"The fear of loss is a path to the dark side; death is a natural part of life; rejoice for those around you that transform into the force, mourn them do not, miss them do not. Attachment leads to jealousy, the shadow of greed that is. Train yourself to let go of everything you fear to lose."
Death is a natural part of life; we all die. Romans 6:23 says, For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. We should rejoice in our loved ones that have found the light of Christ. We should be overcome with joy that they are in the arms of our Heavenly Father.
Now as for the other I can see how attachment can send you down a dark path. You may begin to be jealous of those who still have all their close loved ones. You may become jealous of the happiness in their lives. But as it's stated, jealousy is the path of greed. You crave what others have. You begin to despise your own life because you don't have the same life others do.
It may sound upsetting to say let go of everything you fear losing, but it can be a hindrance. If there is something in your life whether it be wealth, your health, your job, some luxury, or a loved one that you fear losing, it can inevitably be a downfall. If your wealth is such an idol that you can't live without it, you may go to unspeakable depths to keep it. Many people have become so attached to someone that if they leave them they can't stand to be without them. People have killed a loved one just to ensure they don't go to someone else.
There was a story I read about a young man put in prison simply because of his faith. Jon Lugajanu had just returned to the prison after his court hearing. His cell mates anxiously asked him, "What happened?" He answered, "It was just like the day the angel visited Mary, the mother of Jesus. Here she was, a godly young woman sitting alone in meditation, when a radiant angel of God told her the incredible news. She would carry the Son of God in her womb."
Curious about how this story tied in to Jon's courtroom experience, the other prisoners listened closely. Jon went on to share the gospel of peace through the story of Mary. "For all the joy Jesus brought her, Mary would have to one day stand at the foot of the cross and watch him suffer and die for the sins of the world. God resurrected Jesus, where he now reigns in heaven. Mary knew once she was in heaven, she would be with Jesus again and experience eternal joy." The other prisoners were puzzled at this. "But we asked you what happened in court?" they reminded Jon.
Jon looked at them, his face shining with peace, and said, "I was given the death penalty. Isn't that beautiful news?" Jon realized the news the angel delivered to Mary was just as bittersweet, after Jesus had suffered there would be rejoicing in heaven. He anxiously anticipated his eternal joy in Jesus' presence.
In many cultures, death is a taboo subject. People often go to great lengths to insulate themselves from the inevitability of their own death. They like to use phrases like "passed away" instead of "died." We resist making a will or buying life insurance, thinking, "It will never happen to me." Corporations make huge profits selling us products that promise eternal youth. God does not give us the option of ignoring death, but he gives us the key to facing it. Mary's angelic visitor did not shirk from telling her she would suffer great grief at the cross. However, she was also given the hope of resurrection to make her grief bearable. As Christians, God's promise of eternal life helps us accept our own death, both realistically and courageously.
There's a song by Kenny Chesney called, "Everybody Wants To Go To Heaven". I can remember singing this song many times when it came out. Now that I look back at it and really ponder over the lyrics, it truly is a very sad song. I'm not going to write all the lyrics out but take a minute to look them over. It's a truly depressing thought to believe anything here on Earth could begin to compare with the peace, love, and joy we will experience in heaven. To say having more time to party beats out experiencing heaven, is a truly sad outlook. "Everybody wants to go to heaven, Have a mansion high above the clouds, Everybody want to go to heaven, But nobody want to go now." Of course being with family and close friends is something everyone cherishes; but the thought of spending eternity with them in the presence of Christ, sounds much more appealing to me.
