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On Death and Dying

 

My younger friend with cancer died two days ago. I am still in a state of shock as it happened so quickly. The chemo made him so ill that he decided it wasn’t worth being so sick to extend his life for a brief time. So, he spent his last few days at home with people who loved him; his wife and four children, his parents, and others. According to his wife’s Facebook post, they sang worship songs, prayed together, laughed together, and took walks down memory lane. He was young to be called home, but full of faith and peace. His family will grieve but are strong in faith and the hope of Heaven. It is not the end for this young man, but the beginning. I love this quote:

‘Some day you will read in the papers that D. L. Moody, of East Northfield, is dead. Don’t you believe a word of it! At that moment I shall be more alive than I am now. I shall have gone up higher, that is all; gone out of this old clay tenement into a house that is immortal, a body that death cannot touch, that sin cannot taint, a body like unto His own glorious body. I was born of the flesh in 1837. I was born of the Spirit in 1856. That which is born of the flesh may die. That which is born of the Spirit will live forever.’ (D.L. Moody, Mornings with Moody – 365 Days of Devotion). On his deathbed, he told of how much he was looking forward to going to Heaven. He knew he was on the Heaven's doorstep as he had seen his two grandchildren who had died the year before. (https://christianhistoryinstitute.org/dailystory/permalink/dwight-l-moody-more-alive-than-ever).

It is true! For those who put their trust in Christ Jesus, death is not to be feared as they will ‘be more alive’ than ever before’ This earth and everything in it is only temporary. Heaven is our real home, and it is going to be more amazing than we can possibly imagine. When we die, we get to spend eternal life with God and Jesus Christ. While it is a time of grieving for families, those who have faith will also be rejoicing that they will see their loved one again.

God bless you all.

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