The first thought that came to me when asked to write an article for RELEASE was, Oh no, if it's not poetry, what can I say? But slowly, I overcame my fear and sought new horizons of thought. I realized that the subject that seemed to envelop my mind most of the time is the question of eternity-more importantly, the question of the next life, the afterlife, of life after death.

Then, the realization became a clearer one: I was frightened to death by death. We can't escape it. No matter how infinite our imagination, no matter how huge our ego or how intelligent we can become, we are all dying. Death waits for us in many guises and around many corners. Death will come to you. There is no pact or contract, no supernatural incantations or scientific breakthrough that can guarantee life past 150 years. There is the question of reincamation, but again, its impossibility is exposed because of the lack of evidence. But there is evidence of death everywhere.

I often ask myself how it is possible for anyone to live without a belief or theory of life after death. I have always been intrigued and amazed by people who believe in no afterlife. How beautiful is man, to be put together with such eccentricity and still left with no purpose beyond death?

I recently spent time with an artist/friend who explained to me her theory on death. She feels that after the body is deceased, the spirit or soul of the person dissolves into particles which move into the universe to bond with the total deceased amoeba of humankind. This came from a very intelligent and inspiring artist who has lived a very thought-provoking life, and was very fervent in her theory. I responded by telling her that the God I believe in has much more of an agenda for His children. "I am going there to prepare a place for you," [I John 14:2] implies preparation from a God who created Heaven and Earth in totality. I believe that even in the deepest heart chords of most atheists, there is a gentle tug in the direction of God, Heaven and the Devil. This is called the Natural Law.

When you really think about it, death can only really be horrible for a few minutes, hours or days-whatever your fate may be. But the truly horrible, the truly grotesque truth would be no life after death. To be here just to breathe, eat, sleep, procreate and die-what a catastrophe! I realize that a lot of people in the '60s would have disagreed with me on that one, but I think a human being has greater instincts than our baser "animal" instincts.

It's almost as if Christ was showing that death wasn't all it was cracked up to be. If He hadn't come to die and be resurrected, there would have been no need for His birth. He would have suffered a life of misery and misguided teachings, only to be put to death ... and then nothing. That was not the case. Christ realized victory over death by victory over sin.

We who believe that Christ was not a hoax should breathe a huge sigh of relief. Life is much more than today. Life is much more than a climb up the corporate ladder, or signing a twenty point record contract [which in this industry is sadly impossible]. Life is worth living, but life is also worth the dying because of the end result. Suicide is not needed because your time will come. It is much more of a statement to face life than to run from it. We can embrace the opposing, hunkering, unthinkable future because of One who died in the name of love

Imagine all the people living life in peace ... imagine there is Heaven ... people say that I'm a dreamer but dreamers sleep easier. We can all sleep well tonight knowing that there is One preparing a place for you and me. We are dying in a living world, but we should live a life worth dying for (because the next one is much better).

By: Kevin Max Smith