Monday, December 29, 2014

If I DIED Today...............

More than two thirds, namely 68%, of the United States population is AFRAID of death!
 
Many people suppress their fear of death. Instead of addressing their inner emotions, thoughts, and beliefs at a funeral they bottle them up. In many instances, its felt that it's easier to not address such a difficult topic. Therefore, reflection or meditation concerning death and the after life gets left unresolved.
 
In fact, the first person I ever got to seriously talk about Jesus with was a young man who was terrified about death. He was having dreams about what death would entail and what would happen to his soul afterwards. 
 
Unfortunately, people can not ignore death.
 
We are reminded of death frequently. All living things die, including animals.
 
My first memorable encounter with death was as a six year old. A neighborhood friend, whose house I would frequently visit, was swimming off the shore of Lake Erie. (I lived approximately two blocks away from the lake). A rip current dragged him under where he then drowned. Both of his parents where deaf and were extremely loud and emotional when I visited before the funeral. Afterwards, I can remember being shook up and somber. In fact, that same somber mood impacts me today when I am at a funeral. Whether I am just another congregant or am the officiant a funeral instantly makes me reflective and somber.
 
Simply put, instead of ignoring death or the thought of your funeral let me encourage you to take the initiative to ponder your views and beliefs of the cause of death and the after life.
 
Here's why:
 
1. It will give you purpose! We plan everything in our lives far out in advance such as our retirement and work backwards making concrete steps and goals along the way. Why not do this with our very lives?
 
As a pastor and officiant of funerals the funerals that are the easiest are of people who lived their lives fully for Jesus and it was known to others. Don't make the pastor lie at your funeral. Live your life with intentionality!
 
2. It will give you peace! You do not have to live in fear. You do not have to live with a sense of trying to selfishly horde everything in this life as many do. You can have a peace which many do not have.
 
3. It will give you clarity! Instead of running and hiding from death you will be able to express your beliefs and views with clarity and conciseness. Trust me, people will curiously listen to others who are well studied on the after life!
 
4. It will give you hope! Without hope there is no motivation or desire to continue on. When there is hope beyond the grave it gives us meaning in our lives that there is something greater in our future.
 
5. It will give your family closure! Don't be a jerk and leave your family to do all of the funeral arrangements. Be proactive and plan key components of your funeral today. (I have different files/vidoes on my computer in which I want to be shared at my funeral as I do not want just any bozo to officiate my funeral).
 
6. It will make you pleasant to be around! You will quickly recognize that every day and everything given in that day is a gift from God. You will become a more generous and thankful person to be around as you will see God's goodness more clearly.
 
7. It helps us ponder the deeper things of life! "It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of everyone; the living should take this to heart." (Ecclesiastes 7:2).

 
When I look back on my life I can honestly say that I've lived a FULL life and am blessed. I also want to make sure that my final days are not wasted! What are you doing with your time? Are you AFRAID of DEATH!?!
 
Psalm 90:10, 12
Our days may come to seventy years,
    or eighty, if our strength endures;
yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow,
    for they quickly pass, and we fly away.
Teach us to number our days,
    that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

 


2 comments:

  1. It was a college course on Death and Dying, at age 23 that caused me to begin looking at what I believed. It was amazing to discover that there were many varied opinions about the afterlife. I was raised Lutheran so I knew about Christ and his sacrifice., but not that he wanted to be in a relationship with me. It was a year later after a lot of soul searching and difficult circumstances, that I heard on radio that through accepting His sacrifice for my past sins I could have eternal life and a relationship with Him. It has been 33 years and I am still in that relationship. It's a record for me and I love the adventure, I know he has helped me overcome my fear of death and like He says" eternal life is knowing and loving God!"

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