When Dear Bill passed away, a certain man was heard saying,
"He's in a better place now."
A better place now.
Is that it? Is that everything some people believe about life after death?
Could it be that life after death is no more or no less than people imagine life after death to be, such as a better place now? Can they define that place and tell us all about it?
Doubtful.
Moreover, how many people believe they will also be rewarded when they arrive in that better place now for doing nothing more than living on earth?
When people die, friends and family gather and talk about the dearly departed in hushed voices, remembering all the good deeds they did and how people liked them.
Dear Bill was no exception. His family and friends gathered at his house, sitting on the porch and standing beneath the trees, and some were in the kitchen eating food and drinking hot coffee from the percolator as they recounted all of their precious memories of the man they liked.
But they never saw him when he was angry and out of control.
They never saw Wild Bill the day he kicked his dog.
They never saw Wild Bill the day he yelled at his wife and children because they were late at the supper table.
They never saw Wild Bill the day he threw his pitching wedge in the trees at the 4th green because he fluffed a simple shot that would have set him up for a birdie putt.
Oh, no. They never saw all of that.
And from all of their precious memories, they huddled and added their opinions.
Sure enough, they said, Bill must surely be---in that better place now.
"Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come: that Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should show light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.
"And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.
"But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness. For the king knoweth of these things: for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a corner.
"King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest.
"Then King Agrippa said unto Paul, almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian." (Acts 26: 22-28)
"He's in a better place now."
A better place now.
Is that it? Is that everything some people believe about life after death?
Could it be that life after death is no more or no less than people imagine life after death to be, such as a better place now? Can they define that place and tell us all about it?
Doubtful.
Moreover, how many people believe they will also be rewarded when they arrive in that better place now for doing nothing more than living on earth?
When people die, friends and family gather and talk about the dearly departed in hushed voices, remembering all the good deeds they did and how people liked them.
Dear Bill was no exception. His family and friends gathered at his house, sitting on the porch and standing beneath the trees, and some were in the kitchen eating food and drinking hot coffee from the percolator as they recounted all of their precious memories of the man they liked.
But they never saw him when he was angry and out of control.
They never saw Wild Bill the day he kicked his dog.
They never saw Wild Bill the day he yelled at his wife and children because they were late at the supper table.
They never saw Wild Bill the day he threw his pitching wedge in the trees at the 4th green because he fluffed a simple shot that would have set him up for a birdie putt.
Oh, no. They never saw all of that.
And from all of their precious memories, they huddled and added their opinions.
Sure enough, they said, Bill must surely be---in that better place now.
"Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come: that Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should show light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.
"And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.
"But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness. For the king knoweth of these things: for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a corner.
"King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest.
"Then King Agrippa said unto Paul, almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian." (Acts 26: 22-28)
No comments:
Post a Comment
Your comments will not be published openly.