When Time Comes to Fly Away

“The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

~1 Corinthians 15:56-57 (NRSV).

Death. The physical end; a time when this finite life has its completion.

Despite paranormal fear to the contrary, what a thrill it will be to ‘up’ and fly away on that day! Oklahoman Albert E. Brumley’s (1905-1977) praise hymn, I’ll Fly Away, recently resurrected by Steve Grace, captures this mood:

“Some glad morning when this life is o’er,

I’ll fly away;

To a home on God’s celestial shore,

I’ll fly away.”

Gleanings on Glory

The Apostle Paul captures the Christian’s heartfelt joy at the grace given us, in and through Christ Jesus our Lord.

Perishable will give way to imperishable as we transition from this life to the next—exchanging our physical bodies for our spiritual bodies of eternity.

No more pain, no more difficulty, and most importantly, no more sin!

Suddenly, as we arrive in Glory, noting the most fabulous transformation personally known, we possibly may look back in awe at what incredible history lay behind us on earth. We may cast our eye back glowingly—but never quite sad—at what and who we’ve left behind, knowing beyond knowledge that they too will return to Glory one day also. If tears are possible there, they will most certainly be tears of reflective joy.

Why Fear the Physical Death?

Even though we’re given to grapple with the threshold of death, nothing beforehand could possibly compare.

Why do we fear the event of death?

Perhaps it’s the pain that might be attached with the event. Perhaps it’s the people we’ll miss and who’ll miss us. Perhaps it’s for some other reason. The moment of death is but a flicker; an instant transition from this realm to the other. God loves us and it will be gentle, certainly from the context of the eternal.

Whilst We Wait...

Paul commends us to “be steadfast... immovable” as we wait our turn to enter the glorious riches of eternity (1 Corinthians 15:58). Thrilled at the prospect of the next life, we’re to grasp this one with both hands.

Whilst we wait our turn to “fly away” we get into everything of God’s goodness that we can, that which is purposed for us, so as we do fly away, we enjoy that thrilling scape that is written as our personal history; that which we’re glad, beyond our sin, to be judged upon.

© 2010 S. J. Wickham.