An airline commercial puts it
rather well: the most popular destination for travelers is—home.
There is a parallel to this in
the church: the longing. In every Christian there is an itch which
cannot be scratched. It is the desire for heaven.
· Many
of us feel this desire in the form of those who have already died and are with
Christ. As you get older, this longing increases. Shortly before
her death, my mother put it well: “All my friends are gone.” She
was lonesome for those she loved.
· Others
will tell you that they certainly want to go to heaven—because earth has been
trouble enough for them.
“To live is Christ, to die is
gain,” said Paul (Philippians 1:21). The Christian’s view of death is very
different from those in the rest of the world. Indeed, if you believe
that God has a plan and purpose for your life, then death and heaven are the
logical result. Logical?
· If
you have not fulfilled God’s plan for you, wouldn’t it be best if you remained
here to finish it?
· If
you have fulfilled it, why would you want to stay?
It must be admitted that, by the
world’s standards, Christians have a strange way of regarding death. How
is that we can hold such beliefs?
· First
and foremost, we know the One who conquered death. One of the most
powerful arguments for the faith in the early days of the church was the way in
which Christians went to their deaths—without fear. They knew the power
of the Resurrection, and we should to.
· That
same Conqueror has promised His people that He will someday return. This
time, it will not be as a baby in the manger, but the Lord of All.
Such power is beyond mortal man;
we could not do this at all. Therefore we look to Christ as the source of
these things:
· We
cannot pay the ransom of sin; therefore He paid it for us. By His death
on the Cross he purchased our pardon.
· Like
Him, we will rise from the grave. He is the only one to defeat death, and
by His power we shall obtain the resurrection.
But such an ending did not come
without its price. It is fitting that we commemorate His death, for it is
the greatest of God’s gift to us. Until He returns, let us thankfully
remember.