A wee chat about.... death

Today I want to talk about death.

Ecclesiastes 9:1-4
So I reflected on all this and concluded that the righteous and the wise and what they do are in God’s hands, but no one knows whether love or hate awaits them.  All share a common destiny—the righteous and the wicked, the good and the bad, the clean and the unclean, those who offer sacrifices and those who do not.
As it is with the good,
so with the sinful;
as it is with those who take oaths,
so with those who are afraid to take them.
This is the evil in everything that happens under the sun: The same destiny overtakes all. The hearts of people, moreover, are full of evil and there is madness in their hearts while they live, and afterward they join the dead.  Anyone who is among the living has hope—even a live dog is better off than a dead lion!

I hadn't thought much about death (obviously, you can't really escape thinking about it a wee bit) until my Grandma passed away in February of this year. Then my Grandad (her husband) passed away at the end of June. 

Kind of makes you think.

As Ecclesiastes points out (and it points it out several times, not just in the one passage above) the same destiny overtakes all. Everyone. Not one person escapes it.

Everyone dies.

And, you know what? I think it's good to think about death. Because death-related issues like euthanasia and abortion and even the terrorist attacks overseas keep coming up. It's important to know where we stand on issues like those as a Christian.

And not only because of that, but since everyone dies, you're included.

Yeah, you can't really get out of this world alive.

So that being said, how should we treat death? I think it's helpful to think about it sometimes. It kind of gives you perspective. It makes you treasure your moments on earth. It also makes you think about eternal things and that's never bad!

Here are a few of my thoughts on death.

Life is uncertain. Treasure your moments here on earth! Live well, laugh often, love much (I know it's ridiculously cliche but I think it's true!!!!!). Spread joy. Bring a little piece of heaven down here and spread it around wherever you go.

Know where you're headed. Jesus's words were: "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am." (John 14:3).

Heaven is where Jesus is. It shouldn't hold fear for you if you trust in Him! (I wrote a blog post about being afraid of the future - which to me would include dying- feel free to check it out!)  Our ultimate purpose as humans is to be close to God. And Heaven is where He dwells. I can't even begin to imagine the amazingness that Heaven will be.. and of course, my Saviour, my King, my best friend, my Lord and Master will be there. In person. And so will I. It should be something to be looked forward to, I believe, and not to be scared of!

Blessings to you all!