What do you think about this perspective on death? Can you look at death as a friend rather than as an enemy?
As the greatest enemy of creation, Death seeks to steal from all mankind. Christ has overcome Death and proved that Death can only steal what we think is ours by some over-glorified "law" of ownership. Jesus never claimed His life to be His own. He gave His life as a ransom for many. Thus He disarmed Death and was able to dismantle all power belonging to it. We Christians know life to be a gift and a blessing. We readily offer our lives for others on behalf of the Kingdom of God. We claim no ownership of our lives. As Christians, we declare ourselves to be slaves in debt to our king Jesus. We belong to all creation in accordance with the decree of love proclaimed by God our King. We are thankful for the generous gifts of our Creator and acknowledge He owes us nothing. We have not and can not earn anything especially life.
As living sacrifices, we say to Death: "You may have our mortality. Try and steal from us but we know that you can not for we share even our very lives with our enemies by giving to all those who ask. By not being afraid of You and not clinging to our own lives out of love, we define the very love that overcomes You and Your great friend Sin. You may accept our generosity but You can never steal life from us for what You seek to take from us is not even ours! In accepting our gift, You also accept our victory over You which we share with the One who has come before and for us. In such activity, You make another payment on your pending defeat which was installed by the fall and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth and will be finalized through His return. Death, we have turned You into a friend by making you an enemy defeated. After we shake Your cold hand we shall feel the warmth of Paradise's hand embracing our own. Thanks for introducing us to another friend."
As the greatest enemy of creation, Death seeks to steal from all mankind. Christ has overcome Death and proved that Death can only steal what we think is ours by some over-glorified "law" of ownership. Jesus never claimed His life to be His own. He gave His life as a ransom for many. Thus He disarmed Death and was able to dismantle all power belonging to it. We Christians know life to be a gift and a blessing. We readily offer our lives for others on behalf of the Kingdom of God. We claim no ownership of our lives. As Christians, we declare ourselves to be slaves in debt to our king Jesus. We belong to all creation in accordance with the decree of love proclaimed by God our King. We are thankful for the generous gifts of our Creator and acknowledge He owes us nothing. We have not and can not earn anything especially life.
As living sacrifices, we say to Death: "You may have our mortality. Try and steal from us but we know that you can not for we share even our very lives with our enemies by giving to all those who ask. By not being afraid of You and not clinging to our own lives out of love, we define the very love that overcomes You and Your great friend Sin. You may accept our generosity but You can never steal life from us for what You seek to take from us is not even ours! In accepting our gift, You also accept our victory over You which we share with the One who has come before and for us. In such activity, You make another payment on your pending defeat which was installed by the fall and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth and will be finalized through His return. Death, we have turned You into a friend by making you an enemy defeated. After we shake Your cold hand we shall feel the warmth of Paradise's hand embracing our own. Thanks for introducing us to another friend."