One Minute After You Die...

No matter your political persuasion, most are moved by the witness of Barbara Bush...as she dies.

For Barbara has stopped all medical intervention, seeking only comfort care.  Commenting this week through a spokesperson, the Bush family shared:   

"Following a series of hospitalizations, and after consulting her family and doctors, Mrs. Bush, now age 92, has decided not to seek additional medical treatment and will instead focus on comfort care.  It will not surprise those who know her that Barbara Bush has been a rock in the face of her failing health, worrying not for herself -- thanks to her abiding faith -- but for others.  She is surrounded by a family she adores, and appreciates the many kind messages and especially the prayers she is receiving."  

It's clear that at the heart of Barbara's unfailing resolve, is indeed, her abiding faith.  In an interview for C-Span in 2013, she itemized how that faith was alive and active, resulting in an absence of fear related to death.

“...I pray,” Bush said. “George and I pray every night, out loud, and sometimes we fight over whose turn it is, but we do.”Bush said that her faith helps her face the end of her life, which she admitted was approaching.  “I have no fear of death, which is a huge comfort because we’re getting darn close,” Bush said. “I don’t have a fear of death for my precious George, or for myself, because I know that there is a great God, and I’m not worried...”  To watch the entire interview with Bush, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3tG2ePrJX0 

Did you catch that?  "...There is a great God..."  Thus -- "...I'm not worried..."

But most of us are worried.  Specifically we're worried about death and the reality/meaning of life after our final breath.

Years ago, the long-time pastor of Moody Church, Erwin Lutzer, penned a provocative book:  "One Minute After You Die."  It was a fascinating read, intended to usher us 'behind the curtain' of the divine, if we are in relationship with Christ. I would encourage you to read Luzer's account of our entrance into eternity.  https://www.amazon.com/One-Minute-After-You-Die/dp/0802412955

But I'd like to 'take my own stab,' at my own version, of what happens one minute after we die, as travel on, in Christ, into everlasting, divine life.

So here goes!

1) One Minute After You Die...You Will Be More Alive Than Ever!  Along with Barbara Bush, another recent guide to the realm beyond, has been Billy Graham.   The most quoted words of Billy, upon his death, was a quote, that affirmed that Graham was not dead, but indeed, more alive, than ever!  In actuality, the gist of Graham's words originated from his hero, Dwight L. Moody, as found in Moody's 1900 biography:

"...Some day you will read in the papers that D. L. Moody, of East Northfield, is dead. Don’t you believe a word of it! At that moment I shall be more alive than I am now. I shall have gone up higher, that is all; out of this old clay tenement into a house that is immortal—a body that death cannot touch; that sin cannot taint; a body fashioned like unto His glorious body..."

An accurate summary of Moody's conviction is found in Colossians 3, picking up on the message and hope of Easter.

"...Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God...For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God... When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature..."  (Colossians 3: 1-5, emphasis added). 

I love the image of glory, as an image of life, life in all its fullness.  Specifically, mega aliveness, marked by a good opinion, estimation, repute -- commanding respect, magnificence, and excellence, in every way.  

Thus, look forward to a fuller life, more glorious than ever realized -- one minute after you die.

But there's more...

2) One Minute After You Die...You Will Not Be Alone.  A sad part of the aging process, is a sense of social isolation.  Translated:  the more we move through life, the more tempting it is to withdraw and not connect with others.  As NextAvenue reported last year...

"...Humans have a fundamental need for socialization and inclusion. Without it, they can suffer from high levels of stress, depression and even death. Loneliness may be as significant a health factor as smoking; it is said to have the same impact of smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Research from the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) found that 43 percent of older adults report feelings of loneliness..."  https://www.nextavenue.org/loneliness-isolation-age/

Well, obviously we need work at socialization at all stages of life, given it's direct health benefits.

But not surprisingly, given those benefits, socialization/community is also a prime characteristic of eternity.

It's interesting:  there are at least 12 major biblical descriptions of heaven.  The majority of them represent not an individualistic experience, but a corporate experience as we gather in eternity in a "....house not made with hands..." (Luke 16:9); as "...a tabernacle..." (Hebrews 8:1, 2.  Revelation 2:7); around a banquet or feast (Revelation 21:1,2; within "...the City of God..."  (John 14:2), defined as "...the New Jerusalem..." (2 Cor. 5:1), "...a Holy City..."  (Luke 16:22,23).  

Thus, look forward to a life together, more community-rich/laden than you ever realized -- one minute after you die.  

But there's more...

3) One Minute After You Die...You Will Know The Sheer Joy Of God's Full Embrace. After what seems like endless days, weeks, months, years of sorrow’s clutch, we encounter, as we step toward eternity/heaven, God's grip, as we come ‘face to face’ with the sheer presence of God (1 John 3:2).  

