What Is This Thing Called Death?

A good friend passed away this week, and got me to thinking.  What is this thing we call “death”?

Some would say that death is the end, a nothingness, ceasing to exist.

If that were so, where is the meaning of life?  And how could the injustices, the lives of those who seem to suffer so much, or those who live without hope make any sense?

Did we really just “pop” into existence only to be “snuffed” back out?

That just doesn’t sound or feel right!

Others say that death is the most horrific thing that can happen, leaving us hanging in a limbo for all eternity, or consigned to repeat life over and over, ever trying to improve minisculy.

If that were so, would life be lived in constant fear of not making the grade, not learning enough, or of being over before we have the opportunity to show what we can do?

Is that really why we are here, to blow it royally or to have to keep trying forever and ever?

That doesn’t sound or feel right!

Our loving Father in Heaven created the earth as a place for learning and growth for His beloved children.  He sends us, His spirit children, here to get a physical, mortal body.  Death is the separation of our spirit from our physical body (like when you take off a glove).

Our body is left behind, while our spirit continues to live and moves on to the next phase of our learning and growth.

If this is so, where is the meaning of life?  Are we really here to see if we blow it royally or have to keep trying to make it forever and ever?  Life means being able to do more than we could as just living spirits, having additional senses, abilities, and blessings!  Injustices or problems we have no control over that are not corrected here in our physical life will be taken care of after this life.

Father in Heaven’s plan included giving every one of His children the opportunity to learn of Him and to choose to follow His son, Jesus Christ.  If they do not have that opportunity in this life (which a great many of His children do not have), His perfect plan includes the contingency for them to learn after this life.  All will be taught and allowed to choose for themselves whether to accept and follow His great Plan of Happiness!

So, does it matter what we do while here in this life?

Good question!  Yes, the more we learn and grow in this life the better off we will be in the eternities.  All of us have things we struggle with, that is part of mortality, and part of increasing in abilities physically, mentally, spiritually, and socially.  All that we learn here stays with us forever!

We are also here to have joy and rejoicing in the goodness of God, in sharing what we do have with others, and to make a positive difference.  There is purpose to our lives, and the choices we make will impact our eternities.

This thing that we call death is a step along the path of Heavenly Father’s plan.  It is passing through a door, leaving our body behind, meeting with our friends and loved ones who have already passed on, and one day – because of Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection – having our spirit and body reunited in a glorified and perfected form never to be separated again, and finally receiving all that we have earned through our many choices throughout our lives.

Now that makes sense!  🙂