Death: Differing Diagnostics
The Book and the Bench is a blog from CWI (N America) that sets forth principles from the Book and conversations from the Park-Bench in the world of Jewish mission.
Blog #4 Death: Differing Diagnostics
‘Mitch, you and I look forward to death for different reasons.’ These were the words of my father, Morris, last week at the breakfast table. We had just had our normal morning meal of bialy with a smorgasbord of tuna, chicken, egg salads, lox, and my personal favorite, babaganoush. I wasn’t ready for that not so normal comment. He continued, ‘I just want to rest from this life. You, on the other hand, look forward to what comes next’. Wow! I could not have put it any better.
Rest in Peace
Rest is the one thing that we all look forward to, whether we consider ourselves an atheist, an Orthodox Jew, a Muslim, a progressive liberal, a follower of Jesus Christ, or anything in between. We all want rest. The Bible uses the Hebrew and Greek words for rest, peace, and Sabbath almost 900 times. The writer to the Hebrews explains what this is and how God wants to give His rest to his children.
So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. (Hebrews 4:9-11)
What a beautiful yet exhortative word from the Holy Spirit through the writer of Hebrews. But the question remains: who shall enter that rest? Who shall enjoy that peace and shalom?
Returning to the conversation with my atheist dad. The GOD conversation was one that we both had stayed away from for such a long time but now it was at the forefront of every conversation we would have afterwards. Would he find that deepest rest? - not simply a rest in death, which truly would be no rest!
Like many Jewish people, my dad lives with many fears. I would love him to truly enjoy that wellness of shalom and that ultimate rest. There is truly a God shaped hole in his life as Blaise Pascal put it in the 17th century:
‘There is a God-shaped vacuum in the heart of each man which cannot be satisfied by any created thing but only by God the Creator, made known through Jesus Christ.’
I told my dad that we all have fears and anxieties that make it impossible to function in this life and added, ‘without GOD all we have are fears’. I told him that Jesus came to give us rest from all the worries of life and I read to him from Matthew 11.
‘Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’ (Matthew 11:28–30)
Truly for the first time in a very long while, I felt like there was hope that my dad would come to know his Messiah. Continuing the conversation, I was able to open up further and told him a lot more about what I do in my street evangelism. I told him about my ‘Shalom’ poster board. I told him I asked people one question and got them to write their answer on a post-it note and place it on the Shalom Board. I would simply ask them, ‘Who or what do you believe brings true Shalom or peace to the world and within our hearts?’
I told my dad that I am always surprised how many people do not give it much thought. We know that many addicts try to fill that GOD-shaped hole with all kinds of vices and the same holds true for everyone in their search for peace and rest. ‘Maybe a drink will calm my nerves, or a joint, some pill, some music, etc.’ But I tell the passers-by, that it only comes from a relationship with GOD.
Care to Share?
Think about all the people you share Jesus with. Maybe all we need is a little more intentionality. Do you care enough to share? Greg Bahnsen rightly points out:
‘We must not be satisfied to present Christianity as the most reliable position to hold among the competing options available. Rather, the Christian faith is the only reasonable outlook available to men.’ (― Greg L. Bahnsen, Presuppositional Apologetics: Stated and Defended)
It truly is the ‘only reasonable outlook’. Whether to a Jew or a Gentile, we must show all people that what we believe is truly the only reasonable conclusion to all the questions in life. And more, it brings the rest we so desire to have! The Shalom of Jesus brings that ultimate rest to the believer, now and at death. So my dad was correct. I do look forward to death, for what comes next.
My dad’s desire for rest for his 96 year old body is understandable. But I want him to have more. Pray for my dad and all other people in our lives that need to know the rest that is found in Jesus!
‘but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.’ (1 Peter 3:15, ESV)
Shalom and AMEN!
We in CWI (N America) continue to sow seeds by the (Park) Bench!
MITCH TEPPER
