Elder Cleopa once wrote a short story illustrating this apparent paradox, but I can't find it. The short of it is that we don't know who is guilty and who is not. Outward appearances mean nothing. hey can be as misleading as ever.
The recent revelation of Mother Teresa's inner struggle exemplifies this very well (I am not passing any judgment on her faith or sanctity of her work). Without those letters published, the world would have never assumed that she struggled with faith (which I think she had a lot more of than any one of us).
If I find Elder Cleopa's story I will freepmail it to you.
In fact, if I had become earthly separated from one of my children, I would be most tempted to feel bitterness against God if He WASN'T in control in calling my child home. I would be tempted to be angry at His WEAKNESS.
That's because we give so much importance to this earthy existence; we are too much in love with the world. To God, our lives may not matter in the same way. He may pull us out of this world when we are "done." Maybe those of us who reach ripe old age are the most recalcitrant and sinful of all, "slow" in attaining sanctity, and are given extra time to compete the journey. Some make it other's don't.
The problem (and that explains the anger) is that the west always treated physical death as punishment from God, and not a consequence of our sin. The moment of death for the Orthodox is seen as something occurring in due time. You have arrived at your final destination.
Elder Cleopa once wrote a short story illustrating this apparent paradox, but I can't find it. The short of it is that we don't know who is guilty and who is not. Outward appearances mean nothing. They can be as misleading as ever.
In that case, based on results, would it be fair to assume that those who die young are greater sinners than those who live to old age? I just can't imagine anyone thinking that. You brought up the Mother Theresa example. Do you assume that her faith was strong and genuine BECAUSE she lived to an old age?
If I find Elder Cleopa's story I will freepmail it to you.
Thank you. I would be happy to read it.
Maybe those of us who reach ripe old age are the most recalcitrant and sinful of all, "slow" in attaining sanctity, and are given extra time to compete the journey. Some make it other's don't.
But that would appear to thwart the idea that sin causes physical death. It is a paradox indeed.
The problem (and that explains the anger) is that the west always treated physical death as punishment from God, and not a consequence of our sin.
I would fully agree that physical death is certainly no punishment for the elect. But for the same reason, I can't see it as being a consequence of sin. Going to Heaven would be like a "promotion", so wouldn't it seem like God was "rewarding" sin?