Look At It This Way

As Christians, we don’t look at life the same way as others who don’t believe. God tells us in His Word how we should think. As I look around at the world right now I think it seems to have slipped off the rails and into complete insanity. I wonder how much longer we can last under all this chaos.

I found this passage in Eric Metaxas’ brilliant book, “Bonhoeffer Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy.” In case you haven’t read the book (it’s very long) I will give you a synopsis. Bonhoeffer was a German Christian during the time of Hitler’s reign. He figures out that Hitler is truly evil and must be assassinated. He gets caught in the plot and jailed. He spends time in jail until he is executed for his crime. While in jail he wrote this:

“Whether we are young or old makes no difference. What are twenty or thirty or fifty years in the sight of God? And which of us knows how near he or she may already be to the goal? That life only really begins when it ends here on earth, that all that is here is only the prologue before the curtain goes up-that is for young and old alike to think about. Why are we so afraid when we think about death? Death is only dreadful for those who live in dread and fear of it. Death is not wild and terrible, if only we can be still and hold fast to God’s Word. Death is not bitter, if we have not become bitter ourselves. Death is grace, the greatest gift of grace that God gives to people who believe in Him. Death is mild, death is sweet and gentle, it beckons to us with heavenly power if only we realize that it is the gateway to our homeland, the tabernacle of joy, the everlasting kingdom of peace.

Death is hell and night and cold, if it is not transformed by our faith. But that is just what is so marvelous, that we can transform death.” (Eric Metaxas, “Bonhoeffer Pastor, Marytr, Prophet, Spy”)

When we look at the world, we don’t even view death the same way as the rest of the world.

“Where, O death, is your sting? (1 Corinthians 15:55)

We as Christians must remember where we are going. When we leave this planet, we are headed to glory beyond our imagination. This world with all of its angst and pain is so temporary. Like Bonhoeffer says, “What are twenty or thirty or fifty years in the sight of God?” This helps me to be encouraged. All of this is very short-a tiny, tiny blip of time. I don’t need to fear anything, even death. God hasn’t left the throne. God isn’t unaware of our problems. He is working. We believers simply must trust and anticipate our future. This life is a “prologue before the curtain goes up…”