Commonly called “The Visio Dei,” this intimate, divine reckoning clarifies our journey, as we’re embraced by deep healing, resolving the time of our life.   As A.M. Hunter observes:

“To behold the God before whom the angels veil their faces, the God who created us and, in Christ, redeemed us, who so loved his lost and wandering children that he came right down among us to show us what he is like and then died on a Cross to save us from our sins and make us heirs of life eternal, and, beholding him, to behold all things in him and in the light of his redemption, this truly ‘were a well spent journey…”     

I’ve spent much of life, rapt by fear and dread, not grace and glory.  Yet, scripture testifies, in the end, grace and glory, will ‘best’ all, defeating the worst of the worst, enveloping us in new creation, God’s grip. 

I once officiated at a biker funeral, as in motorcycle bikers.  And it was a quite an experience, complete with leather jackets and chains.  But there were moments when I wasn’t quite sure what was going to occur.  The most uncertain episode occurred during the open sharing time when a big, burly biker came forward to testify.  I mean this biker was a man’s man, who could ‘stare you down’ on any highway, and keep the upper hand.  And sure enough, he started that way, presenting some great, macho biker stories.  

But then I got nervous, as he indicated he was now going to interject a biker tradition, right in the middle of the funeral.  Well, at that, I wasn't sure if brass knuckles would be flashed or a Harley would come down the isle.  But boy was I surprised because the biker tradition was the unexpected: hugging.  Bikers, I discovered, love to hug!  And so this burly, macho biker invited everyone – right in the middle of the funeral – right in the middle of our grief – to reach out and hug.  And it made a difference, changing the character and climate, of everything.

That’s what God in Christ does as we enter eternity:  He changes the character and climate of everything.  In the middle of our grief, God grips us and renews us.  

Thus, look forward God's touch, transitioning us from despair to embracing love -- one minute after you die. 

But a last item...

4) One Minute After You Die...Life Will Begin To Make Sense. Lots of life does not 'compute,' for much of life is angst and fury, with little explanation, filled with tough mystery.  But as we step into eternity, a sense of resolution will begin to seize us and overwhelm us.

Paul affirms this prospect in memorable fashion in 1 Corinthians 13:12

“At present, we are men looking at puzzling reflections in a mirror. The time will come when we shall see reality whole and face-to-face! At present all I know is a …fraction of the truth, but the time will come when I shall know it as fully as God now knows me!”  (1 Corinthians 13:12, Phillips).

I long for such comprehension.  As I anticipate that opportunity, I imagine myself huddling with the Master of the Universe, asking the same question over and over, ‘why’:  why did my mother die so young and suddenly; why wasn’t my vocational path more ‘even’ and complete; why did my bad neighbor prosper and my good friend flounder; why didn’t You answer my prayer/s when I was ‘sinking’ low; why was the arrogant politician elected, over the more righteous choice; why – why – why?

And then a glorious thing will happen: rather than the delay, absence or silence, I’ve experienced from the Savior so often, He will now be eager to communicate, and give rationale, for the questions and mysteries of life.  

Now mind you, I won't like some of God's rationale, particularly as He reminds me of His love of paradox/irony, along with His tendency, at times, to let the ‘earthly’ outcomes of my actions, ‘run their course.’ But whether ‘to my liking’ or offense, God’s rationale will be clear and arresting, prompting a repetitive (though at times reluctant) response:  ‘OK, I hear You.  Now, I understand.’

For in God’s Time, we do understand, that God is involved ‘all the time,’ in all of life. For the psalmist reminds us:  “…my times are in [God’s] hands…”  (Psalm 31:15) 

Largely, however, we’re not aware of God’s habitual presence.  But if we’re observant now – and certainly in eternity – we realize that God, though not always visible – has, nevertheless, been vigilant.  

As Rich Mouw concluded his career as the President of Fuller Seminary, he accented this theme in a farewell sermon, using a reoccurring phrase to accent God’s faithfulness, in spite of apparent neglect -- ‘It’s Him Again.’

“…In Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple, there’s a series of murders in the village, and the local constable looks at the fourth of those murders and says there is no connection between this one and the previous murders—there just happened to have been several unrelated homicides within a single month…But Miss Marple, noticing something hanging on the wall and remembering something the butler said, points out: “No, no, no, it’s him again.”  Our growth in Christ…means learning to read the clues in the manner of Miss Marple, and even more importantly in the manner of God’s people in God’s redemptive story…The last time the unbelieving world saw Jesus of Nazareth, he was…hanging dead and defeated on a Roman cross…But for those of us who encounter that scene with the eyes and ears of faith we say, “No, no, no, it’s him again.” … There will come a day, the Apostle John tells…when someone will appear in the clouds and every eye will see him. [And] on that occasion [we will once again respond] “It’s him again.” …Many of you face uncertainties, difficulties, trials, and challenges, but I hope you experience a reassuring presence…and sensing that presence…[will be able to say] in deep places of your being, “It’s him again….”  

And so as we step into eternity, God ‘pulls back the curtains’ on God’s activity, presence, and rationale.  Thus, look forward to mysteries solved, as we begin to understand, as God understands.

And so, Barbara Bush is 'on to something':  “I have no fear of death...because I know that there is a great God, and I’m not worried..."

Yes, a great God who will enliven us like never before...who will give us companionship like never before...who will embrace us like never before...who will pull back the curtain on His mysteries like never before -- one minute after we die...

...in Christ Jesus -- our everlasting -- forever and ever -- comforting Lord!