Perfect Vizion

Putting death on life's agenda - John Flanner


Death is one of life's greatest quandaries. It represents mankind's sternest challenge. Indeed death is a great leveller, putting every member of the human race on exactly the same footing. Death throws up myriads of questions and arouses just as many fears. Indeed it can be truly said of death, there are more questions than answers.

Speaking as one who is now 58, with my wife working in a hospice and as a natural consequence of getting older, now attending more funerals, I am of the strong opinion that the subject of death needs to be brought back on to life's agenda for discussion. It is a subject that is still taboo in many people's lives - a definite no go area for discussion. However if we are all faced with the prospect of death (as we are) then should we not be talking about it and trying to find a way forward on the many questions that death throws up?

Some who have suffered a lot may look upon death as a merciful release, while others see it as a doorway into an even greater hell. Some say death is the absolute end of things, whilst others say it is a whole new beginning. Thousands of religions, cults and sects have their own views on this particular subject, but surely there must be a definitive answer to the question "What happens to us after death?" Billions of pounds are spent every year in medical research to try and help us lengthen our lives, but one day we will all face death and I for one desperately wanted to know, is death the end or just a beginning?

I mentioned earlier that I am as I get older invariably attending more funerals and the traditional Anglican funeral liturgy leads me to believe that Jesus (who said of himself "I am the resurrection and the life") will one day raise all people up to eternal life. I have found this a bit puzzling because at those funerals this blessing has been attributed to those who I know in their lifetime were not religious and did not believe in Jesus, so do they get raised up anyway. Then what about people of other faiths, agnostics and atheists, will they be raised up by Jesus too?

It's quite common in our society to have the attitude of turning a blind eye, cocking a deaf ear, let's ignore it and hope it goes away or bury our heads in the sand and pretend it doesn't exist. However as we all know this is only postponing the inevitable for death will not go away and it most definitely does exist, lying in wait for us all. Can I make a plea therefore as a fellow sufferer of the dying disease that we pool our resources, thoughts, insights, experiences, beliefs and help each other to attack this question that faces us all in an attempt to find some vital answers and help alleviate some of those many fears and confusing thoughts that the prospect of death throws up.

For my part I would say that the idea of death frightened me as much if not more than most. Even in my teens it was a thought that scared me to the point that I did not want to talk about it. In fact as a bit of an insurance policy I would quote the "Lord's Prayer" under my bedclothes at night before going to sleep just in case I should die during the night. Somehow I reasoned that if there was a God and I had said my prayers then he would look on me favourably. It was in my early 20s however after going blind that I began to ask more questions of people about issues such as life and death. My questioning led me to look more closely at the life of Jesus Christ and his teachings. I came to the point of believing that Jesus did come down from Heaven as God in human form, in order to die for the sins of the world. I arrived at the conclusion that Jesus died to pay the price for my sins and then he rose again from the dead (making himself known after his resurrection on many occasions) and then he ascended into Heaven, from where he will return one day to bring peace on earth. I freely embraced the teaching of Jesus when he said "I am the way, the truth and the life, no man can come to the Father except through me" and "Unless a person is born again he cannot enter the Kingdom of God". There are many more references too in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John that make it clear to me that unless you are a follower of Jesus Christ and have had your sins forgiven then you cannot receive eternal life, but because of sin must face eternity apart from the loving God who made you.

Now, if my faith is misplaced or misguided I want to know about it. At this point in time I do believe that Jesus does provide the answer to my questions, but I would love to hear where other people stand on the question of death and what lies beyond it. Surely we owe it to each other to talk about this crucial subject and if people have found answers to their questions then share them so that we can all consider them and hopefully come to a clearer understanding in our own minds.

May I close with one final quote from the Bible that has helped me so much over the years "For God so loved the world that he gave his only son so that whoever believes in him will not perish but will have everlasting life" (John Chapter 3 Verse 16)

John Flanner

July 2005