Y FATHER-IN-LAW DIED UNEXPECTEDLY about four years ago. If you knew Roland Shorter, you knew that none of the father-in-law jokes applied to him, although he told many of them himself. He was a wise man, the life of any party, an interesting person overflowing with stories from his days as a missionary in India, and he was my flying buddy. Often he would arrive at our house, gaze at the blue Walla Walla sky, and promptly announce, "It's severe clear. Sure would be a good day for flying!"

I'd do my part as a good son-in-law. "Do you want me to see if we can get a plane?"

"Could you?" he'd reply. And soon we'd be looking down on the patterned fields of the Palouse Hills or following some railroad tracks to see where they went. We all felt our loss deeply when he was gone.

A Hellish Experience
The state of the dead was a pretty boring doctrine for me as a college student at Pacific Union College. Dr. Bork tried to make the proof texts relevant, although I hadn't had enough life experiences to appreciate his efforts. Only years later ideas started taking shape.

Bill Keane, the cartoonist who draws The Family Circus, often depicts the spirit of a beloved grandpa hovering nearby during family holidays or at important times in the grandchildren's lives. That notion seems comforting at first. One feels that it would be nice to know that a loved one is nearby, in spirit at least. But we mustn't forget that life is a package plan. If the loved one's spirit is nearby for good times, the loved one also has to suffer with us during disasters, has to witness us making disastrous choices (without being able to intervene), and has to see us not only at our best but at our sinful worst. Additionally, as spirits our loved ones would have an expanded awareness of all the suffering and chaos that goes on in the world at any one time. You and I get the world news in 20-second reports or crisp newspaper articles, and that's bad enough. Imagine helplessly watching all of these events in real time! That seems much more like a hellish experience than heavenly bliss to me.

What a relief that God has thought of everything ahead of time! If Roland were aware of all the needs and pains on this earth, I'm sure that he couldn't enjoy a minute of heavenly joy or the singing of the angel choirs. Even now, years after his death, Carol and I continue to get mail solicitations from numerous groups and causes to which he contributed during his life in his attempt to ease the suffering of fellow humans around the globe. Were he a spirit in heaven, I imagine that he'd be busy trying to recruit angels out of the choir so they could lend their assistance and diminish suffering here on earth!

How thoughtful of God to let him peacefully sleep until the great experiment is over for all of us! "For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed" (1 Cor. 15:52, NKJV). (See also 1 Thess. 4:14; Eccl. 9:5; Ps. 115:17.)

What Kind of God Would Do That?
Conversely, if my father-in-law hadn't been the kind of person that he was, the commonly held view of him in an ever-burning hell also presents some problems for those of us he left behind. In moments of levity people sometimes joke about some old curmudgeon deserving to burn forever, but fire is quite severe, and forever is a very long time. Can you really think of anyone, even your worst enemy, who truly deserves to burn forever? Can you honestly worship a God who would inflict that kind of torture on a person as punishment for even 70 or 80 years of consistent and vigorous sinning?

Again, the forethought and mercy of God is seen in the provision of a quick, efficient, and complete removal of sin and rebellion. (See Rom. 6:23; 2 Peter 3:7, 9-12; James 1:15; Rev. 20:9, 14, 15; cf. Jude 7.) Our God certainly desires to make a perfect world available for those who want it (Rev. 21; 2 Peter 3:9,13), but He doesn't choose to punish forever those who reject His offer. Our Father is bigger than that!

A Cosmic Alarm Will Sound
Finally, one more important detail that the Father has already considered. Family losses are not permanent. There is indeed a very real life after this one. And we who choose to receive the gift will all receive it at the same time. The peaceful slumber of death will be interrupted with a trumpet alarm (1 Thess. 4:13-18; 1 Cor. 15:51-55; John 5:25), and together with friends and family Roland will resume his life in Christ, the same life that he enjoyed here (John 5:24; 8:51; 11:25), and in much more satisfactory conditions than the present world offers. I wouldn't be surprised if Roland shouted, with that familiar twinkle in his eye, "Severe clear! Let's go!" just prior to his ascension.

What an insight into God's fairness and into His gracious character this important doctrine provides! The Father has taken every step possible to ensure abundant life for His kids. "I have come that they may have life," Jesus said, "and have it to the full" (John 10:10, NIV).

_________________________
Steve Pawluk is the dean of the School of Education and Psychology at Walla Walla College in Walla Walla, Washington.