What Happened after Khamenei DIed?

Ali Khamenei, the leader of Iran, was killed in an Israeli attack on February 28.  The attack was part of the United States’ and Israel’s strategy: decapitate the Iranian government.  I don’t wish to comment on the morality of the attack, or the strategy behind it.  Instead, I have been thinking about Khamenei, the person.

From what I have read, Khamenei at young age devoted himself to studying the Quran and the theology of Islam.  A protégé of Ayatollah Khomeini, he was part of the movement to establish a theocracy in Iran.  He succeeded Khomeini as the leader of Iran and has been known for his hardline policies and his desire for Iran to become a nuclear power.

Both Islam and Christianity agree that when a person dies, they appear before God.  Furthermore, both Islam and Christianity agree that whatever happens to that person in eternity will be determined by the will of God. 

Beyond these two points of agreement, Islam and Christianity diverge.  It is false to say all religions lead to the same God or the same place.  From what I understand of Islam, devout Muslims, as well as others who do righteous works, are treated with mercy by Allah and are welcomed into a type of heaven. The unrighteous are condemned to punishment.

Was Khamenei a righteous person according to the teachings of Islam?  His record would be mixed.  He most likely accomplished the Five Pillars: faith, prayer, almsgiving, fasting, and pilgrimage.  As a cleric he probably lived by the teachings of Muhammed.  But he also brutally crushed oppression, persecuted his own people, and held onto political power at all costs.

Of course, I am more familiar with Christian teachings.  Followers of Jesus believe we do not gain entrance to heaven based on good works, but rather by the grace of God (“It is by grace you are saved, not works, lest any man should boast…”).  This grace comes through Jesus who died for our sins and rose from the dead to prove his power over death and sin.

A clear teaching of Jesus, which troubles many people, is he is the only path to our Heavenly Father (“No one comes to Father except through me…”).  This exclusivity claim seems narrow.  Without trying to answer every objection, I can see God’s reasoning.  First, out of his mercy, he has made a way for our sins to be forgiven and for us to have a relationship with him.  He did not have to do this; he did it because at the heart of his character there is deep love for all he created. 

Second, if God forced a relationship upon people, the elimination of choice would be at best coercive, and at worst, God exerting his overwhelming presence to control us.  Imagine this scenario: you are forced by an unjust king to wear a leash and sit by his throne.  You must laugh at his jokes, attend to his needs, and live in fear of his changing moods.  This was the core idea of many ancient religions.  Judaism and Christianity changed that teaching.  God is consistently portrayed as one who offers a choice: enter into relationship with him or not.

Finally, Christianity recognizes no amount of righteous works can balance the scales with sinfulness of our hearts.  As I grow older, I am amazed to discover how bent my heart is to evil.  This despite prayer, learning, and asking God to change to my heart.  I depend on God’s grace because I know cannot fill the gap between my unrighteousness and God’s righteousness. 

Only God can know the true condition of a person’s heart.  But Jesus also said, “By their fruits you will know them…”  Did Khamenei show the fruit of the Spirit?  Did he show love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control?  From what I know, he was lacking in several of these fruits.

I believe in hell because Jesus spoke about it.  I believe Dallas Willard best described hell as “the best God can do for some people.”  When people reject the way of Jesus, God makes a place for them.  It is a miserable place, but a place people choose to be because they do not want to meet God on God’s terms.

Is Khamenei in hell?  The evidence points in that direction.  He did not proclaim Jesus as his leader, he did not show the fruit of the Spirit, and he did not follow the teachings of Jesus above the teachings of Muhammed.  I do not think Khamenei might be in hell because he hated America, but because he rejected Jesus.

Imagine his surprise when he found out his whole life, belief system, life goals, and values were wrong.   Maybe his first reaction was shock and surprise.

Paul, the apostle, experienced a similar shock, but he had not yet died.  When he met Jesus on the road to Damascus, he found out his whole life, belief system, life goals, and values were wrong.  He faced a choice: defiantly continue in his belief or humble himself before Jesus and learn a new way.  That switch can be harder than you think.

The real question, of course, isn’t about Khamenei.  The real question is about you.  We cannot say to Jesus, “Lord, Lord,” unless we humble ourselves, ask for forgiveness, receive his grace, and begin to live according to his teachings.  Jesus said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”   That would mean we would love God and love each other, our neighbors, and our enemies as he does. 

