Does life really continue after we leave this world?
From the writings of the Rev. Billy Graham
Q: I attended my first funeral at 21. I heard things I've never heard before about leaving a good legacy and about being certain that there is life beyond the grave. Does life really continue after we leave this world and how important is it that we leave a memorable mark? -- D.W.
A: In the midst of death, there is loving remembrance. We all leave footprints behind. The Bible reminds us that the memory of the righteous is blessed (Proverbs 10:7). For Christian believers, death is no frightful leap in the dark but entrance into a glorious new life. The apostle Paul recognized the truth of eternity set in his heart when he said, "For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain" (Philippians 1:21).
The brutal fact of death has been conquered by the resurrection of Jesus. For the person who has turned from sin and received Christ as Lord and Savior, death is not a frightful end. God wouldn't have placed eternity in our hearts unless there was life beyond the grave.
During World War II, a mother and her son gazed daily at a photograph of a man who was fighting for freedom. The boy said, "Mama, wouldn't it be great if Dad could just step down out of the frame?"
At Bethlehem, 2,000 years ago, Jesus stepped down from Heaven to earth. He is the only true visitor from outer space -- God incarnate. His coming changed everything man knew about death. It's dangerous for people to dodge the subject of death. The most important question to answer is where death will lead us? Eternity has to be decided on earth. Instead, people stay busy to avoid thinking about their eternal destinations. For believers, our destination is "set," and no one can steal our inheritance from us or the legacy we leave behind.
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(This column is based on the words and writings of the late Rev. Billy Graham.)
(c)2019 BILLY GRAHAM DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC.
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