I’ve always tried to stick to a personal, unwritten rule to never quote anything in The Carpenter’s Journal other than the word of God. But this statement by N.T. Wright in his book, Surprised by Hope, is nothing short of profound:

“From Plato to Hegel and beyond, some of the greatest philosophers declared that what you think about death, and life beyond it, is the key to thinking seriously about everything else—and, Indeed, that it provides one of the main reasons for thinking seriously about anything at all.”

And it’s been on my mind this week as I reflected on the life of my mother, who drew her last breath ten days ago. Because she actually did think seriously about her death. And it did affect her behavior.

Mom wasn’t a social icon in the local congregation. She was always pleasant, though often reserved in her conversation. While she seldom sought the opportunity to interact with others, she always seemed to enjoy the occasion if someone twisted her arm a little bit. And even though her greatest joy was to simply be around her children, I can tell you that she always stood in awe and reverence to the Lord.

She taught me years ago that what was written in the Bible was infallible and was never to be profaned—that it was absolute truth. And, I regret that, for so many years, her words went in one ear and out the other. By the life she lived, she taught me that honesty, strength of character and purity were recognizable attributes of the Godly lifestyle.

And I’ve reminded myself the past few days just what she’d come to believe—that is, what she hoped for after she would die. These memories were based on anumber of conversations she and I had in the more recent years of her cognizant existence.

She was eager to read and discuss the Bible—with me, anyway. She was drawn to try to understand God’s written word without error or bias as a result of my teaching and encouraging her to do so. By her own acknowledgement, she came to agree with the authenticity of the Biblical texts—that is, that her hope of a new life would be realized through the return of Jesus Christ to the Earth.

She came to understand that God’s promise to His people would reveal itself through a resurrection of His righteous dead—-a regeneration of life in the coming age, along with an opportunity to share in Christ’s inheritance in God’s fully revealed Kingdom.

This was really good news to her.

I’m convinced she learned to accept the Bible for what it said, and gained a newfound clarity in certain passages :

“…for if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless. You are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men, the most to be pitied. But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. For since by a man came death, by a man also—the resurrection of the dead. For just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all shall be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that, those who are Christ’s in His presence…” [see: 1Cor. 15:16-23]

She understood from the apostle Paul’s testimony that death will not be done away with in this age, but the age to come. But what brings me the most comfort is that any uncertainty she had about the mystery on her doorstep was greatly diminished by his reassuring words in his letter to the Romans:

“…for I am convinced that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” [Rom. 8:38-39]

How pleased I am that her unfailing devotion to Jesus Christ’s truth in the Bible during my childhood was probably part of the reason I was privileged enough to be able to help her find the solace she sought in her final years.

So rest in peace, Mom. It must surely be just that.

Because the Psalmist David also assured us that time doesn’t exist from the perspective of the dead, because their thoughts have perished. [see: Psa. 146] And Solomon reminded us that the breath of life— that animating force that God breathed into you over 98 years ago—has left you and returned to Him. [see: Eccl. 12:7]

But since you remained “in” Him, you’ll be raised again and live with Him in the age to come.

What more could you ever have hoped for?

I have to say that, the many thoughtful comments from my friends suggesting Mom to be happily looking down have resonated deeply with me over the past week, encouraging and strengthening me in a manner from which only genuine friendship and compassion can be expressed. I’m truly grateful.

But I respectfully suggest there to be a more Scriptural perspective of Mom’s protracted state—that is, rather, that she’s safe…asleep in Christ.

After all, the last time I saw her, she was definitely looking up.

“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.” [Titus 2:11-14]  [my emphasis]