Spark of Creation

Yes, it is indeed 2am. Yes, I am sitting here at my computer. Sometimes things won't wait.

Today I read an interesting...oh, let's call it an assumption, for lack of a better term. The assumption was that by fearing death, by crying out, begging or perhaps even fighting for our lives, we are not truly saved. In a nutshell, a love of life, means that we are perhaps not really Christians, not really assured of what is yet to come.

I was bothered by this, but I couldn't really put my finger on what it was that bothered me. I didn't know if it was the hypothesis itself, the arrogance of assuming that any human being can determine the salvation of another, especially based upon a person's behavior in the most extreme situation imaginable, or simply the pervasive taste that simply because we are Christians we ought to welcome death with open arms.

A while ago I blogged a little conversation between my daughter and her friend. I am going to restate it here:

Kaitlyn: It doesn't really matter if you die because it's like all of the sudden you wake up and before you know it, everyone you love is there.
Lindsay: I just hope it doesn't hurt.

And that is it in a nutshell, don't you think? Two little girls, both raised to know Christ, both fully aware of what is going to happen after death (albeit simplistically), no fear whatsoever of what comes after.

But we sure hope it doesn't hurt. It's the process of dying that scares us.

We all imagine the most perfect scenario. We grow old gracefully, surrounded by family and friends, and one night we climb into our warm cozy bed, in our warm cozy house. We sigh a little sigh as we snuggle down into the soft blanket, and somewhere in that tranquil sleep we simply drift off into paradise.

The truth is, that more often than not, death is a messy, horrible, painful process. Life is not easily stolen from these clay containers we call bodies, and there is a reason for that. We were never created to be mortal beings. God did not create us for death! We were made for life and for that life to be eternal! When God breathed the breath of life into us, the divine plan was that we would be in holy communion, walking face to face with the Creator day after day after day without sickness, fear or death.

We love our lives because we were never meant to lose them. Death was never part of the Divine Plan!

We didn't earn death until later.

I find there is no shame in loving this earthly life. God. Himself, holds life sacred. We were created to have life and have it to the full. To laugh, to love, to cry, to breathe, to sing, to dance, to weep, to be filled with joy. There is within us a soul that knows that life is the reason it exists, and that its existence is never meant to be extinguished! Dylan Thomas penned the song of our souls when he said:

"Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light."

Not because we doubt what comes next. Not because we doubt the promise that we have been given, but because death is the absolute corruption of God's perfect plan.

Do you doubt me?
Ask Jesus, Himself. He did not go gently into that goodnight, either. He did not stoically bow to death. He wept. He begged. He sweat drops of blood pleading that His life be spared. I do not believe for one moment, that Jesus the Christ feared what lay beyond death, or that there was ever any question as to where His final destination was. But the process of death was more than He in his human form could bear. And he raged against it in the only way that we humans know to do.

Never allow yourself to be shamed into believing that loving, enjoying, reveling in this earthly life is not what God intended for Christians. There is within us a soul that cannot be extinguished. We know that. It is this that makes us fight death, cry out against death: "I do not want to die!" And that's ok. God doesn't want us to die either.

"For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in Him will never die, but will have life everlasting."

Comments

[Traci]

Oh sweet sistah, you continue to totally amaze me with your words (I don't know why, you are pretty amazing). I totally agree, God does not want death for us, He didn't create us to die!! He created us to live and love and laugh!!! Thanks sweet sistah!!!

[laura]

Dana,
Your words just astound me...thank you for sharing this truth sista...
Love,
Laura

[Heather]

Thank you so much for posting this. You couldn't have known (b/c I haven't been able to chat lately) that this is something I have been struggling with ever since my friend, Lynn, was killed and I had the dream where I died without fear and then panicked. I have been worrying that I love my life too much, my children and husband too much ... b/c I don't want to die yet.

[Patty]

This is so good, thankyou. This Tuesday it will be one year since my beloved sister in-law lost her battle with breast cancer that came back as ovarian cancer. She was a beautiful Christian woman but still clung to life til her last breath. She had alternative cancer treatment in Mexico this last time around and we all believed it was working, even to the end. I miss her.

[Tiff]

Breathtaking!!! You amaze me and every part of this rang true to me.

[Gene]

Simply amazing. Your words teach and comfort at the same time. I'm so glad I stumbled across your blog a few months ago, Dana. Your words touch me.

