Connecting Point: Last Breath

“When will I die?” is almost a universal question. After all, at some point, we do die. I try to approach the topic with sensitivity. I do understand that as this column reaches readers some are dealing with the death of a family member or a friend. Certainly, our families and communities have grappled with death in the past and it is part of life. Still, it tops the difficult subject list. The Bible reminds us, “Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment,” (Hebrews 9:27). There’s no escaping this reality.

Can we have confidence that there is, in fact, a heaven? Award-winning author, Lee Stroble, who converted to Christianity from atheism, investigated this question in The Case for Heaven. He points out that for the Christian, the Bible is the single most important source of encouragement and truth. Ecclesiastes 2:11 reads, “He has made everything beautiful in time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men, yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” Heaven is somewhat mysterious. Yet, Jesus himself paints glimpses of heaven in John 14:2, “My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?”

Paul addressed heaven on several occasions to provide assurance to the early church. As a former skeptic, Paul’s perspective dramatically changed on the road to Emmaus. For example, he encouraged the Corinthians: “We live by faith not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord,” (2 Corinthians 5:7-8). Death is not the end; it is the beginning of eternity.

For the atheist, death is the switch being turned off. But Strobel observes two things common among atheists. One, they want to be remembered for their accomplishments; and, two, they strive to find ways to live longer. To me, that seems natural People go to great lengths to extend life. Case in point, a cryogenic facility in Australia is set to open at high expense, 32 customers are lined up to take their last breath—to be “put on ice.” Medical technology is remarkable and vastly improving, but I am skeptical of this method for preserving life. Each of us is running out of time, we age, some get sick, and we die. Dr. Clay Jones, a Christian apologist, describes the major problem with cryogenics, sonic fracturing. At death, our bodies immediately break down, the brain in a matter of minutes. So, cryogenic scientists are going to have to figure out how to repair brain and other organ tissue

damage. Additionally, they will need to cure other ailments associated with illness before death.

I agree with Lee Stroble, “It takes more faith to be an atheist than a Christian.” Every breath we have is special, and the promise of the Resurrection is special to Christians.