“The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.” (Psalm 90:10)
What do you suppose this world would be like if there was no sickness, no such thing as an accident that caused pain or damage to the flesh, the body remaining strong, virile and full of vigor for all, but everyone died on the day they reached that age of seventy?
Would the fear of death be exponentially greater or simply accepted?
The cessation of the flesh hangs heavier on the mind of the aged, and for that reason, I believe the Lord allows some of us to reach that point in our lives where the sunrise is far behind us, and the sunset is more easily seen each day, so that we can inform those that still believe that life is long and there is time to kill today will see the foolishness of the opening words in this short letter to you today.
“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:” (Heb. 9:27)
It can be debated as to whether the Most High has determined, has set the exact moment of your final day here and the way in which it will occur, or if He has left that up to another form that we dare not call chance, but the reality of that final day cannot be denied.
My friends, there is no such thing as an unexpected death.
Here is where those who have been crucified with Christ differ in the greatest manner from those who will remain unrepentant, for the wicked of the world, we do not attempt to run back to the sunrise, we do not try to hide from the sunset that is inevitable, we seek to be in the presence of the fulness of joy, and that final door, the door of death that opens onto that strait gate, causes anticipation of eternal joy, not fear. We long for that which the world does all they can to hide from, to deny, to fear above all else.
“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” (Isaiah 26:3)
For many, if not most people, the anticipation of an upcoming event can be more fearful than the event itself, and there are fewer times in our lives when this is a truth than when the contemplations of our final day here are the thoughts of the day. When they arrive in your mind, can you move beyond the manner in which it will arrive, and realize the excitement, the thrill and joy of that next moment?
Can you see the face of the Lord Jesus Christ smiling at you?
The real question my friends is this, are you living your life not to the best of your ability, but in submission to His will for you each day until that final day, is one of the greatest desires of your heart to hear Him say to you, face to face, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant?”
The wicked live in fear of the moment we wait for in patient anticipation, serving for His glory, until He calls us home.
It is an unmitigated fear, it should hold no place in our minds, either that moment or in the fashion it will arrive, for the promises are true, and He is faithful who has promised.
Freedom from the fear of death is an absolute freedom, very little in this life can be compared to the peace it brings into our heart, and there is very little pressure left to those in this world that can cause that peace to leave us.
“For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.” (2nd Tim. 1:12)
Physical pain, great frustrations of the mind, trials, tribulations and persecutions can cause us to desire that sun to finally set, but one of the real tests of faith in this regard is the realization in ourselves that all fear is gone from us when it does.
