Charlie Died

 

“The way you store up treasure in heaven 

is by investing in people getting there.”

Rick Warren

 

 

Charlie died. 

 

Hardly an unusual event, really. Everyone does, eventually. But for Charlie dying was a gift. Truly a release into something far greater than anything he’d experienced in his life on earth.

 

“What is that scent?” was his first thought upon entering the other side of death. “I can’t place it, but I really like it.” 

 

Looking around seeking to acquaint himself to this distinctly different environment, he couldn’t help but feel comfortable in his new environs. “What do I smell? I recognize it, but…”

 

“It’s love, Charlie,” said the Voice that he immediately recognized to be Jesus. “What you are smelling is love.”

 

“Love?”

 

“Yes, love”

 

“I didn’t know love had an aroma.”

 

“Of course, it does,” laughed Jesus. His laughter was the kind of laugh that invites you to join in rather than making you feel small. “Love is the greatest fragrance of all, Charlie.”

 

Charlie thought about this for a few moments, and his confusion began to clear. His life on earth had been a mix of good and bad, blessings and sorrow. Like most people, he’d celebrated positive moments and grieved in loss. He really couldn’t complain about how his life had played out. In fact, he’d freely acknowledge that he was more fortunate than most. He’d grown up in a home where his parents loved each other and their children. He and his siblings had fought – what siblings don’t? – but they’d also defended one another from foes large and small. As a young man, he’d found a young woman who loved him. Alice and Charlie had been married since the day they graduated from university and had spent 42 years in mostly wedded bliss. Sadly, they were unable to have children of their own, something which left a hole in both of their hearts. Regardless, on balance, Charlie would be quick to be grateful for such a good life. 

 

The heart attack came swiftly and decisively, only three months after he’d celebrated his 65^th birthday.

 

“Am I dead?” he asked with characteristic sincerity.

 

“In a manner of speaking,” Jesus said quietly, “yes. You died. Only moments ago. You had a massive heart attack and were dead before you hit the ground. Alice will find out in just a few moments and later the Doctors will tell her that it was a catastrophic myocardial event. So, to answer your question, Charlie, yes you died.”

 

“Interesting,” came his reply. “Interesting, because I don’t feel dead. Not that I really know what it would feel like to be dead, but I kind of thought it’d be different than this.”

 

“What did you think it’d be like?”

 

Charlie considered the question for a moment and replied, “More dead-like, I guess. I mean, uh… well, that’s a tough question. Hmmm… I suppose I thought I wouldn’t be conscious. And I am most certainly conscious, aren’t I?”

 

The Voice of Jesus was becoming clearer and taking on form. He smiled the most incredible smile Charlie had ever seen. Charlie gazed into his face racking his mind where he knew him from, and then it dawned upon him with whom he was talking.

 

Hesitatingly, he asked, “Jesus?”

 

“The very same.”

 

“Seriously?”

 

“Seriously.”

 

Shaking his head in wonder, Charlie began to grasp the gravity of this moment. “So, I’m dead?”

 

“More accurately, you died.”

 

“What’s the difference?” came Charlie’s honest and confused question.

 

“Well, Charlie,” Jesus said, “It is a matter of perspective. Let me help you, from a human, earth-centered point of view you are most certainly dead. One of your co-workers, a man named Andrew will be walking into your office in just a few minutes and will discover your dead body on the floor by the drafting table. And from the perspective of everyone on earth – you are dead.”

 

“Okay, makes sense to me. But what other perspective are you referring to?”

 

“Mine.”

 

“Yours.”

 

“Yes. And ultimately, my perspective is the one that matters. From my perspective, your body died, but you are most certainly alive. If that were not true, we could not be having this conversation.”

 

“Is this Heaven?”

 

“Nope. Not yet. There are still a few things that I need to do 

before that happens.”

 

“Hang on, this is all new to me. I need a moment.”

 

“Take all the time that you want.” Jesus said with the patience of one who understands that time is not an issue.

 

Charlie had always been a man who worked things out in his head through verbalization. Nothing had really changed in this characteristic. “So, I’ve died, but I’m not dead. And I’m here with you, Jesus, but this isn’t Heaven.” Pausing, he gave his understanding time to catch up with his thoughts and finally said, “Have I got this right?”

 

“Uh-huh.” Jesus acknowledged. “You got it.”

 

“I have another question.”

 

“I’m not surprised.”

 

Charlie smiled at Jesus’ reply. “No, I guess you wouldn’t be! 

Well, here it is: If this isn’t Heaven, where, exactly am I? 
I mean, it can’t be hell, because you are here.”

 

There was something about the way Charlie had said that which got Jesus to laughing. And Jesus’ laughter is contagious, soon Charlie found himself laughing along – although he wasn’t sure what was so funny.

 

“Sorry, Charlie.” Jesus said when he calmed down, “It was just the way that you said, ‘It can’t be hell, because you are here.’ that made me laugh. And you are correct, this is definitely not Hell.”

 

“Then,” Charlie asked again, “Where precisely am I?”

 

Jesus’ expression became extremely sober, “Charlie, it’s obvious where you are – you are with me.”

 

It was as if the lights of a thousand laser lights turned on in that instant, so powerful was this revelation. “I am with you.” Charlie repeated.

 

“Yes, you are.”

 

“That’s amazing.”

 

“Yes, it is.”

