Who will leave my body?

At one juncture in my first pastorate, the congregation and I experienced eight deaths within a month and a half. That amount of bereavement is the most I recall in such a concentrated period of time during nearly twenty-four years of ordained ministry. In fact, it is the most I can recollect. Nonetheless, I think death affords us an ironic opportunity of meditating upon and redefining life.

Deaths of contemporaries awaken anxiety within most us. Inevitably, we leave wakes and funerals with a dreadful thought, “That could have been me.” We might even summon courage to ask, “Why not me?” Understandably, you might actually whisper silently to yourself, “I’m glad it wasn’t me. Thank God I’m still around to enjoy life, love and my loved ones.” Hopefully, these thoughts encourage us to consider more seriously life’s purpose and meaning.

Hence, I ask the question, “Who will leave my body?” We are spiritual beings, made in the image and character of Almighty God. We reside in material, human bodies, formed from the dust of the earth. The writer of the great hymn, Sweet Hour of Prayer,” describes death as “dropping of the robe of flesh,” preceding the soul’s ascension to heaven. Answering this fundamental question requires thinking deeply about priorities, goals and purposes. As spiritual beings on an earthly journey, we evolve and emulate the qualities of Christ. We cannot progress in this spiritual quest unless we straightforwardly determine it is the reason for which we live. At the end of life, will a highly evolved spiritual being who once had a human form leave your body and enter into the fullness of his or her originally and eternally created spiritual nature?

In Matthew 22:34-40, the evangelist insists we love the Lord our God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength. The second greatest commandment parallels the first one. We love our neighbor as ourselves. These two commandments determine life’s eternal purposes. As spiritual beings striving to fulfill the will of Almighty God, we serve others with unique gifts our Creator graciously gives to us. Our love for God is most evident in our love for humankind. We cannot sever them. Our growth toward agape which is divine, supreme, selfless and sacrificial love is the objective of genuine spirituality. Practically, we cultivate willingness to share this love in all our affairs, particularly with people whom we do not like. Correspondingly, we fundamentally show our love for God.

“The Great Commission” (Matthew 28:16-20) instructs us to go into the world “making disciples of all men, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and teaching them all that [Christ] has taught us.” Fulfilling this mandate of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, gives eternal meaning and purpose to our lives. Eternity is the canvass on which we paint the portraits of our lives. Only those brush strokes, colors and hues possessing eternal worth will remain. Death instantly erases temporary and earthly items. Yet, images of persons whose lives we touched with the love of Christ and instances in which we fulfil the mission of Christ will withstand the erasing hand of time as it merges with eternity.

Howard Thurman, the great Baptist, mystic theologian, in his book, The Religion of Jesus, posits people fear death because they do not live purposeful lives. Finding an eternal mission yields purpose. Otherwise, we squander our earthly pilgrimage to satisfy physical instincts and self-seeking desires. More significantly, we do not evolve as spiritual beings that honor and glorify the Lord Jesus Christ. Accordingly, we cannot be certain a spiritual being will leave our bodies and transition to eternal life.