If There Were no Life After Death, Then Life Would Be the Biggest Joke in Universe

Monday afternoon I got the news that my grandpa on my dad's side passed away Monday at 4 am, Romania time.

He is the first blood-related person to pass away in our family.

Vasile Alecu was born on June 27, 1939. He is the oldest son of four, and has raised 4 kids, and a few grand-kids including me. By the world's standards he didn't have much; he never went on a vacation and for most of his life lived without running water in a house of humble means.

But see, when it comes to life essentials, my grandpa should be considered as one of the richest people I know.

He had a strong work ethic, not always the smartest, but he always worked really hard. He worked for over 30 years in a tire-making factory, which gradually gave him the lung disease which caused his heart to eventually collapse. When asked by dad after he retired, how come he never looked for work elsewhere, his response was that he could never afford to take a break to look elsewhere because he needed to feed the rest of us.

He was a faithful and loyal man, was married to my grandma for 52 years.
He can be considered rich with all four of his children being married with kids of their own, healthy and settled down. He is rich because he was loved and respected by all of his children and grandchildren.

He may be a person who had the least, yet enjoyed it all the most. He was always satisfied with what was given to him. And because of this attitude he was at peace with himself and with the world, and that was apparent to the rest of us. He was also funny, without even trying it. Sometimes he would draw straight conclusions, without much investigation. This one time he first punished one of his boys, and then asked if he did indeed do what he was incriminated with. He branded numerous expressions in various situations, and he's quoted by all of us. His memory will be one of someone pleasant and desirable to have around.

Tomorrow he will be buried, and with him a small piece of each one of us.

If there were no life after death, then life would be the biggest joke in universe. If there would be no life after death, none of it makes sense. But there has to be something beyond the tangible, besides the here and now. It would make no sense being put here on earth in families, working at these relationships and growing close to each other, only to be left with a void when they're gone, and having it all be lost forever. And thanks to Christ we can all be raised again and meet our loved ones.

I have to admit it, my knowledge and understanding of it is more conceptually than experimentally. As with many other philosophical concepts, they tend to be much easier to believe and even preach when in theory. It’s in times like these that I am forced to put it to the test…and it’s hard to have that perfect brightness of hope. I hope that it will become more than just a hope, that it will become complete confidence and a deep grasping by the end of my life.

The Really Good News is: Jesus Has Overcome the World

In John 16:33 Christ tells his disciples that in spite of the fact that the world will cause them great tribulations that they should be of good cheer for he has overcome the world.
I know that most focus on Jesus is centered on his suffering in Gethsemane, when crucified and at the Resurrection, all of which constitute the most glorious event of humanity, the Atonement.

But I think that before and in order for any of it to even be possible, Christ had to overcome the world!

And what does it mean to overcome the world? First, he had to be part mortal and human so that he would be prone to sin and temptation. Had it been any other way, then it would have been no great sacrifice nor conquer.

Second, Jesus wasn’t born all-learned and all-knowing, but through obedience, temperance, patience, love, hope and faith, he learned of his divine mission holding himself to that level.

And ultimately, he rose above all; in every instance he chose the highest way to deal with the situation. He didn’t make up excuses (even though he was also made of flesh), he didn’t allow the adversary to dictate his actions or thoughts (even though he was directly tempted by him).

I really don’t think it was any easier for him than it is for you and me to keep the commandments. If anything, it would have been a lot tougher because he was tempted a lot more intensely.

And yet, he had never given in, not once. Not a single bad thought about someone, not a single little gossip about somebody, not a moment of anger and loss of temper. After all, had any of these little slips occurred, the offering of him, as a sacrifice in our behalf would have not been acceptable anymore.

Because of all these implications I see Christ’s sacrifice as something beyond the last week of his life. His sacrifice had started at his birth, probably even before that, in the pre-mortal existence.

And I think that his constant commitment to being perfect for our sake is probably a greater sacrifice than even all the suffering and turmoil he’s gone through at the end.

But what empowered Christ to always choose right? What was the mental and spiritual place that he was coming from?

I think it all sprang out from a correct and deep understanding of his identity. I think he could overcome the world because he knew of the higher plan, of his relationship with the Father, of his relationship with us, and of the role he was to play in the whole plan.

I also don’t think that his ultimate goal was to solely be offered as a sacrifice for our sins and to live a perfect life, but I think his desire and hope is that by following his model we will also overcome the world.

He’s shown us how is done so that we can each attempt and even dare to try to overcome that which surrounds us. And although it is impossible, really, for you and me to succeed, on our own that is, he will compensate for the rest.

He wants us to become more and to be happier and the way to start is, just as he started it, to learn and experience our true identity. When we really understand who we are and who we can become, that’s when we become truly powerful, that’s when we dare to take the steps in overcoming the world.