End of life. Not a typical topic of conversation at the workplace; yet a colleague was feeling the need to share some thoughts on the subject during a break. I briefly looked around for a quick escape but realized, being the only other person in the room, I couldn’t get out of this one without appearing rude. Accepting my fate, I stayed put. Turns out, he didn’t understand how some people who didn’t have long to live would decide to have a complex medical procedure in the hope that it might extend their life a few more months. He told me that when it’s your time, it’s your time; it’s no different from the animal kingdom. He emphasized his explanation saying that you live, then you die; he just hoped he “makes the cut” to a happy place. “You can never be too sure”, he announced.
Hmmm … an opportunity, okay here we go.
“Well, it’s different from the animals because we have a soul. Our Creator made us that way.”
“Sure, a soul, whatever, but that doesn’t get you out of what’s comin’; none of us live forever,” he responded.
“Actually, the decisions you make while you’re on this earth, have a profound impact on what happens to your soul. I mean, the opportunity’s there, it’s your decision whether you make the cut or not.”
“Well, you know, I try to live a good life and score some points when I can. But maybe I’m not doing enough ‘cause I think people have good hearts and want to do good anyway. You can’t be too sure,” he thoughtfully pondered again.
“Unfortunately, people struggle with doing the right thing. You know, the very first family in history struggled with violence when Cain bashed Abel in the head. Kind of messes up the whole humans-naturally-getting-along-with-each-other thing. But I can tell you why that is; it’s called sin. It’s the oldest battle we know of, good versus evil, God versus Satan. ”
“You’re trying to confuse my point about just accepting the fact that we live and then die. I hope when my number is up that I go quick,” he fired back. “I just don’t want to come back as some low-life insect or something.”
“A bug? So you’re concerned about not making the cut and being kicked out of a happy place as a reincarnated animal …”
“Or insect,” he corrected me. “I don’t think there’s any way of knowing. It’s not like they give any clue to what’s going on there.”
“Where?”
“You know, a happier place with a good vibe,” he defended. I’ve kind of wondered what age everyone is; do we get a 20-something body or are we all senior citizens and hang out all day?”
“Sounds like you’re thinking there’s a heaven. The Bible says all our physical problems disappear and we do get new bodies; no pain and no handicaps but not sure about whether it resembles a twenty year old.”
“Yeah, the Bible; I know about it, just haven’t read it much. Well, any of it, I guess. It’s for church and I haven’t been since I was a kid. I don’t see how anyone can be sure of any of this,” he repeated.
“Can I explain?”
“Don’t take too long, my break’s almost over.”
“Our Creator has this worked out for us but you’ll need to have a personal relationship with Him first. It’s kind of like getting an insurance policy except that when you die, you still get all the benefits and it lasts for eternity. It’s explained in the Gospel of John.”
“Dude, those are just words,” he rationalized.
“Listen, there’s more to the story. God provided the supernatural miracle of the birth of Jesus, His holy Son and the reason we celebrate Christmas. He actually left heaven and went from infant to man explaining to mankind why we’re here and what we’ve got to do to receive eternal life. Everybody wants to believe in something and you can’t get any more rock-solid than the Bible, the inspired word of God. It’s our reference point for living and describes the design for nature and each of us; which is good news knowing you won’t come back as a bug. And heaven, well, it’s beyond anything we can imagine; you won’t be sitting around on some cloud strumming a harp; that’s Hollywood. Anyway, Jesus is a free gift; Merry Christmas. You’re break is over.”
“Yeah, I’ve got to go,” he confirmed. “I’ll get back to you on that; I’ve got time,” he smiled and held up his hand.
I returned the smile, “Maybe, but are you willing to bet your life on it …?”
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