. Let’s not forget about the numbness your behind gets from hours upon hours of sitting in traffic. Sure there are still the sing alongs to your favorite songs, beautiful sites to behold, and some cherished memories that can come along with this uncomfortable journey. It is not all road blocks and potholes. But there is nothing better than reaching the white sands of the beach and going for that first refreshing swim in the ocean. It is after you succumb to the ups and downs of the journey that you reach your final destination. Paradise.
If Paradise is our final destination, what is there to be afraid of? Is it the fear of what’s to come or the fear of what will be left behind? Either way, if Heaven is our Paradise then why should we fear?
Psalm 23:4 says, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
To wrap it all up, I suppose it all comes down to perspective. If focus is placed on the now and treasures on the Earth, leaving them will be terrifying and sad. If focus is placed on the future and treasures in Heaven, leaving will be a welcomed and joyous occasion.
For me, I am excited to leave all of my pains, worries, and strife for an eternal life of pure bliss! Leaving my loved ones is not sad to me, for I believe I will see them again in our heavenly mansion.
In John 14:1-3, Jesus tells us, "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am."
We may not recognize each other as grandma, grandpa, mom, dad, lover, or friend, but as brother and sisters of Christ. I believe we will know one another as someone we loved dearly on Earth. Death is not the end for me, but a beautiful beginning with the ultimate love of my being.
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