When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. (John 16:23 ESV)
Laughing
Heroes of the old melodramatic theater shorts used to laugh at the face of danger. An audience at a comic fest laughs at the presentations. Some people laugh (a fact I do not understand) at America’s Funniest Home Videos.
Who laughs about death, though?
Tragedy does not elicit laughter. Sorrow does not cause laughter. Loss does not bring chuckles.
Of course we do not laugh about death.
But the childbearing mother might understand the concept. The pain of childbirth can be overshadowed (maybe over-lit!) by the joy of the child. The struggle of childbirth is seen in a different light, perhaps, when mom remembers that this is not just physical pain, but her child!
Awareness of death’s result, the glory of being with Christ!, allows us to laugh… not IN death, not because of death, not around death… but because of the joy that it brings. Because of heaven.
Consider these words: For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. (Romans 8:18 ESV)