By Leland Pulley
I understand death and have no fear of it. You should be able to make the same statement. Utilize this article, and related material to help you think and feel the same way.
We have all seen movies in which someone dies, and others become sad or pessimistic when death comes to an individual. It is unfortunate to see so many individuals in movies being affected in negative ways. This may be viewed as an accurate portrayal of real-life experiences by people in general, but it does not help anyone understand nor handle death any better.
I have attended funerals in my own family, as well as for friends. I have watched as people try to deal with death in the best manner they can. In contrast, I have attended positive and uplifting funerals by individuals who have true religion. They understand the purpose and meaning of earth life. Funerals are a positive experience for such people. What have been your experiences with funerals or the death of family members?
There seems to be a universal reaction to watching someone close to you die. There is a sense of loss, and then what will I do without that individual in my life? Yes, some people handle death better than others, but there are still some universal feelings and emotions experienced. Why is this the case?
Ultimately, reality sets in and must be addressed. Life goes on and each of us must move forward with our lives without the person or persons who died. Remember, sooner or later everyone will witness death and eventually experience it.
With death, the first big issue is that you will miss the individual who has gone. It could be a husband or wife, a parent, a sibling, a good friend, or a business partner. Generally, it takes time to deal with the separation and get back to running your life the best you can. Even with this, loved ones can experience loneliness, especially in marriage.
Another concern is dependency by living individuals on the person who died.
- For example, the wage earner in the family dies and now the remaining mate has to handle all the responsibilities by himself or herself. This can leave the family with financial problems and without benefits. Hopefully, there was some life insurance to provide money to family members.
- For some couples, the surviving spouse may find it difficult to get married again. What are the chances of marrying again successfully, and ending up with just as good of marriage as experienced before the death occurred?
- The same is true when a parent or parents die and children must find a way to be raised and launched successfully into adulthood. Having to raise kids as a single parent can present many challenges and some problems too.
- If a business owner or partner dies, what happens to the business and those who are employed in that business?
- Death can also cause a needed relocation to a different area for job change or other reasons.
- Related to death are accidents that cause disabilities, which must be lived with until a person dies.
There are challenges associated with death, especially when it comes unexpectedly or at an early age. However, many people seem to handle it more successfully than others. One reason is good preparation and planning in case this happens to them. Are you prepared for death in your life and your family? Do not assume it will come only in old age. Instead, remember that car accidents happen to young people, as well as disease. Guard your health. Build a support network of family, relatives, friends, etc. Plan out financial issues. Have an up-to-date will and in some cases an estate plan.
Despite all the negative thoughts, feelings, and concerns, there is a bright hope related to death. First, it has happened to everyone in the past and will happen to everyone in the present and future. But being a universal experience still does not satisfy me, and it should not satisfy you. What I know for sure is that no one really dies or goes out of existence. The physical body stops functioning or it dies, not the real you or your spirit. You will continue living as the unique individual you are but be in the spirit world. Eventually, you will experience resurrection with a healthy and perfect physical body sealed to your spirit. Thereafter, you will live forever. This reality can be known by you just as surely as by me. The means to do this is explained in my book Road Map to God.
An important factor here is the relative amount of time involved. Let’s assume you live 100 years in Earth life and then another 500 years in the spirit world. You are resurrected and then live forever. How long is 600 years compared to all of eternity, which means forever? This short 600 years is like a blink of the eye compared to forever.
It is important that you realize the time between physical birth and your resurrection is a testing period. The judgment of your performance during this period will affect all the rest of your eternity. The smart person will conduct his or her life in such a way to get the best grade by God. In this way he or she gets the best return on their investment of positive living. More details on the results of God’s judgment, and how it can affect your eternity so significantly, is found in my book,
I reach out to all of you who have suffered some type of loss due to a death. In the big scheme of things, your loss is temporary. In my book I offer knowledge and recommendations to make improvements in your life and raise your level of spirituality. It will not take away your loss and any short-term consequences. But you will certainly be more prepared to deal with these things.
Another important concern for people is marital and family relationships. Remember this, you do not have to lose your marital relationship, nor family ties permanently. You can have these relationships forever if you will obey some simple laws that God has laid out. This too is explained in my book.
In my own case, I do not have any fears or concerns about death. I am not worried about my death, my wife dying, or any family members passing into the spirit world. I want each of you to gain the assurance and confidence that I and others like me have relative to death. I challenge you to utilize this article in your life and get the answers you want out of my book.
Key Words – fear, funerals, death, loss, loneliness, dependency, challenges, hope, resurrection, time, judgment, spirituality, family relationships, assurance
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