Unfortunately, none of us escapes death. It waits for us around the corner, and can appear suddenly, very unwelcome. You can’t dodge or jump over it. You are going to die.

How does it happen? I have followed several people at the end of life, as part of my professional practice.  There are different kinds of death; some take their last breath calmly, yes, even with a smile, while others do so in extreme anxiety and agony.  Physically, the heart gives up, there is a very last heartbeat and then a last breath, and the blood supply with oxygen and glucose cannot reach the brain, whose functions therefore cease and physical awareness goes out. The body starts to get cold and muscles relax, the stiffness comes later. And it is noticeable that it is empty, something has left this body, a shell remains.

Eternity is laid in people’s hearts, that is why the finality of death and that one would cease to exist feels unreasonable and impossible. And so it is, we are eternal beings. The only question is whether, from the Christian point of view, “the elevator goes up or down”, where the soul spends its eternity. The soul is thus the person “you”, your personality with all its peculiarities, feelings and thoughts.  But, how do we want to face death? We can’t choose when, you can die today or in 10, 20 maybe 40 years, probably sooner as the world looks.  Think how fragile life is, every second your heart has to beat and you breathe in and out 24 hours a day, a small “error” in the system just a few seconds and ...

Those who faced death in peace and security, yes almost longing, have been warm believers. They have believed in a person who said “I am the resurrection and the life. He that believeth in me shall live, though he die.” This Jesus who thus defeated death itself, to give eternal life. Many are the strong and proud who at the deathbed tremble in terror before the last heartbeat, and many others have smilingly embraced death in peace, when they seemed to see their beloved Jesus standing with open arms welcoming them to the abodes of eternity in Heaven, where no more pain reaches, no sorrows and troubles haunt and dark clouds weighs.

I held the hand of a dying Christian. She had long pauses in her breathing, semi-conscious. I prayed silently for her, suddenly she opens her eyes and looks at me with a big smile. Time stood still and eternity descended upon the room, the joy and peace she radiated in that moment I will never forget. She took her last breath, the hand became limp and cold, she was no longer there, death was defeated.

Peter Kujala

Trångsviken

Sweden