Sat, 1/10/15 – One important thing for me to do in this blog is to bring up the subject of the Christian afterlife. After Marc left this earth I wondered what he was doing in heaven? I wasn’t frantically worried if there was a place but just wondering what his life was about?
I don’t know how it works out up there but I think Marc can see me, his dad and brother, etc. Pastor Charles told me ‘there’s a thin veil between us and our loved ones in heaven’. I think Marc can see the defendants in jail, and has met his grandparents and others in Heaven.
It’s sad we don’t hear of or talk about Heaven much! The real Heaven can’t be boring. I’ve copied below part of an online article about heaven. I really like the clarity … ….
“Thus far in human history, outside of Jesus Christ (and possibly Elijah and Enoch), one out of every one people die. We are all painfully aware of this fact and assume that one day it will happen to us as well. For many, this creates great anxiety. For others, it is a fact filled with wonder and excitement. Still, for some, there is false hope and expectations that will not be recognized.”
“Christians believe in the afterlife. While it is true that one out of every one people die, according to the Christian worldview, one out of every one people will continue their conscience existence even after their bodies lose life. In short, we believe that if Christ does not come first, we will all die and experience a time of existence without a body. For believers in Christ, this time will be spent in a place currently called “heaven” or “Paradise”. Unbelievers will be some place awaiting judgement. ” C. Michael Patton
Chris knew Marc for over 30 years, and he told me recently he talks to Marc on a daily basis. He believes Marc has helped him thru his surgery, and on other occasions. I love how he holds Marc so close. He, like me, is refusing to let the sadness dominate …. we refuse to see Marc as ‘out’ of our lives, in some distant place far from us. Marc was there as a friend for Chris thru so many periods of life …. always integrous, real & loving … and like Marc’s former boss Patrick said, ‘he’s my friend still’. I love to hear my son is remembered like that.
They say love never dies, and it’s true. As Christians we have a faith that sustains us, we use faith to bring us a clearer reality than the one we may see on earth …. and we persevere in that faith, with expectancy. Our family doesn’t dwell on the past and the horrid thing Marc went thru. What seems to have lasted is ‘love’! We still feel Marc’s a part of our lives, even if he’s in the afterlife.
What will happen to you when you leave this earth, when your body gives out for whatever reason? Let yourself think about how you’ll be remembered by those close to you, and where you want to spend your eternity …. it’s not too late to change!