Death a Christian’s viewpoint

First Published in Manna Issue 4

We is but a short journey. Death seems to be the inevitable destiny. No one has ever loved me more than my grandmother had. She always remembered my birthday. She would always take me to church.

I can never erase the memory of the day she suddenly collapsed and went into a coma.

A few days later she was called to be with the Lord.

It was then that I had my first faint inkling of what death is.

I had previously attended several funerals without any feeling of sorrow.

Time has certainly deepened my understanding of life —and DEATH.

When I touched the dead, it did not respond. Lying silently, it appeared as though everything had come to a mysterious standstill. It would soon vanish from the face of the earth.

The person I loved and respected had left me.

And then from my innermost being tears flowed.

When shall we meet again?

It is said that the world is a stage and all men actors. Like shooting stars, they dazzle the eyes for a moment and are then seen no more.

Some prefer to be stage props, hoping to remain on stage for a while longer.

There are different types of people, each trying to discover his own identity but the tragedy of it all is that many of them do not know who they are!

A Christian is fully aware of the fact that the actors on stage will leave the scene sooner or later. And those who leave cannot return to tell of their experience.

Yet a Christian is not afraid.

Paul said, “For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens... We are of good courage, and we would be rather away from the body and at home with the Lord” (2 Cor 5:1,8).

Death promises better things for a Christian. It is the door to a brand new world devoid of sufferings.

It is eternal felicity to a Christian.

For this reason, Paul was confident enough to declare, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If it is to be life in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to part and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account” (Phil 1:21-24).

While alive and able, we should do what is proper and in whatever our hands find to do, do it with all our might. Our utmost is for the Highest.

Live therefore for the good of others and for the eternal heritage.

And so if we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord.