Is There Life After Death?

This question was forced upon my family and me in a stark and graphic way with the passing of Myrtle Campbell, Nancy’s mother. It was amazing that right before the funeral I checked our mailbox and received the AARP Magazine. It had an article entitled, “Life After Death” by Bill Newcott (Sept/Oct 2007; Volume 50; number 5A; page 68.) The author asked people 50 and over about their views regarding the destination of life and what happens after our loved ones die.
In the survey AARP found that 73 percent agreed with the statement, “I believe in life after death.” Women were more likely to believe in the afterlife (80%) than men (64%). But one of the most amazing statements for me in the article was the following:

“Two thirds of those who believe also told us that their confidence in a life after death has increased as they’ve gotten older.”

I wonder why this is?

Getting older forces upon us the reality of the brevity of life.
Getting older forces us to see the frailties of our body.
Getting older forces us to accept the losses forced upon us.
Getting older helps us see that without a destination life’s journey would be meaningless.
Getting older makes us desire to live a meaningful life.
Getting older makes us outlive our loved ones and friends, thereby making us realize that
one day our time will come.
Getting older allows us to grow closer to God.
Getting older helps us weed out the insignificant and replace it with the eternal.
Getting older makes each birthday anticipate our own passing and getting ready for our
own resurrection.

I know you could think of other things that getting older forces upon us. But this gives us an inkling of what ought to be going on in our hearts as time and life march on toward our appointment with eternity. Death is but the passage into the eternal presence of Almighty God. May each one of us live with the confidence that the risen Lord gives us in the face of death. Each day is a God-given gift. May we give it back to Him at the end of the day in faithful stewardship, being responsible with the precious 24 hours we have been given. To God be the glory.
In Christian love, Curtis