There is this book I was reading and I came across a bit where the writer was saying how a person had ‘sadly died’.
Usually such statements don’t bother me. I know what they mean. I get it. No big deal, I move on. On this occasion, however, I got upset. What riled me was the thought why do people refer to it being sad when someone dies. I don’t often read about anyone who happily died. Truth be told I couldn’t tell you if I ever read of anyone who happily died.
What bothered me about that was that I don’t want folks to be sad about my death. This life is about living it to its full and as a believer walking with Jesus, death is not the end at all. Death is sleep Death is the completion of part one of a story scheduled to go on for eternity. I understand we need to mourn the loss and feel the weight of sadness about the departure. That should be overwhelmed with the joy at enjoying all of eternity with the Saviour. The sadness should be overwhelmed with the sense of joy that one day Jesus will be with us all forever, no more pain, no more death.
In all my upset when I calmed down I still accepted that one or two people might be a bit sad when I die. Likewise there are loved ones whose departure will cause sadness in me – a great deal of sadness. I am glad to be reminded, though. that these will not be the reality for all time. I am glad that there is hope for all those who are believers in Jesus. It won’t just be a case of sadly they died, it will be a case of happily they will look forward to never having to fall asleep again.
These are just some thoughts that came to me when I read something in a book.
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden
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