More Ready To Leave

Why should Christians dread the figure in white
Seen by one at or past death's final throe?
He is an angel come to hold him tight,
To take him to heav'n where redeemed ones go.
What is there to fear on our final day?
It brings us the prize for which we've long fought;
He promised to go, make ready the way;
Now He's back for the one His lifeblood bought.
How blind are those born only of water;
Seeing truth, yet not knowing what they see!
When they see death, it is only slaughter,
Blackness for them throughout eternity.
My life can be long or short, as it may;
I am more ready to leave than to stay.

We have read or heard of "near death" experiences, in which the person is aware of dying and his soul's leaving his body; he reports floating above the circle of doctors and family members around the bed. He can see his own body lying there lifeless, as he is drawn down a dark tunnel toward a shining figure dressed in white. These reports are all similar; the departing soul is happy to be leaving but is drawn back against his will and reenters his body. He is resuscitated and lives to give this report.

Paul wrote to the members of the church at Corinth that: "We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord." (2 Corinthians 5:8) He was confident that when a follower of Christ dies, immediately he is with the Lord. (See also Phillippians 1:3)

The Bible also tells us that a person who is not a follower of Jesus Christ will immediately live again, but he will be taken to another place called hell. I believe the "near death" stories depict an angel dressed in white, either an angel from heaven or a fallen angel.