Mortality

MORTALITY
2020 and now 2021 have forced many of us to think of death. It has touched millions of homes. It has touched ours.  Our dearest only son has died, not from Covid, but from a brain bleed. And so the family mourns as Christians. Christians are blessed. We have an answer to our mortality and are not lost in a hopeless and helpless view. We also have comfort. God himself knows our pain. He gave his only son so that we may have eternal life. (JOHN 3:16).
God created humanity as a special creation. Created in his image, he gave us liberty – free will. He wanted companionship, so in the evening he walked in Eden and talked to Adam and Eve. There was just one prohibition. And we can’t blame Adam and Eve – we would have done the same! And so our sad saga began.
 
Christians believe that God sent his only son, Jesus Christ, to die for the sins of the world. That includes you and me, providing we accept him as our Lord and live changed and forgiven lives to prove it. Christians are far from perfect, but “if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 JOHN 1:9).  If we accept Jesus Christ, we are promised eternal life.
 
How do we go from this life to the next? Well, it’s a very exciting journey! We read that “when the beggar (Lazarus) died, the angels  carried him to Abraham’s side.” (Luke 16:22). So God sends an escort of angels to take his children to Heaven!  Another question: do people, who are now spirits awaiting Christ’s triumphal return to Earth when they will receive their new spiritual bodies, know what is going on in Earth?  Jesus, when the Pharisees were trying to trick him, said, “Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day. He saw it and was glad.” (John 8:56).   By the way, God forbids us from trying to communicate with the dead.
Our son was a neurosurgeon who in his thirties left surgery and became a very successful businessman. He was loved and admired by all his staff. They said he always had time to help us when we needed it, and the lowest employees received the same attention as the highest.  He walked the talk, living a Godly Christian life that all could see.
He had plans for an early retirement. He would use his life and wealth for God and was very excited about what he could do using technology, helping missions, helping the needy. His scope and excitement at the prospect was beyond anything I could have imagined. He used to say, “I long to meet Jesus.”
But God had other plans for our son. He took him to Heaven to serve in a special place he had reserved for him. And our son is rejoicing: he has met his Lord.
God bless
Merle
Ps See the menu for EASTER. There are items you might find useful.