Beating Death

To date, 184 people are banking on the idea that modern science will someday find or engineer a fountain of youth. Those 184 people, all deceased, are “patients” of the Alcor Life Extension Institute in Scottsdale, Arizona, where their bodies—or for some, merely their heads—have been frozen in liquid nitrogen at minus 320 degrees Fahrenheit awaiting the day when medical science discovers a way to make death and aging a thing of the past.

It sounds like science fiction, but it’s called cryonics.

The first corpse to be frozen was that of Dr. James Bedford in 1967. Now, well over 250 dead bodies have been cryopreserved in the US, and more than 1,500 people have made similar arrangements for cryopreservation.

As you can imagine, cryonics has its share of critics and skeptics. Of course, Stephen Bridge, former president of Alcor, cautions, “We have to tell [people] that we don’t even really know if it will work yet.” Nevertheless, longtime member of Alcor who hasn’t yet taken advantage of its services, brushes aside naysayers and explains why he’s willing to give cryonics a try: “For some strange reason, I like being alive…I don’t want to die. Okay, guys?”

For those, like Donaldson, who like being alive, God has good news. Jesus Christ has risen from the dead with an eternal, resurrection body. He has conquered death. All those who believe in Jesus will someday also be raised from the dead with an eternal resurrection body. Jesus is the only sure hope of eternal life.