Death

Death is the final stage, the withdrawal from the external

world, the termination of the biological functions that

define a living being. It is the constant, changeless ending

of the vital processes by which we are sustained. This

occurs when life leaves the physical body.

Of all life experiences, death and

bereavement are considered to be the

most disturbing, confusing, alarming

and dreadful.

Each person's death is unique.

Whenever or however death takes place, every loss brings

its share of pain, disruption, changes, and challenges.

The thought of death unnerves many people. Even the

most secure and devout believer can have occasions when

they dread and/or fear death.

But believers have no reason to fear...

Death is a fact of life. It is an

occurrence that can change the way

a family functions in any culture, and it

is the destination we will all share.

No matter how rich or poor, how

accomplished, knowledgeable, or

refined one may be... death is

inevitable for us all.

Death is no respecter of persons. It

comes to everyone. It is a natural

cycle of life. It is the culmination of

all that our lives have been.

The Bible is very clear in pointing out that there is a point

when life on earth will end. The Scriptures tells us in

Ecclesiastes,

"To everything there is a season, a time

for every purpose under heaven"...

Our time to transition may come much later than we are

expecting. On the other hand, it may occur much sooner.

Some choose to laugh in the face of death. When, in

reality, they are actually afraid... preoccupied with some

impending disaster, which leads to their philosophy of...

“Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die”

1 Corinthians 15:32.

Their existence may appear to be a joy-ride, from the

outside, but it is a pointless way to live one's life. God

does not intend for us to let time slip away with such

mindlessness.

We can only enjoy life in the light of our relationship with

God, for apart from God, we are nothing.

Throughout history and around the world there exists one

experience which can more likely bind mankind together...

that experience is death.

Death breaks down every difference

in humanity until we are all the same...

dust.

Death is the ultimate leveler, and it does not

discriminate. Death is the great equalizer, and

perhaps one of the most constant things in life

that all of us will face.

Regardless of our race, creed, color, ethnicity,

income level, age or any other factor, every

being still has one thing in common: we will

all die.

The tragic and unpredictable days of death,

sorrow, and grief are inevitable life events all

cultures share and share alike.

God has made everything

beautiful in its season.

There is an appointed time for

everything. And there is a time for

every event under heaven ~

A time to give birth, and a time

to die; A time to plant, and a time

to uproot what is planted.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-2

Each of us will travel a path to

an inevitable conclusion.

Life’s journey will, someday, carry all of us

to the distant shores of the great beyond.

The late, Steve Jobs, founder and CEO of Apple

and Pixar Animation, said the following

at the commencement address he gave at Stanford in 2005

(shortly after his diagnosis with pancreatic cancer):

"No one wants to die. Even people who want to go to

heaven don’t want to die to get there. And yet death is the

destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it. And

that is as it should be, because Death is very likely the

single best invention of Life. It is Life’s change agent. It

clears out the old to make way for the new.

Right now, the new is you, but someday not too long from

now, you will gradually become the old and be cleared

away. Sorry to be so dramatic, but it is quite true. But lest

we work ourselves into a real funk and start wondering

what’s the use of anything, let’s not forget that while we

all may be equal in death, it’s what we do while we’re

living that really matters. This is what we’ll be

remembered for."

Live while you are alive!

The future is now!

For the believer, our days on earth

are just the beginning of our existence.

Death is not the end...

it is the doorway to a new life of serving God.

For the believer, to be “Absent” from the body

means, at death, the spirit is separated from

the physical body and moves immediately

into its eternal abode with God forever.

For the believer,

we believe death means...transitioning.

It means... passing through the gateway

to another dimension... to our eternal home.

May we love our loved ones with a Holy detachment,

so that when the time comes, they will be free to go to

their eternal home... with God.