 

“That is the goal, isn’t it?” Charlie asked. Before Jesus could respond, Charlie interrupted and said, “Of course it is. It’s always been about that. Me, connected to you. Everything else was just noise, wasn’t it?”

 

“Charlie, as I am one with the Father and the Spirit, you are to be one with us. I have loved you before the foundation of the world. This moment has always been my goal. That’s why I say to you, you have died but you are not dead. Life as you knew it is over, but life has only just begun. And believe me, you are going to like it – a lot!”

 

Charlie hesitated. Jesus didn’t miss it and asked, “What is it, Charlie? What’s bothering you?”

 

“Alice,” He admitted. “What about Alice?”

 

They’d love one another for as long as they could remember and had shared everything life could bring their way. They’d danced and they’d held each other with the intensity of young lovers. They’d dreamed and explored. They’d wept and grieved. Best friends before becoming lovers they’d truly been 

one in marriage. And now, Alice would be forced to take on 

life alone.

 

“Alice,” Jesus said fondly. “I love her so very much. She is so amazing.”

 

“But she’s going to be so sad. Her heart will be broken.”

 

“True.”

 

“I need to go back, Jesus. I need to take care of her.” Charlie nearly begged.

 

‘No, Charlie. It doesn’t work that way,” Jesus said with great certainty. “Before you say anything else, let me show you something.”

 

Suddenly Charlie could see Alice as she stood in their kitchen making her famous lemon bars. They’d planned to go to their dear friends John and Melinda’s for dinner that night, and she’d told him early that morning that she’d be bringing lemon bars for dessert. He heard her mobile phone ring. He recognized it immediately as her phone because she’d had the Beatles song “Love, love me do” as her ringtone. Reaching into her back pocket, Alice answered the call. Moments later her skin went pale as she received the news of his death. The phone clattered to the floor as she leaned heavily against the granite topped kitchen island in shock. 

 

Jesus spoke, “I am with her.”

 

Their eyes locked on one another with the sobriety of what Jesus had just said.

 

The next scene was at the funeral service. Hundreds of people from all walks of life were gathered around his casket, but the only person that Charlie could make out was his beloved Alice. Dressed in a favorite black dress, she stood tall and composed.

 

Jesus spoke, “My grace is enough.”

 

Sitting alone in their favorite little coffee shop, Alice sipped her coffee while reading her pocket Bible.

 

“My word abides in her.”

 

Walking the dog which Charlie had insisted they purchase five years prior, Alice kept pace with the black Labrador. Charlie could see the tears flowing down her face.

 

“The Comforter will wipe those tears, Charlie.”

 

Forwarding several years, a noticeably older Alice was dining with a handsome man. They were laughing and enjoying each other’s company.

 

“I know her needs.”

 

Charlie thought long and hard about what he’d just witnessed and said, while turning to face Jesus, “You’ve been there all along, haven’t you?”

 

“I have.”

 

“And you’ll continue, won’t you?”

 

“I will.”

 

Nodding his head in understanding, Charlie said softly, “Okay then. I get it. She’s yours.”

 

“Yes, she is.”

 

“So,” Charlie said thoughtfully, “now what?”

 

“What was the first thing you noticed when you got here?”

 

“The smell. You told me that it is the aroma of love.” Charlie replied.

 

“Yes, it is. Charlie, you’ve entered a new season of your life. And this one is permanent! The old had gone. It is finished. Done. The new has come. It’s only just beginning for you.”

 

Charlie thought about what he’d just heard and experienced and said hopefully, “I like it so far!” 

 

“Let me tell you what you shouldn’t expect,” Jesus said and paused awaiting Charlie’s understanding.

 

“What I shouldn’t expect?”

 

“Right. Here’s what you should not expect to happen here with Me. None of this will happen here. Are you ready?”

 

“Yes!”

 

“Okay, don’t expect sorrow. There won’t be any. Don’t expect tears. That’s over and done with. Disease and illnesses are forever eliminated in my presence. So too is disappointment, broken relationships, misunderstandings, prejudices, anger and sorrow. Done. Finished. Complete.”

 

“Wow!”

 

“Oh, and something else you won’t ever have to deal with again: Death.” Jesus said excitedly. “Death has been destroyed. We don’t do death in my Kingdom!”

 

“No death?”

 

“Nope. Zero. Zilch. Nada. No death.” Jesus was exuberant as 

he spoke these powerful words. “What’s so weird to me is how little of my Good News message is really understood by my people on earth.”

 

“How’s that?”

 

“Do you know what my purpose in coming to earth was?” Jesus asked. Not waiting he continued, “It was to give life. True life. Abundant life. Life like I have life. Life filled with joy, with freedom, with passion!”

 

“But I thought you came to show people our depravity and sin and to convict us about it.” Charlie said with confusion.

 

“All of that is a means to an end.” Jesus explained. “My goal is to get people to the point where they simply embraced Me by faith and as a result are empowered to live truly amazing lives! None of that ridiculous religious nonsense, just freedom powered by love.”

 

“I see that now.”

 

“All of this stems from love. As my Father loves me. As I love my Father. So too shall you be loved – and that is what you smell.”

 

“It smells amazing.”

 

“It does, doesn’t it?”

 

Charlie suddenly realized that his death was the doorway to life. “I’m becoming a big fan of this place!”

 

Jesus smiled.