I refuse to rejoice in anyone’s death that appears to be headed to hell.  I think it must break God’s heart.  But it is a reminder not to be cocky about my own salvation.  It is a great gift.  And it can be your great gift as well.

President Bush in Heaven…

President George H. W. Bush passed away last week.  Tributes have been pouring in.  When he was President, we may not have agreed with all his actions, but in hindsight, we see his wisdom, his decency, and his character.

President Bush was an Episcopalian, except for a brief time in Midland, Texas, when he and Mrs. Bush attended the Presbyterian church.  In her autobiography, Mrs. Bush spoke about their shared faith: they were reluctant to use their Christian faith as a political tool.   She acknowledged they prayed together and had a deep spiritual connection.  Both attended church regularly. 

The Bush family had deep connections with Billy Graham.  On the night the air campaign against Iraq began, the Bushes invited the famous evangelist to spend the night in the White House.  That night, they needed a pastor.

No one, of course, can know if a person is truly saved.  Jesus told us we will know people’s faith by their fruit, but from a distance, even wax fruit looks edible.  But by his own words, George Bush professed faith in Christ.  Spiritual fruits of joy, goodness, kindness, gentleness, and self-control showed in his life.

Because of his profession of faith and the evidence of fruit in his life, I believe George Bush went to heaven upon his death.  What happened next?

I saw a touching cartoon that depicted the President flying in on his WWII TBM Avenger, sharing joyous hugs with his wife and his daughter Robin (who passed away when she was three from leukemia), standing before a wrought iron heavenly gate.  President George W. Bush, in a glowing tribute to his father, broke down when he spoke about his Dad being reunited with Robin and Barbara.  It is a lovely picture.

But it is inaccurate.

When a believer dies, he is immediately brought into the presence of God.  Jesus said to the thief on the cross, “Today you will be with me in paradise.”  There is no standing before pearly gates, with St. Peter pouring over the pages of a book, trying to figure out if you belong in heaven or hell.  You will stand before God. 

We are not given many details about these first moments in heaven.  Revelation 7 gives a glimpse, like looking through a keyhole.  There will be many people there, robed in white.  They are waving palm branches, just like the crowd did on Palm Sunday when Jesus entered Jerusalem.  They are shouting in loud voices, “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”  This multitude understands we do not get to heaven by being good; we arrive there because of grace.  Our God, who sits on the throne, does for us what we cannot do for ourselves.

John, who saw the vision of Revelation, tells us these are the people who have been made clean by the blood of Lamb.  They will never again be hungry.  They will never again thirst.  The Lamb (Jesus) will be their shepherd.  They will be led to springs of living water.  God will wipe every tear from their eyes.

Whatever else we might dream about heaven, this much is clear.  Jesus is the main event.  The focus is on him.  In heaven we will see the extent of his mercy and the depth of his grace.  You will realize how much God must love you to allow you to be part of this scene.  The parts of your soul that have not yet been healed from your own sins will be healed in those first moments.  For the first time, you will be exactly who God created you to be.  You will be healed, from top to bottom.

Will you recognize others in the crowd?  Probably so.  We will gain a new body (the details are a little tedious) that will be immortal, incorruptible.  At the very least it means no more aging, no more sickness, no more addictions, no more imperfection in our looks (I wonder what my perfect self will look like?).  But the essence of who we are, who Jesus redeemed us to be, will remain intact.

Will we have a break time to catch up with loved ones?  The Bible doesn’t say.  I like to think so.  I would like to have time to talk to my Dad.  I’d like to hug my mother.  I have some friends – Robert, Ray, James, and Steve – I would like to catch up with.  I’d like to find a couple of my professors and thank them.  But again, the Bible doesn’t really spell this out.

The main point of heaven is to be with Jesus.  Dallas Willard wisely observed that time on earth was to prepare for heaven.  If we did not want to be with Jesus on earth, we will be pretty miserable in heaven.

When President Bush came into the presence of Jesus Friday night, he was not greeted by his daughter or his wife.  He was greeted by Jesus.  It was the voice of Jesus that called his name.  It was then the former President knew for the first time the fullness of God’s mercy, his love, and his grace.  He was given a white robe.  His voice joined the multitude: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” 

Whether you are president or just a plan person, what matters in heaven is Jesus.  Do you know him, or do you just know about him?