musings

If tolling bell I ask the cause.

“A soul has gone to God”,

Is answered in a lonesome tone;

Is heaven then so sad?
That bells should joyful ring to tell

A soul had gone to heaven,

Would seem to me the proper way

Good news should be given.
~Emily Dickinson

I'm thinking I agree with this.

I have some half-thoughts swirling about my head so I figured I would put them into words.

When one is awash in Christ’s all-atoning blood; death becomes a good thing. Why? How can something so hideous be called "good"? "O death, where is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is in the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (1cor 15)

What is death for the believer? It is seeing your Savior face to face. It's not an end--it's a beginning. It's not an accident—it was carefully planned by One who planned every detail of the life before and after. It is reunion with friends who left before. It is the realization of hope and freedom. It is finding that promises you believed in by faith are tangible and the deepest reality. It is falling on your face before He who snatched you from flames...Death for the beloved of God is the doorway into the greatest adventure, the one for which your life on earth was preparation.
Of course, not everything continues. There are things that end. Sin is not allowed to follow you. Temptations, spiritual warfare, pain, sorrow, brokenness, tears, hatred, agony, bitterness, struggle, fear, doubt, disappointment, strife, anger, chains, sickness, conflict… you must bid them and their friends goodbye.

Yet, even for lovers of God, there is some bitterness in death for those left behind. Do we mourn that our friend is free from misery and woe? Are we sorry he is tasting victory? Surely not! We rejoice for him, we praise God for His undeserved mercy. We are amazed at the gospel. But we are left in the battle. We will miss our comrade. We are not so selfish to wish him back, but we may wish he had tarried a moment longer. Therein lies the bitterness. We rejoice, but we also mourn. There is laughter in our tears, joy in our sorrow, peace in our heartbreak. We are delighted for him, we are jealous of his release. We are comforted that someday it will be our turn. We will see our dear friend again. Even more wonderous, we will see our King, the One who makes all of the hope and joy possible.

(so i guess I had alot of thoughts...i think i'm influenced by clive staples lewis in this area. i could be wrong in some ways, but i'm confident that heaven will blow pre-conceived notions out of the water and that it will be all about our Lord and His awesome glory. i'm excited.)