Today, five years ago, my dad passed away. I was with him during his last two weeks of his life. I won't say that we had the best relationship, but I believe in the end we got to know each other a whole lot better.
When the hospital staff were getting ready to move him from his bed in ICU to transport him to Hospice, as they picked him up he said "Beam me up Scotty!" as a humorous reference to the old Star Trek television show.
This would be his last words.
My dad believed that nothing was more important than going to heaven.
It's amazing how we get so caught up in our jobs and our plans. In all that we do, nothing is more important than our eternal destination.
We our life is over we leave everything here. Our job title, our money, our homes -- everything. During the final days of my dad's life, he talked about things he was leaving behind and what he wanted me to do with them. He left me his house. It was sold within a year after he passed. I don't know what happened to the contents. We work so hard for the things we have but, in the end, it turns out that those things are that important.
I know that people believe different things about life after death - some don't even believe in anything after death. If you don't believe you don't believe. Nothing I put in this blog will convince you otherwise. As for me, I believe that Jesus told us that He is preparing a place for us and that once we leave this life, we will be with Him. Can I explain it scientifically? No. I don't need proof; I just need faith.
I don't like to think or talk about death and I don't like funerals. This subject doesn't need to be depressing but it should give us reason to prioritize our lives. We don't need to get caught up in our end but in our continuing after this life is over. It will continue so we should be prepared by living a life that is going in that direction.
In the song "Heaven on my Mind" by Luther Barnes he sings:
I'm determined, I've got a made up mindI can't stand around wasting my time.
I'm gonna keep on working for Jesus
Everyday of my life, cause I've got heaven on my mind.
You can't talk about me, say what you wanna say
You can't stand around wasting your time.
While your talking, I'm gonna keep on walking
Cause I've got heaven on my mind.
My mind is made up and determined that nothing is more important than making it to heaven. People get so caught up in who will or will not go to heaven but you know what? That's not my focus. I will not be the gate keeper and nobody gave me that job. Our eternal life doesn't begin after death but it is lived today.
