In an interview with Kevin Fallon, William Shatner was frank about the subject of life and death: “I’m 93, so there’s an end of the road there”. His views on the meaning of life exposed a sad and popular idea in the secular world that after death there is only darkness, and we only derive meaning from success as measured by popular culture, including success in love and impressive accomplishments. Were we loved by a romantic partner? Did we go to exotic places and embark on exciting or even risky adventures? Did we win anything? What does our bank account look like? From this vantage point, life is lived in the spaces between the ordinariness of regular jobs and chores. Life without a romantic partner lacks meaning, purpose, and lasting hope. Let’s consider the meaning of life and death from the secular and the Christian points of view.
A Meaningful Life
A movie called “The Bucket List” highlighted the longings many of us have to see certain sights or accomplish various feats before we die. Visit the pyramids of Egypt, skydive, get married, take a cruise to Alaska, get promoted: these dreams are fine in their own right until one begins to live for them. Then, they become idols, and we are sometimes enslaved to them.
The YOLO (You Only Live Once) perspective encourages one to believe that exciting things give life meaning. There is no purpose to those in-between days, and no amount of excitement is ever enough. You might have met someone who just got back from a holiday and is already weary of regular things like a job and housework. The only pursuit that provides relief is planning for the next adventure. Every escapade is an escape. Essentially, the YOLO outlook is self-involved and betrays a fear of missing out, maybe even a fear of death. Over 20% of Americans are afraid of dying, not to mention their fears of (and resistance to) growing old.
There are times when a Christian might admit that he or she has slipped into this mindset. But following Christ brings purpose to every day in the life of a believer. When one’s goal is to glorify God, then even an ordinary day at work can bring a sense of satisfaction. There is intense joy in knowing that our lives are inherently valuable: “he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.” (Ephesians 1:4)
There are great pleasures in this life, but nothing like what God has in store for his people. But there is one advantage to the YOLO point of view. Aimee Joseph pointed out that Christians must realize that we have been given a “limited-time opportunity: to comfort one another with the comfort we’ve received.” The Christian’s life on earth is his or her only window of opportunity to share the love of Jesus with others.
A Meaningless Death?
If death is the end, then death is meaningless. Shatner said as much in his interview. Even the writer of Ecclesiastes appears - at first - to agree that all is vanity. (1:2).
But, as Justin S. Holcomb explains, Ecclesiastes “states powerfully and repeatedly that everything is meaningless (“vanity”) without a proper focus on God. Ecclesiastes reveals the necessity of fearing God in a fallen and frequently confusing and frustrating world.” Life and death are meaningful for anyone who loves the Lord. Life is only vain for those who think this is it. The Lord has given meaning to every life, right up until the last breath.
In fact, as Ewan Goligher wrote, “For the Christian, dying, no less than living, is a matter of discipleship.” He speaks of the way in which one submits to the Father’s will regarding the timing and manner of death. Resisting the temptation to fear death makes sense if there is reason to believe that all life is in the hands of a loving Father and that the reward for faith is unspeakably wonderful.
Not only does this make the reality of death easier, but Christians can celebrate. The promised resurrection of believers into the arms of Christ is a reason to rejoice. Believers offer this joy and promise to those around them, not as a fanciful idea but because of Jesus’ trustworthy example, his submission to the Father’s will even to the point of death. (Philippians 2:8) “We may also die inpatient and trusting submission to the will of God, entrusting ourselves and those we leave behind to the all-good, all-wise Creator and Sustainer of all things—our heavenly Father.” (Goligher) Christians can reflect confidence in this truth around anyone who is afraid of death and with anyone who is completely unconcerned about the hereafter, in hopes of inspiring such individuals to give more thought to eternity.
A Partner In Life
Even an individualistic society such as the USA expects people to get married and have children. Does a single life lack meaning? What is life if no one is there to share it?
The Psalmist wrote, “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb.” (139:13). This is deep intimacy outside of romantic love. Christ exalted the relationship between friends which is outwardly focused. “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, is he that bears much fruit”. (John 15:5) Although marriage is a union of two people who essentially become one person, earthly marriage foreshadows the great marriage between the Bridegroom (Jesus) and his Bride (the church). In other words, single people can still enjoy the beauty of union with Christ.
This union is supposed to produce fruit: We glorify God and love our neighbors. Partnership with Christ benefits the Christian individually and overflows to benefit others, giving life purpose and direction. This is far from the self-involved YOLO outlook.
In terms of the YOLO worldview, this changes how one approaches marriage. There is an incentive not to marry in haste, perhaps foolishly because time seems to be running out. Though God hurts the hurting and lonely Christian, he offers a prize of far greater value: union with himself.
A Partner In Death
Song lyrics, books, poems, and movie scripts often focus on the idea that we all die alone. Death is supposedly a lonely affair. One might be surrounded by friends and family, but none of them can experience the actual moment of death until their own moment arrives.
Christ went there. He entered the darkness of separation from the Father so that - as Tim Hughes’ song Here I Am to Worship says - “I’ll never know how much it cost/to see my sin upon that cross.” One thing the Christian can be sure of is that we have a Savior who knows what death is like and also what it means to die alone. Because he endured separation from the Father.
Thanks to Christ’s sacrifice, none of his followers will die alone. Anyone can cry out to Jesus at any time before that last breath - Jesus will be present to those who call on his name. As Paul taught, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:13). That is, everyone who calls on Jesus will find new life in him for eternity and will experience Christ’s presence by his Holy Spirit even in the last moments. We will all walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death (Psalm 23:4) in the literal sense, but we need not go there alone.
Conclusion
The Gospel message runs counter to many earthly messages about life. It is moving to see someone pondering the meaning of life as he enters the final leg of his race, but it is disappointing and sad when anyone rejects the evidence that there is another life after this one and we are all going to live with Christ or apart from him. Even better is the fact that we do not have to choose Christ merely to avoid spending eternity in Hell: living for Christ today is rewarding. This life is more than a collection of stories about ourselves. Our very short story is interlaced with the eternal one which God has written. Our lives are a meaningful part of a bigger picture and the end of a Christian’s mortality is really where life begins.
Sources:
https://ca.yahoo.com/news/william-shatner-next-bold-adventure-083748694.html
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/yolo-unexpected-blessing/
https://www.crossway.org/articles/what-does-ecclesiastes-12-mean/#:~:text=No%20matter%20how%20wise%20or,creation%20stand%20subject%20to%20him.
https://ca.thegospelcoalition.org/article/on-the-art-of-dying-as-a-christian/
https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/william-shatner-confirms-hes-living-185614075.html#:~:text=William%20and%20Elizabeth.&text=The%20TJ%20Hooker%20actor%20has,Hollywood%20Hills%20home%20in%201999.)
https://time.com/6257805/americans-aging-resistance/
https://www.verywellmind.com/scared-to-death-of-death-1132501#:~:text=There%20is%20even%20a%20field,%22very%20afraid%22%20of%20dying.
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/PhotoAlto/EricAudras
