A New Perception of Death

 My brother in law Dan had been married to my sister Deb for over 40 years. He worked so hard his whole life. He had major back issues, surgeries, and rods, pins, and a tremendous amount of pain. He also had arthritis.  On April 4th, Dan was diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer. Yesterday, not even a month after his diagnosis, Dan passed away, and went to heaven. 

Dan had just retired recently. He was a good husband, and father, and a terrific "Papa". He will be missed. 

I have a completely different view of death than I used to. I used to be afraid of it. I thought dying was the most horrible thing that could happen to a person. Now I realize it's the most wonderful thing that could happen to a person! And no, I'm not kidding. Read on.

My Dad died just over a year ago.  He had emphysema, he was legally blind, he couldn't walk very far without oxygen (which he was too stubborn to wear!)...I'm sure he had pain. He was not living his best life, to be sure. The biggest thing was how labored his breathing was...that I can relate to! It was horrible, because as he struggled for breath, I knew exactly what it felt like. When he died, I couldn't help but rejoice!  YES! REJOICE! Of course I miss him. I will always miss him as long as I have breath.

However, I KNOW without a shadow of a doubt that my Daddy is in heaven.  He is walking the streets of gold, reunited with his parents, his brothers, and his daughter, my sister. 

He can SEE. He can BREATHE. He has NO pain. Hallelujah! How could I NOT rejoice?

Dan was in inconceivable pain the last few weeks of his life down here. He had been in considerable pain before the cancer. But now...Dan is without pain! If any of you have ever suffered pain of any sort, you can imagine what it would mean to be pain free.

The Bible says that we do not grieve as those who have no hope. Of course we grieve; it would be abnormal not to grieve the loss of a husband, a father, a grandfather, a brother, an uncle, a son. But God...!

As a Christian, I have a precious hope. Hope of a perfect future. A new body. I will see the face of Jesus! 

It's not like I look forward to dying, but I will tell you I DEFINITELY look forward to heaven!!  How could I NOT? There is so much wrong with my physical body; I cannot wait to dump this shell and live free, whole, happy, in heaven for ALL eternity!!

"...knowing you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in GOD." I Peter 1:21

If you do not have that hope, please message me or email or leave a comment. The most heartbreaking thing for me to think about is people who believe there is nothing after death. You just die, and then nothing. If that is what * I * believed, I would have checked out a LONG time ago.  Who wouldn't have? Believers dealing with multiple health issues, like me, we don't just stick around for the fun of it. We do not suffer in vain. For in due time, we WILL be lifted up.

 

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