Life is but a short journey; death the inevitable destiny.

No one ever loved me more than my grandmother. 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 the Lord.

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

Time has deepened my understanding of life-and death.

The dead do not respond to our touch. They lie silently, as if everything has come to a mysterious standstill. Soon they vanish from the face of the earth.?br>
The person I loved and respected had left me.

And then from my innermost being, tears flowed.

When will 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 then are 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 is that many do not know realize they are players on the stage.

A Christian is fully aware of the fact that everyone 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 our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens?We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord" (2 Cor 5:1,8).

Death promises better things for a Christian. It is the door to a 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. But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. For I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you" (Phil 1:21-24).

While alive and able, we do what is proper and whatever our hands find to do, 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.