Thoughts on immortality.

Yesterday as I was doing a homework project, that involved some beginning web page design. The teacher gave an example of how to create a link by giving a link to a Youtube video of his favorite science fiction writer. In this video this author described his idea of achieving immortality by creating a virtual presence of yourself on the Internet, that would continue on after you die. He acknowledge that he had struggled with the fear of death and this was his dealing with it. He even hoped that he could create an artificial intelligence agent which would continue making blog post for him after he died. This is one of the most sad and pathetic things I have ever heard. The idea that the Internet could give you immortality is silly and absurd. The Internet can do many things but it can’t give you immortality. It can store information about you life but it can’t store your life itself. Even if you could somehow upload your soul into Cyberspace, some day the computers would die and you would die with it. This poor person was really grasping at straws. He had to admit that the Internet really didn't literally give immortality but only something that resembles immortality.

I could help contrasting this with what I experienced during the memorial service last weekend for Delores Carlson. Before Delores went home to be with the Lord she wrote letters of encouragement and asked Pastor Mike to share her hope during the funeral service. Delores has a real hope that radiated out during the service. She didn't have to grasp at straws and engage in fantasies.  She knew that she had true immortality. She wasn't afraid of death because she knew Someone who had defeated death. Delores’ hope is found in 1 Thessalonians 4:14 :

"For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.”

The triumph of Jesus over death is historic fact not science fiction. Last night at men’s group we were challenged with the question, “If you were to die tonight, do you know where you would go.” I like, like my sister Delores, know the answer:

John 17:3

Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.