The thoughts of death are a challenge for many in a world with a dwindling belief in God and not knowing what to believe about the inevitable end of mortality. A recent survey of American citizens identified 49 % who claimed to have no believe in religion or a god. Most people have been brainwashed by liberal/leftist thinkers to believe that death is in fact, the end. To them there is no evidence to the contrary. Therefore, many feel that they should make the most out of life by living high, making as much merry as possible (the eat, drink and be merry syndrome). There are others that are searching for elixirs and/ or pills that the seller’s promise will extend their lives, hoping to squeeze as many minutes, hours, and days in as possible. There are some who believe they can even reverse the process of aging and even death. Some entrepreneurs try to make us believe that a person eating and living according to their special formula can live forever. Every day my list of emails will include at least one promise of eternal life. Such as this one I received just today saying; “How This ‘Secret’ Can Help You Defeat Aging.” We can essentially buy our way out of death for between $250 and $300 for a month supply of these pills.
I remember reading a very interesting book written by a fellow academician and long time scholarly English professor. This man worked at the same institution that I was fortunate to serve at. He just recently passed away himself while in his mid eighties. His book was titled “If a Man Die.” The funeral of a four-year-old boy is what sparked his desire to write about death. His hope was to be able to explain the ‘eternal nature’ of life and man, for those who suffer the sadness and loss of a loved one. He intended to provide some hope regarding the human condition from an eternal perspective. Many feel as he did at one time, that life seemed to be like walking down a long road and when you finally reach the end there is a high wall that you can’t see over or climb over. No living individual knows what is on the other side of that wall. Unfortunately, while in this life we have no option to know what is on the other side the wall. Paul speaking to the Corinthians said in reference to the veil over our mortal eyes, “For now we see through a glass darkly; but then face to face; now I know in part; but then shall I know even as I am known.” (1 Cor. 13:12) We think, that if we could see what is on the other side the wall that we would be less fearful of death. That it might somehow set us free. Whether we see the end or something more may not matter, just so that we could know and the mystery would be solved. Others do not want to know for fear that it may disagree with their way of life and their presumed hope in regards to what comes next. Philosophers will tell us that the belief that there is something beyond the wall is merely a guise to soften the thoughts of death. Those who preach of eternal life merely do so to make their living. Those who find little comfort in the religious point of view may have great fear because they see this life as the end and that there is nothing on the other side, only emptiness. On the other hand, the ‘not knowing’ for others, causes them to walk by faith and believe in the instructions that we have been given through the scriptures and modern revelation.
I recently finished reading a book about the Second World War and the millions of people, young and old, who were mercilessly killed during that terrible period. It was as if a human life had absolutely no value at all. For those who did the slaughtering, what’s on the other side of the wall would have no consequence for them at all. They, most likely, never came to the wall nor even wondered what might be on the other side of such a wall. To them, this life is all there is and the accumulation of power and things while here is their ultimate goal. Even if it has caused them to do inhuman things. They have no use for religious fantasy and spiritual nonsense. Another human being is just a means to an end for them.
We know without a doubt that every human being born to the earth must, in the end, lay their physical body down, some earlier than others. If they haven’t thought about that or don’t believe it, they haven’t been very observant. An elderly lady stated that getting old and suffering from several different ailments must be God’s way of making death more palatable for those near the end. Others have worked the farm all their lives and with bent back and calloused hands welcome the rest afforded them by the grave. And those who fancy something better beyond may pass on with a peaceful expression on their faces. My wife and I attended a viewing just the other night where we viewed a friend of ours, and this man had been a faithful religious person all of his 88 years. He had the sweetest expression on his face as if he had been accompanied to the other side by an angel.
I have always enjoyed reading about Job, from Old Testament times. He was obviously a great man with great wisdom and understanding. His trials were much greater than are the majority of ours as Satan was given free reign to make his life as miserable as possible to see if he would eventually curse God. A God he had great faith in. He would not curse Him, regardless of the suffering Satan caused he and his family. The story is summarized in these three verses: ( Job 1:1) There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job and that man was perfect and upright; and one that feared (loved) God, and eschewed evil. …Job declared; “For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the lat- ter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:” ( Job 19: 25, 26) “… When He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” (23:10) Job was, without a doubt, tried. The world in our day will generally not know any Jobs, His story is found in the (Old Testament).
We will all experience some kind of refiner’s fire, as long as we are walking the earth. Would that we could all emerge as Job as refined gold. Than we would all be able to see what’s on the other side of the wall before we get there, as did Job. We would see what he saw.
Woody Allen said, “I’m not afraid of death; I just don’t want to be there when it happens.” That is a wish that is fulfilled for many as they are in a state of unawareness when death occurs.
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I was reading an email message by Dr. Keith Scott-Mumby who had visited his mother (Mum, to him) in Cornwall England. She had been ill and was 93 years old. The Doctor is quite famous and has brought some important cures to the forefront. But his views on death are that it is the end.
When your Mum (mother) passes, it’s a special event in life. Gosh, even if you don’t happen to like her, you can’t get away from the fact that she is your mother; she made you. Did you know that all your mitochondrial DNA comes from your mother, none from your father (unlike your chromosome DNA, of course)? Nature considers a mother something special.
