Edward Short is the Senior Producer for the KNLS Chinese Language Service.  Edward was born, raised and educated in Nashville, Tennessee.  Along with his wife, Sharon, and their children Alethea and Louis,  Edward served as a Christian missionary to Taiwan for fourteen years.  Unusually fluent in Mandarin, he is often mistaken by our Chinese listening friends as a native speaker.  Occasionally, Edward is kind enough to share some of his thoughts with our English Service listeners as well.  Listed below are links to messages he has prepared for us recently.

Edward Short's Series Concerning  A Christian View Of Death

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• We'll All Die
• Death Causes Us To Look To The Past
• Death Causes Us To Look At Ourselves
• Death Causes Us To Look To The Future
• Death Causes Us To Look To God

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As a citizen of the world, I’m often called upon to attend funerals of relatives and friends; as a minister of the gospel, I’m frequently asked to speak at such occasions. I am highly honored when Christians and other friends ask me to officiate at funerals, as it gives me an opportunity to help and serve people during the time of their deepest distress. This service provides encouragement to the bereaved as I comfort them with the love and grace of God. After someone has lost a loved one, they are ever grateful to the church for this ministry.

Actually, everyone will need this ministry sooner or later, as all of us will die. An old Chinese proverb asks, "Has there ever lived a person who does not finally die?" Another proverb replies, "Though he may live 1000 years, a man will finally die in the end." At death all people are equal, so we can say, with the English author Thomas Fuller, that "death is the grand leveler." the ancient people of China observed: "Though the emperor has wealth, he cannot buy longevity," said. The New Testament Scriptures tell us that "Every person must die once. After a person dies, he is judged" (Hebrews 9:27 ETRV). No matter who it is, man or woman, rich or poor, elderly or young, educated or uneducated, healthy or ill, tall or short, overweight or slim, all must die. An old Chinese proverb says: "There’s no difference between the noble and the base; heaven gives life and earth provides the burial place."

I have observed, however, that different people view death in different ways. Philip of Macedon, father of Alexander the Great, commissioned a servant to stand in his presence each day and say, "Philip, you will die." Louis the 14^th of France, on the other hand, ordered that the word "death" not be uttered in his presence. What about you? Are you uncomfortable whenever a friend mentions death? Do you agree with William Dunbar, the English novelist who said, "the fear of death troubles me"?

It is just at this point that the differences between the Christian and non-Christian concepts of death are very evident. While I dare not say that Christians don’t fear death at all, I do dare to assert that in general Christians are not as fearful of death. Christians have hope and assurance in the face of death, because Christians know that after the cessation of human life there is yet another life, a new type of living.

The reason that Christians look at death differently from non-Christians is because Jesus holds the power of life and death. After Jesus’ friend Lazarus died, Jesus went to Lazarus’ home to visit and comfort Lazarus’ two sisters. In fact, Jesus planned to raise Lazarus from the dead, but the sisters didn’t know that. Jesus told Martha, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die" (John 11:25-26 NIV).

After saying these things, Jesus called Lazarus forth from the grave, but even if Jesus had not resurrected Lazarus, Jesus’ words would have still been true. Jesus is resurrection and Jesus is life. Jesus himself died and on the third day God raised him from the grave, and in thus giving Jesus victory over death, he brings the hope of resurrection to all men. Actually, it is to Christians that Jesus gives the hope of resurrection—to those Christians who believe, obey and are faithful to him.

My friend, you and I both will die someday; it is only a matter of time. Louis the 14^th died. Philip of Macedon died. Even he who searched for the elixir of life, China’s famous emperor, Chin Shi Huang, died (in 210 B.C.). Eventually you and I will also die. The good news is that Jesus Christ already died on our behalf and was resurrected for us; Jesus overcame death and brought us the hope of resurrection and everlasting life. I hope you’ll study the Bible and determine how to search for and receive the eternal life that Jesus wants to give to you.

In the USA our lives are very busy, thus it is difficult to spend time with, or even see, old friends. Moreover, in order to acquire good and better paying jobs, friends move away. The American continent is large, so we’re often separated from friends and relatives by several state lines. In such a society, under what circumstances can we see old friends and loved ones whom we’ve not seen in a long time? Think about it. At school reunions? No, because relatives would not be there. At our large annual Christmas dinners? No, because school mates would not be there. At company seminars or government meetings? No, not there either. Where then? Really at only two places—at weddings and funerals. Whenever friends or relatives pass away many people gather at the funeral home or church building to see the family of the deceased, to express sympathy and bereavement, and to offer encouragement and comfort. At the same time, we also see many old friends, school mates, co-workers, relatives and others at the funeral home. We spend time talking with them and reminiscing about the past, about the deceased and about our relationship with him or her.

