Thursday, March 15, 2012

Death

Ever since my grandparent’s died two years apart, one in 2010, the other 2011 I have been thinking more and more about heaven. Although I have been a Christian for more than ten years now, I’ve never spent too much time thinking about heaven. I know I’m going to go there some day, but I’ve been busy thinking about my life and what I’m doing while on earth still. Plus, I’m still in my 20s.

A number of years ago, my marriage was hurting so bad that I felt lost. I felt like I no longer knew who I was, since I had poured so much into a marriage that was close to crumbling. I was on Facebook one night when I noticed a church friend was online. I was desperate for prayer or an answer since I was so broken at the time. I told this friend how lost I felt and her response to me was, Just focus on heaven.

Needless to say I was pretty frustrated with her reply. Why was she telling me to focus on heaven? I need some real advice here! I was 26 years old at the time, and heaven really isn’t something that you wake up thinking about at this age.

Although I was mad at this person for telling me to focus on heaven during my turmoil, I think I understand now what she was getting at. Our life here on earth is so fleeting. If you ask anyone in their 20s or 30s if they ever give thought to the after life, their reply would probably be a resounding no. And I understand why.

When you’re young you don’t think about dying. And some of us think we’re immortal. Often it’s when tragedy or major events in life shake our lives that we tend to look beyond our circumstances to remember that there is a promise beyond this earth for us if we’re open to it.

With the recent deaths of family members and major icons in the industry like Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston, I’m thinking more and more about what eternity promises us. Sometimes life can be so difficult, painful and traumatic that the only hope for some is to leave this earth and enter eternity’s arms.

Now that I’m nearing my 30s I think about heaven a whole lot more. And you know what? The idea that all the tears that I’ve cried, and all the negativity and pain that this earth often serves us is non-existent in heaven, keeps me longing for eternity. I know where I’m going when I die and on those dark nights of the soul, that knowledge brings me hope and encouragement.

We are but a breath away from heaven’s door. Don’t waste your life, days or soul.

~L