I stepped through that particular doorway in the last few hours. I am now bereft of the one who made me. She was only 93 years old!
We didn’t always get on well. But in the latter part of her life she was immensely proud of me and my achievements. And in time, I became proud of her. She turned out to be a really good dance teacher in her 60s. She also learned to paint in her later years (70 plus!). She sold more paintings than Van Gogh did in his lifetime!
Suddenly, she’s not there.
I was glad to share a few wonderful days with her before she passed. Last week we went for afternoon tea in Penzance—she dozed a little, while I walked along the coast a while. I drove her home. It was a lovely day out; something from Proust. It’s a grand memory to remember her by.
On Saturday morning I felt she was in good hands and would probably be sent home later that day. I bade farewell…I had to start my journey back, to London and thence on Monday morning, back to the USA.
I joked with her she’d be OK and got her laughing by saying, “You’re not actually on the danger list,” (true)…“You’re on the nuisance list!” I kissed her goodbye for what became the last time.
On the Sunday, I had news she had rallied a little and asked for a cup of tea. I was heartened by this. I decided to fly. I could always return if needed, though I find long distance travel increasingly stressful these days (I have started to use the term: “travel shock”). Why am I telling you all this in intimate family detail? Because death is an important part of life. In the book Love, Medicine and Miracles, Bernie Siegel even wrote: “Death is a form of healing.”
There are keen lessons here and I ask you to heed them:
Never, never keep back forgiveness and healing for some other day. That day may be snatched from you. Go to the person now and make friends, at once, and with a full heart.
Never bear grudges. We all do exactly the same thing in life: we try to do our best. People do not intentionally provoke harm. We hurt others through ignorance, envy and stupidity, or too much emphasis on self, not wickedness.
Divorce solves nothing. Don’t fool yourself. You have all your baggage unresolved and the other person has theirs. In the end all you have is forgiveness. Divorce is not a tool; it’s a surrender. Divorce BLOCKS healing. Heal first and then divorce (if you must).
Never take anyone for granted. Nobody is in your life by default. I recall the words of the song “Everything I Own” by David Gates of Bread:
Is there someone you know You’re loving them so
But taking them all for granted You may lose them one day Someone takes them away
And they don’t hear the words you long to say
Few people know the story of this lovely song: it’s disguised as a love song to a girl and works as that. But it was actually written for David Gates’ deceased father and if you re-listen to it with that in mind, you’ll hear it’s a great song to a dead parent!
So Mum passed with very little stress and no visible fear. I am pleased about that. She had an abundance of talents. I have my memories.
“Everyone desires to live long. But no one would be old.” —Jonathan Swift, Irish wit and writer. “Old age isn’t so bad, especially when you consider the alternative!”—Maurice Chevalier, singer.
And finally, Oliver Wendell Homes: “Many people die with their music still in them. Why is this so? Too often it is because they are always getting ready to live. Before they know it, time runs out.”
My Mother found her song and sang it long and lustily! Rest in peace, Dr. Keith Scott-Mumby
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I used a simile years ago of man being somewhat like a butterfly in its caterpillar stage. When it nears the end of the caterpillar phase of its life he spins a cocoon where he, in a death like slumber, slowly evolves into a beautiful butterfly. A new and different creature from one that crawled to one that flies. We, too, are laid in a coffin (cocoon) where many believe that we will be called forth, to emerge as perfect and immortal persons (Butterfly like).
I remember, many years ago when I was asked to speak at the funeral of a friend. I used a similar metaphor to the wall in respect to eternity. Rather than a wall on earth that one might walk up to. I was describing eternity, saying is there a wall somewhere in space that represents the end of the universe and all eternal progress? The same question applies to those righteous souls who have been promised eternal life. For those who have been married for time and all eternity. Is there a wall that somehow represents the end of those eternal promises? There are no walls and after the resurrection we will live forever in one kingdom or another as promised by the Lord. We also know that families are forever, there are no walls there either. Heavenly Father is a family man and we are part of His family, His extended family. However, He is also a master organizer and knew from the outset that in order for there to be order on earth and loving support for us while we grow, that He would have to divide His children up into family units. That is how we are organized for efficiency, love, support, control, and it is the very best organization for us to learn the things on earth that He felt were important for us. That family unit is also the most functional in heaven and it will go on forever. I came upon the following story: What a neat way for those who are faithful to have it explained.
Death
A sick man turned to his doctor as he was preparing to leave the examination room and said, ‘Doctor, I am afraid to die. Tell me what lies on the other side.’ Very quietly, the doctor said, ‘I don’t know…’ ‘You don’t know? You’re a God fearing person, and don’t know what’s on the other side?’ The doctor was holding the handle of the door; On the other side came a sound of scratching and whining, And as he opened the door, a dog sprang into the room And leaped on him with an eager show of gladness. Turning to the patient, the doctor said, ‘Did you notice my dog? He’s never been in this room before. He didn’t know what was inside. He knew nothing except that his master was here, And when the door opened, he sprang in without fear. I know little of what is on the other side of death, But I do know one thing…I know my Master is there and that is enough.’
May today there be peace within you.