Passing On

My Grandad-in-law (Husband's grandfather) passed away a week ago.
It never occurred to me that he was the closest Grandad I ever had- will miss him, but we will celebrate his life and the wonderful times we had with him at a memorial service tomorrow.

Death is not something people like to discuss. But as I talk with more and more people, the evolving thoughts about it is that 'it just happens' and there is nothing we can do about it. We just follow the process of mourning, grief, remembrance and then say a final farewell before we go back to our usual daily routine.

For some, especially when death comes to those that are young, it is difficult to say goodbye entirely. The concept of injustice creeps in but that is a topic for discussion at a later time. In situations like my grandad-in-law who lived to a good ripe age of 89, it is sort of expected but then the shock of the sudden departure still creates some grief.

It's times like these that I think death should be discussed, however difficult the topic may be.
People ask questions about what happens to life after death, whether there is a heaven and hell and reflect on the 'good things' that person has done which then guarantees them a place in heaven.

I hope from my past blog posts that people realise that I do not agree with that last sentence. I believe that heaven and hell is real. There cannot be a heaven without a hell and vice versa. Heaven is a place where God dwells for all eternity. Hell is the place where God is absent.

There is nothing (whether good or not) that we can boast about that will allow us into heaven. I believe that God as our Creator through his love has given us the following choice: To accept Him as Lord and Saviour, or to reject Him completely. There is no sitting on the fence with this option. Whatever choice we decide on, God will grant it accordingly.

To accept Him as Lord and Saviour means to confess that we by nature, are condemned to death because of our wickedness and sin. That person confesses and believes that through the death and rising from the dead of Jesus Christ (the Son of God) they are now forgiven, accepted by God and believe that they will spend all eternity in heaven with God. Through this belief they live life for God and put Him first in their lives. This by no means says that they are no longer wicked and no longer sin, but rather they recognise their sins/struggles and turn to God to teach them how to resist and ultimately change. For these, death is only the beginning of a eternity with God.
To reject Him is to not acknowledge God of what He is or His existence. It is to live life for oneself completely, making our own choices and satisfying our own desires. It means that life is lived with no regrets. When the time comes to be accountable for those choices that were made, the reliance on getting to heaven is based on the good things they have done. The fact that the life that was lived
rejected God and His existence, then their future is eternal separation from God.

Here's something worth reading also.

http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/categories/dont-waste-your-life