[Cathie Jo]

Dana, this was incredible sweetie. What a wonderful Word from our Lord, so comforting. Ok, now I just read Jamies last night, another great word that fit like a puzzle with yours. Please tell me that there isn't someone out there who is questioning this mans salvation because of asking for his life to be spared. And if you read it that means they wrote it for all to see, I can't imagine a more godless thing to do. They truly need our prayers for a change of heart sugar. Everytime you write the anointing just oozes from your words sweetie. Love, Cathie Jo

[Steph]

forgive me but I'm posting again to test out my addition of a URL above. You're creating a monster Dana...

[Steph]

Okay, so who's the pastor/preacher/minister of the family?? Cause that's just about one of the best lessons I've ever heard. Dana, I think you could lead a kick butt Bible study RIGHT NOW. And as you know, I've attended quite a LOT.
It kind of amazes me how much better this message is than the one I heard last night, at the adult VBS class I was in, delivered by Joey Spann (remember him from Ezell?), a man who's been preaching for decades and who I've always loved (though not always agreed with...)

[Maria]

Yes, Yes very well said. The same 'assumption' bothered me but I couldn't put it into words either. Thank you for doing so.

[Tookshire]

Thank you for working this out with me. With every new step today, I reflect back on the heat of that moment...and of your friendship.

[Lori]

What an incredible blessing you are to people! Thank you for writing this, Dana.

[naomi]

...btw, loving our lives may very well be the greatest witness we have. So many people walking around depressed and in despaire NOT loving their lives may very well be drawn to those who do and come to know the GIVER of life through us.

[naomi]

I am scared to "death" of a painful death and am so thankful that that fear doesn't in anyway imply that I'm not saved.

[Jojo]

This is beautiful,Danagirl. Just beautiful.

[Jane]

I am so blessed to read your blog!
You are right, Dana. I am horrible with
words so I hope this makes sense. I know where
I'm going someday & look forward to seeing my
Jesus. The thought of a painful death, I think
'worries' most of us. After seeing what was going to happen to that poor fellow, I think
it's normal to think of ourselves in his shoes,
& boy that is scary, huh? It does NOT mean he or we or anybody is not saved or a 'true' believer
if they 'freak out' at the moment when it comes.
I don't want to 'go' like that, in a violent way. Sure...it would be horrific, can't even
think of the right words.... but it would be
over with & then I'd be with my Shepherd. But
I don't want my family to have to live with
that. That would just be the worst!
Now I've rambled....see? I'm awful with words!
Thank you, Dana! God bless you, precious one!
Jane

[Andrea]

Yes, this absolutly could NOT wait. Glad you heeded the call to write this. I needed to hear it.

For some reason, images of that poor soul have haunted me the past couple of days - and no, not 'cause I thought perhaps his salvation was shakey - no, I just felt extreme sorrow for this man.

And, I think your precious one is right. It wasn't the fear of death that was haunting me. I've faced death. It was the preoccupation I had with the *pain* he had to endure....

Same with Christ in the Garden. That scene from the Passion has stuck with me more than and other...I love how you tied it all together!

Ok - done blogging here.

Love,
aj

[AGK]

I've definitely often thought of death and my fear has been the pain. But I also fear leaving before my kids can make it in life without me (before the are grown).

[Crechemom]

Oh Dana, thank you. Yesterday I was listenign in on our local radio station where they were talkign about the possibility of an opt out situation for organ donation, rather than the current opt in one. And there was this woman that phoned in that thought anyone who went for an organ transplant was wrong, because if it was their time then ti was their time and even thought the smae about things like blood transfusions. Argh, I wanted to email in with some comments, because I knew she was wrong, but I couldn't think how to phrase it so it wouldn't soudn like a mother ranting about "I'd do anythign for my kids", etc. If ever I find myself listening to a conversation like that again, I will know exactly what to say.

[Sayruh]

Wow - I am just ... AMAZED by this insight. I never thought about dying in terms of never having been created to perish in the first place!! I love how you tied in the experience of Jesus into this - Who should be our ultimate example in life ... and in death.

Good grief, girl. This is ... amazing. (I am SO linking this blog. :-Þ)

[Becky]

Dana, this was so helpful to me. I often think of the means of death more than the actual outcome - which will be glorious!! Thanks!

[Stacey]

VERY well put my sweet. Very well put.