I think the situation I’ve described here is true not only of Americans, but is true many places in the world. Yes, death brings people together and enables people to see others they’ve not seen in a long time, and while together, they think about "the past." They remember things the deceased said, deeds he performed, the good points of his life, and his accomplishments. Under these circumstances, few people will say anything negative about the deceased, but no matter what is or is not said, we definitely will think of "the past."

In the Bible, the New Testament book of Acts, we read of a lady named Dorcas who had just died. In her honor, the local widows displayed the robes and other clothing which Dorcas had made while she was still with them (9:39, NIV). I’m confident that they also talked about all she said and did while she was alive, about the many good works which she showered on the poor.

In the Old Testament, the Israelites often thought about the past and stories of their past (their history) provided them the faith and strength they needed to face the present and the future. The prophets and other leaders reminded the Israelites how God had intervened in the lives of their ancestors and saved them, especially how God had taken them from Egypt where they were slaves. God performed miracles and protected them, and he gave them victory in battle. In the same way, when we are saddened, such as at the funeral of a relative or friend, we should think of the past, of God’s deeds, power, love and presence, and thus obtain help, strength and comfort. In the face of death we can reminisce about the one who has just departed from this life, but at the same time we should also think of all that God has done for us in the past, and from such we can gain faith and strength. This faith, in turn, calls us to pray to God and ask him to continue to lead us safely through this and other difficult situations.

"Is there meaning to life?" "What is the purpose of life?" "Why do we live on this earth?" As a gospel minister I don’t know how many people have asked me these or similar questions. Perhaps a lot of people don’t think about these things very often, but there is one situation which forces us to consider the questions of life; that situation is—death. When friends, relatives or famous people pass this life, most of us spend a while thinking about the serious side of life. Yes, death should cause each person to examine self and consider questions of life, especially of his/her/your/my own life.

The Biblical book of Ecclesiastes was written by a famous king named Solomon. As the book opens, Solomon writes, "Meaningless! Meaningless!... Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless!" (1:2, NIV). I don’t know whether you agree with the viewpoint of Ecclesiastes or not, but when the Israelite King David lost his child to death, perhaps at that time King David would have agreed with Ecclesiastes that life was "Meaningless! Meaningless!... Utterly meaningless!" Both you and I have seen people who wander through life with no purpose, no goal and no restraints, and so they eventually conclude that life is meaningless. Or sometimes students who fail to pass the entrance examinations to a national universtiy will say that life is without meaning. Or a young man whose marriage proposal is rebuffed by the lady of his dreams may well conclude that life is "Meaningless! Meaningless!... Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless!"

Ecclesiastes goes on, however, to express a more optimistic view of life. Solomon says, "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance" (3:1-4 NIV). While King David’s child was extremely sick he was weeping and mourning, just like whenever we lose relatives and friends to death, we also mourn and weep. But Christians have the promise from God that he will protect, extend grace and help us, and God also promises Christians that heaven is waiting for those who follow him faithfully. Consequently, from another perspective, when God is at our side, mourning can turn into dancing, and weeping to laughing. King David took great consolation in the presence of God after the death of his child.

The final conclusion of Ecclesiastes is quite different from the opening lines. Solomon says, "Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole [duty] of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil" (12:13-14, NIV). This is very serious, isn’t it? It makes us do some introspection, to think about ourselves and the way we live. Today I attend my friend’s funeral; tomorrow my friends may attend my funeral. The important question is not, "When will I die?" but, "Am I ready to die?" "Am I the person that God wants me to be? Do I obey God’s commandments? Is there consistency between what I say and what I do? Do I set a good example for my children? Do I reflect the light and love of God in all I do? When someone offends me, do I forgive him? When someone is jealous of me or hates me, do I exhibit the mind of Christ and pray for him and hope that he will repent?"

If you and I will live like this, we’ll soon realize that the meaning of life is very clear. We, with the author of Ecclesiastes, will turn 180 degrees from "Meaningless! Meaningless!... Everything is meaningless!" to "Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole [duty] of man."

Confucius, the famous sage of China who died in 479 B.C., said: "Death and life have their determined appointment; riches and honors depend on Heaven" (Analects, bk. 12, ch. 5, vs. 3). I don’t know why Confucius put "death" and "Heaven" together in the same sentence, but I think a lot of people connect these two concepts; so often when we think of death we immediately think of heaven also. Do you agree? When Jesus Christ was on the cross and breathed his last breath, the Roman military officer who witnessed it all said, "Surely this man was the Son of God!" (Mark 15:39 NIV). At the death of Jesus, even this hardened military officer, to whom death was no stranger, wagged his head and thought of God, and concluded that Jesus was the Son of God. What about you? Whenever you think of death, does it prompt you to think of God, of heaven, of eternity?

