Facing death

Since returning to Singapore in mid 1997, a number of our friends have gone to be with the Lord. ".... each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment." Hebrews 9: 27  (New Living translation) This is the reality of life. Sooner or later all of us have to face death whether we are ready or not. We have no choice.

We may use euphemism to describe death like "promotion to Glory" "passed away" "gone home to be with the Lord" to soften the thought of it but it does not change its reality.

Death is described as The Grim Reaper - it comes as a skeletal figure carrying a scythe ready to mow down the individual regardless of race, religion, gender or age. It takes away the spouse leaving the other broken, helpless victim without companion to fend for himself or herself. It robs parents of their precious baby leaving them to mourn their loss. It arrives unannounced suddenly, or we feel its shadow lingering in the sick room waiting to claim the victim.

The Grim Reaper at times and hauls away hundreds or even thousands making use of an earthquake, a tsumani, typhoon, fire, a plane crash or sunken vessel. No way can anyone prevent death from claiming the victims. Power, wealth whatever we possess are useless to prevent the reality of death.

Robert Louis Stevenson once said, "Be vital, enjoy life, make the best of it, never think of death." Sounds great wisdom to avoid worries! Years later when he was seriously ill he had this to say, "With the best will in the world, no man can always be twenty five, the shadow of this prison house is creeping over my life"

It is impossible not to think of death. We view it on our television screens, we read in the newspapers. We suddenly receive an sms telling us the news of the passing of a loved one. We comfort ourselves using euphemism and in The Salvation Army we often say, 'promotion to Glory.' It's a fact, we move from this earth and promoted to the Heavenly realms. But it is natural to feel the pain of parting and grieve our loss.

Soon we shall be celebrating Easter to commemorate the resurrection of Lord Jesus Christ. In fact every Sunday when we meet we are celebrating the Lord's Day - His resurrection.

Pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer, imprisoned by the Nazis was told by his captors one day in April 1945 to get ready for his death. He requested his guards for five minutes for a last prayer in the cell. Then standing up, he shook hands with them and said, "For me, this is the beginning of life. Now to be with Him."

In 1 Corinthians 15:54-57, Paul writes, “But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, ‘DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory. ‘O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?’ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law, but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

He lives, I know that my Redeemer lives!