A Time to be Serious

I’m going to go out on a limb here and talk about an uncomfortable subject: death. I believe most of us need to think more about death before it gets here. For most of us, dying gets here before we are ready. I don’t think it matters whether you are 19 or 90, death surprises us.

Most of us don’t deal with it because it’s not pleasant. It’s a real downer. So, until we are forced to acknowledge it, we ignore reality. The fact is that we are all going to die. Some of us will have some warning, some won’t.

So even though it’s unpleasant, I want you to take a few minutes and think about death and what follows. I challenge you to carefully examine your ideas about heaven and hell. Are you one of many who are not sure there is a God or that He is relevant today? I beg you, do not go another day without some serious soul searching. I challenge you to prove that God doesn’t exist and that hell is not real.

I’ve got some suggestions for your time of exploration:

•  The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis is a great book that will challenge your ideas about heaven and hell. Of course, any book by Lewis is a challenge for me but this book is fairly short so don’t be frightened off.
• Read the Bible if you haven’t lately. Start with the book of John using a Bible written in an easy-to-read translation like the New Living Translation or The Message. You don’t have to buy a new Bible, just go to www.biblegateway. com or many other websites and you can read for free. Or ask me or one of your weird, Jesus-freak acquaintances and they will be happy to loan you a Bible.
• Talk to someone who seems to live an authentic life of faith in God. I know it may seem an impossible task but you might be surprised who will come to mind.
• In the spirit of equal opportunity, check out God’s opposition. Does their argument really make more sense than the Bible? Is re-incarnation more believable than resurrection?
• Be honest with yourself. What is really holding you back from God? Is it God or is it the church and people who call themselves Christians but don’t act like it? Don’t get confused and blame God for the actions of flawed people. Has Christianity Failed You? by Ravi Zacharias is a great book on this topic.
• Lastly, I dare you to sincerely ask God to reveal himself to you. Go to God with all your questions, disappointments and doubts and He will meet you where you are and help you sort it out.

This won’t be an easy task. In reality, you (and I) will probably always have questions that won’t be answered until we die. But I’ve wrestled with God and I like His answers better than anyone else’s. I’ve seen his hand at work in my life and others around me. He gives me peace every time I am confronted with death.

    “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 (NIV)