On Monday, Joyce and I visited Edzell Castle, in Angus. As we drove there, we had to pass Edzell Parish Church from which a large crowd of people were leaving – mourners at the funeral of someone who was obviously well-known and/or important in the local area. I found myself thinking of the Saturday evening session at the Liberty Community Church Weekend when Paul Graham, the main speaker, had spoken powerfully from I Thessalonians 4:13-18 on the subject of the resurrection, and the wonderful assurance that the Christian has that physical death is not the end.
Death, it has been said, is the great leveller. It comes to each and every one of us. The peasant in his hovel, and the king in his palace, are both subject to it. There is no escape; no place to hide from “the grim reaper”. Perhaps that is why it is feared by so many – we recognise its inevitability, and its mystery. I suspect that that is also why, when we are obliged to speak of it, we prefer to use euphemisms such as the person having “passed away”; been “lost”; even having “kicked the bucket”!
The Bible makes no such attempt to avoid the “D” word. Speaking to Joshua, YHWH states clearly: “Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them – the children of Israel.” (Josh 1:2). Old Eli, who trained the great prophet, Samuel, was told, bluntly: “… your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead;” (I Sam 4:17). The Lord Jesus didn’t mince His words either. Speaking to the disciples, we read that He “… said to them plainly, 'Lazarus is dead'.” (John 11:14).
One of the smaller booklets on my study shelves has the intriguing title “Death with a steady eye”. Its basic message is that, for the Christian, physical death is nothing to be feared. We can meet it, and face it, with our eyes open. The reason for this is, of course, that Jesus has already conquered death and, if we are truly His, then we share in His victory.
Until the Lord’s return – whenever that may be – each one of us will have to face up to the fact of our mortality. The important thing is to be certain that we can face it “with a steady eye” – by having placed our trust, unreservedly, in Jesus. If I can be of any help, please leave a comment (that will not be made public!) and I’ll be happy to do what I can.
Death, it has been said, is the great leveller. It comes to each and every one of us. The peasant in his hovel, and the king in his palace, are both subject to it. There is no escape; no place to hide from “the grim reaper”. Perhaps that is why it is feared by so many – we recognise its inevitability, and its mystery. I suspect that that is also why, when we are obliged to speak of it, we prefer to use euphemisms such as the person having “passed away”; been “lost”; even having “kicked the bucket”!
The Bible makes no such attempt to avoid the “D” word. Speaking to Joshua, YHWH states clearly: “Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them – the children of Israel.” (Josh 1:2). Old Eli, who trained the great prophet, Samuel, was told, bluntly: “… your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead;” (I Sam 4:17). The Lord Jesus didn’t mince His words either. Speaking to the disciples, we read that He “… said to them plainly, 'Lazarus is dead'.” (John 11:14).
One of the smaller booklets on my study shelves has the intriguing title “Death with a steady eye”. Its basic message is that, for the Christian, physical death is nothing to be feared. We can meet it, and face it, with our eyes open. The reason for this is, of course, that Jesus has already conquered death and, if we are truly His, then we share in His victory.
Until the Lord’s return – whenever that may be – each one of us will have to face up to the fact of our mortality. The important thing is to be certain that we can face it “with a steady eye” – by having placed our trust, unreservedly, in Jesus. If I can be of any help, please leave a comment (that will not be made public!) and I’ll be happy to do what I can.
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