Death is a Doorway

Throughout my life, the shadow of death has loomed overhead in a way that has often bordered on the unbearable. Fearing the concept of dying and realizing its imminence for myself and those I love, the grave has been in my field of vision more clearly than for most during the formative years of life. In no way is this surprising. Serious medical concerns on my father’s side of the family and regular reminders from the pulpit of the brevity of life have both led to my fixation on the subject. Exacerbating the matter, in my twenties I pastored two churches where I was present at the graveside of many departed souls. In spite of having a firm foundation in my faith, for some reason the nagging possibility of the finality of life at death was always in my mind. Two things resulted from this.

First, I began studying the evidence for life after death and the truthfulness of Christianity. Dissecting every word of text I could locate on the subject, it became my hobby and obsession. My first book, Blinding Lights: The Glaring Evidences of the Christian Faith, came together as a result of having ironed out the truths that had surfaced during those first few years of study. This produced a level of assurance that brought me closer to peace than I had ever been. Nevertheless, I trusted that there was more. Thus, I began studying what had been documented regarding those who had been very near death and survived. My hope was that there was something to glean from the experiences of individuals who had been to the edge of earthly life and lived to testify. From there I scoured the works of history’s great philosophers whose thoughts regarding death have continued to influence mankind. Happily, all of this demonstrated to me that not only is there life after death but Christianity is true.

The second step, which I took simultaneously, was an in-depth analysis of what scripture has to say regarding human demise. How comforting are the words of scripture? Do they offer any real solace for those of us who face death? What must be true of a man if he is to live forever? As I suspected, all of this is spelled out with great clarity in the pages of the Christian Bible. For believers throughout history, God’s word has greatly diminished fears of death, and it has graciously had the same effect for myself. My conclusion was that the nature of death is most appropriately represented as a doorway through which men and women pass. The evidence of scripture and the truths we experience throughout our lives both testify to such a fact.

This book represents both aspects of the journey upon which I embarked. For the first half of what you will read, I have examined the various types of death that occur from a biblical perspective and compared them to different concepts of doorways. It is my hope that however you presently view death’s door, these pages will develop in you a proper Christian view of dying. I want to be clear that during this section I am addressing those who are believers and those who are open to scriptural teaching about death. In the second half, I will lay out what I have found to be the best evidence from eyewitness testimony, philosophy, history and experience in favor of everlasting life. Drawing all these threads of truth together, we will conclude with a consideration of the only man who has ever conquered the grave and returned to throw open the doorway for the human race. For this reason, the book is really two separate studies in one volume. Section one resembles a work of Christian living whereas section two is an endeavor in Christian apologetics. There is a reason for this.

My desire is that, like myself, believers will find great comfort in the truths contained herein. Furthermore, they will notice that all of this has great potential to strengthen and affirm their faith so that they can face the end of their present experience on earth gracefully. I am also attempting to demonstrate to skeptics, particularly in the second section, that there is good reason to accept the belief in life after death and place their trust in Jesus. Thus, a word of caution is necessary.

For those who have accepted the offer of Jesus Christ to receive everlasting life, these words of peace, affirmation, victory, love and hope should represent the promise of a bright future. Conversely, for anyone who has not embraced him, these elements should be viewed as warnings of everlasting death. Sadly, many will pass through the doorway of condemnation and be separated from God’s presence. Finding yourself in such a predicament is reason enough to fall on your knees and commit yourself to him now by turning from your present way of life and committing what is left of it to trusting in the truth claims of Christianity. The doorway of condemnation is avoidable.

As you now begin the adventure that I started several years ago, I hope that you complete it as did I. How sad death seems to us. I can only imagine what has brought you to these pages. Perhaps you have recently lost a spouse, parent, child or friend. Unfortunately, you may be facing the looming potential of the grave in your own life. Untimely death may have befallen a loved one because of an accident, military service or suicide. Whatever the situation may be in which you find yourself, take heart, there is hope. Death is not the end. It is only an event, the sting of which will one day be removed. Let all the macabre emotions of old age, illness and deterioration fade. Life may be a vapor, but death is a doorway.