Nearly 2 years ago my father-in-law died here in our home where we had been taking care of him. During the days & weeks leading up to his death, he had numerous ‘visions’ that he shared in what almost seemed halucinogenic moments.
The night before he died, he told me, ‘I will be leaving here tomorrow!’
Mid-morning he said, ‘I wonder who will be there to meet me at the gate’.
I have had other experiences with close relatives who apparently knew that they would be passing on in the next day, or even in hours - even those who were not obviously ‘breathing their last’.
What do they know, and when do they know it? I know that when they know, they are ready, and have no fear. They are even in a hurry to be with their Lord, and with loved ones who have gone before. For those whom I have seen, as described, what we call death is ‘commencement’.
My father, for the last several weeks of his life, commented ‘I just want to go home!’ I know he knew that ‘home’ meant ‘with the Lord’. He was looking forward to it. He anticipated it.
I have also watched one or two people, fighting cancer, and claiming to know the Lord, who were so frightened of dying that they were dying, not because of the cancer, but because of the fear.
I just share this because it sheds light on the current subject. The Lord tells us, ‘do not fear anything - fear is evil.’ We believe that. We are to comfort one another with the words of love, joy, peace and certainty that were given to us by our Lord.
I remember the title on an old gospel tract, one I saw as a kid, and the title was ‘Safety, Certainty and Enjoyment’. That is His message for us - We are safely in His arms, in His Care; we know that with certainty; and being there and knowing that we are, we are to enjoy it.
Of course there is life after death. Death is commencement. A new beginning, as we move from time to timelessness. It is not a secret to those of us who know our Lord Jesus, and believe what He says, and what He said.
In my limited experience I've seen this as well.
That is His message for us - We are safely in His arms, in His Care; we know that with certainty; and being there and knowing that we are, we are to enjoy it.
Amen
Forsaking All I Trust Him.