A Good Death

I’ve been thinking a lot about death this week.

                I know, that probably sounds a little morbid, perhaps just plain weird to you. So, let me explain.

                As I am writing this it is the first week of November, which in the church where I serve as pastor means All Saints Day. The first Sunday in November we celebrate this day by sharing together in Holy Communion, recognizing the Communion of the saints around us, and name those saints who have moved on to heaven this past year. The word “saint”, by the way, means “holy” or “different”, which is what we are all called to be as followers of Jesus. All Christians are, because of the forgiveness of sins and the holiness given us by Christ Jesus, saints.

                So I have been thinking about the saints who are no longer physically here.

                November also marks the 2 year anniversary of my mom moving to heaven, so I’ve been thinking about that.

                And in my planning for All Saints Sunday, and in thinking about all these saints,  I have been working on a sermon entitled, “Dying a Good Death”.

                I think that’s important, that idea of “dying a good death”. Maybe you’ve never thought about that, or maybe you don’t even want to think about that. I get it. I really do. But death is an inevitable part of life here on this planet until Jesus returns. And death is not a final ending event.

Death is more….transitional.

 In death we move from earthly life to eternal life, from our temporary home to our heavenly home, from mortal bodies to eternal bodies.

                Jesus said, “I have come that (you) may life, and have it abundantly” (John 10:10b), and later says, “unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds (life)” (John 12:24-25).

              

                I hear a lot of talk about living a “good life”, like that’s the goal of this life here on earth. And mostly when we talk about living a good life we talk about things: a good job, a big house, a nice car, a good marriage, a reliable income, a solid retirement. Stuff.

                Sometimes maybe we mention family and friends as being important in “the good life”.

                All of these things are good, and can be important. There is nothing wrong with having a drive for achievement, unless the drive for achievement has you.

                But maybe living a good life is really found in being able to die a good death.

                I’m not being morbid again, bear with me.

                John Wesley, the man who is named as a father of the Methodist movement, is reported to have said, in his last words on his death bed, “And the best of all, God is with us.”

                That’s pretty impactful, especially to those who were gathered around him as he took his last breath in this life and his first breath in eternity.

                And do you remember Stephen from the book of Acts? When he was being killed for his faith, stoned in the streets by people who claimed to be the religious ones of the day, Stephen looked up to the skies and said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God. Lord, Jesus, receive my spirit. Lord, do not hold this sin against them” (Acts 7:56, 59b).

                Maybe in dying a good death we can see what is truly important in life. Maybe in dying a good death we can offer forgiveness of those who wronged us because we really understand how much forgiveness that God has offered to us. Maybe in dying a good death we can ask God to be merciful to others, because we realize how much mercy has been shown to us. Maybe in dying a good death we will see the heavens opened, and our Lord Jesus waiting on the right hand side of the throne of God the Father, ready to bring us safely home.

                And maybe if this is a good death, then that helps us to have the right perspective to live a good life. Maybe in thinking a little about death in the right way, it will help us live life the right way as well.