Are you afraid to die?

Went to James' grandfather wake yesterday, and felt warm. It was the familiar white chairs, that familiar cross, that familiar verse ("I am the resurrection and the life"), the familiar songs, prayers, sermon. It was so familiar that it reminded me of my grandmother's wake last year.

The pastor taught in Chinese about how the Christian has hope in Christ, and that the dead does not die, but only sleeps in Christ, and one day shall wake up to find joy. There is so much hope to be in Christ. There is one thing, however, that is different from my grandmother's wake: the people there did not cry. And I think it is so beautiful for these people to understand such a tremendous truth!

A friend of mine remarked, that only Christians sing songs during their wake. I think it is so wonderful, and the reason we sing is because there is hope by the finished work of Christ on the cross. And I think by this, only by the finished work of Christ, all of us, James, and every Christian there, can find true peace.

Which brings me to the question: are you afraid to die? I'm not. And I wish that when I do, I don't wish to see anyone cry of sorrow or mourning, of parting, because there is no sorrow or mourning or tears where I am, there is no permanent parting where I am! But cry, because of eternal grace abundant, that brought me to my Lord.

So, if my plane to Australia crashes...or I met with an accident in my vehicle in the dangerous terrain there...don't cry for me.