If your closest friend or relative were to die, would his passing cause you to consider whether there is life after death, whether there is a heaven or whether or not we all possess souls which are eternal? The death of a loved one causes some people to question God or to doubt his existence or his love. "My husband was a good man and he wasn’t even old; why did he die?" "Our child wasn’t even 15 years old yet, and he never did anything bad; why did he have to die?" People who ask questions such as these direct them to "God," no matter who or what they conceive God to be. This is because down deep in our hearts we all know that man cannot answer these questions. Only a being who is greater than man, is wiser than man, is outside the limitations of humanity, but who, at the same time is deeply concerned for humankind, can answer these questions. In other words, when we face death, down deep within ourselves, we confess God’s existence and seek his guidance. Yes, death causes us to think about God.

King David, king of ancient Israel, lost an infant son to death. Although, as our Chinese friends say that "people of all ages walk the path to the netherworld," after the child passed away, David went "into the house of the LORD and worshiped" (2 Samuel 12:20, NIV). You see, even King David thought of God at the death of his little child; he was moved to prostrate himself before God in worship and to renew his allegiance to God. If, in the face of death, a great king must throw himself on God, how much more do we need to do the same? If a powerful potentate turns to God in worship, how much more do we need God?

So, what’s the result? Do people who turn to God receive comfort and help from God? Certainly they do! Please listen to some phrases from the Bible: "The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit" (Psalms 34:17-18 NIV). Note how King David deeply believes in God’s presence and is confident that God will extend his grace and help him.

Listen to Jeremiah: "Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him" (Lamentations 3:22-24 NIV). Just like Jeremiah, we too can rely on God.

Here is the point: Even when we face death, God will extend his grace to us and enable us that God’s "compassions never fail." We can’t avoid illness and death, but the Good News of the Bible is that God loves us and wants to help us. When we face death and all other difficulties that life sends our way, let us think of God, draw near to God and rely on him, and God will draw near to us through his Son Jesus Christ and his Word the Bible.

The seventh President of the United States, Andrew Jackson of Tennessee, made a very wise statement regarding life when he spoke of death and said, "When death comes he respects neither age nor merit. He sweeps from this earthly existence the sick and the strong, the rich and poor, and [this] should teach us to live to be prepared for death." What President Jackson said is quite correct, death makes us think of the future and helps prepare us for it.

While David was king of ancient Israel, his tiny son was taken by death. Even though David was king and the power of Israel’s military was at his disposal, numerous servants awaited his beck and call, and the doctors gladly would use whatever medicine they had at that period of history, nothing could save the child. The military’s might could not protect him, the servants tender care could not help him and the physician’s medicine could not heal him. King David’s child died just like the child of Israel’s poorest peasant would have died under the same circumstances. Following the child’s passing, David made a very wise statement, worthy of our notice: "...Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me" (2 Samuel 12:23 NIV). King David understood that it would be impossible for the dead child to come back to life, but David also knew that he himself would die at some point in the future, so he realized that he should prepare for that appointment—by cultivating his moral character, drawing near to God and obeying God’s commands. Yes, the death of a loved one should make us think of the future and to prepare for it.

All Christians believe in life after death. Paul the apostle, a writer of the New Testament, said, "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad" (2 Corinthians 5:10, NIV). Since we will all be judged, how important, therefore, it is for us to be prepared for our future existence. Think about it: on the Day of Judgment all we ever said and all we ever did will be exposed and will be judged by "the Great One on High," by him who created us. We should give the Day of Judgment some thought today and every day. While we have life and breath, let us prepare for the future.

Regarding the Day of Judgment, the Bible gives us some Good News! Jesus Christ said, "Do not let your hearts be troubled. You trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going." Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:1-6, NIV). What Jesus says here really is Good News! Through Jesus Christ, we can approach God and can prepare for our future lives.

Let’s not avoid or be embarrassed to discuss death. After all, death is only a natural part of life, and who among us will not die? It’s better to prepare for death than to avoid talking about it! And let’s not wait until death is staring us in the face before we begin that preparation—by then it’s too late! We’ll be out of time! We’ll reap what we have sown!

The passing of a beloved friend or relative is one of the best motivations we can have to make us think about death and to make us ask ourselves, "Am I ready?" As President Jackson said, let us live so as "to be prepared for death." But let’s also remember that Jesus Christ has already sacrificed himself by being nailed to a cross in order to save us, give us hope and enable us to prepare for the life to come. I hope you’ll soon accept the love and death of Jesus and become a Christian. Believe in Jesus as God’s Son, repent of sins and be baptized into Jesus Christ.

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