Through the agents of haters, murderers, lethal weapons, accidents,diseases, wars, natural calamities and the like, death has reduced humans to shreds. Death laughs uncontrollably while the living wail and cry ceaselessly. The sleep of death evokes a strong sense of emptiness upon the lives of those affected by it. Sleepless nights of pain and tears continue to haunt the living for the dead. Death sweeps over the race of human mercilessly. It has spared none. From the newly born child to the ripe old age, from the least to the greatest, from the fools to the wisest, from the poorest to the richest, the aroma of death has bewitched them to sleep. Death is mysteriously real as it has ravaged generations under its power. It comes knocking on every door of our homes.
Humans hate to think or talk about death. We try to push it out of our minds. Too many young people have optimistic feelings about the longevity of their lives. Nobody wants to die young. But an awful lot have been snapped off too early. The beauty of human is destroyed by death and decay. Some face death right in the eyes with glowing victorious disposition while some face it with the gloom and doom of despair and terror. What makes the difference? Why do humans shudder and tremble at the thought of death? Is there an escape from it? Is there nothingness to life after all?The well-known British atheist writer Bertrand Russell, just two days before Einstein died issued a joint statement with the famous physicist, confessing his own state of despair that “those of us who know the most are the gloomiest about the future.” The anguish of hopelessness in that honest confession is the absence of God in the picture of human lives. Death is feared so much because God is feared so little. The idea of an afterlife seems a fairy land for a post-modern sceptical intellectual world. But it’s a reality that cannot be eluded with nonsensical arguments.
The famous sonnet written by John Donne, “Death, be not Proud!” tells of death as a defeated enemy. Though some have called him mighty and dreadful, he is not so! One short sleep past and we all wake eternally. And death shall be no more; death shall die.This holy sonnet was a direct allusion to 1 Corinthians 15:26: “The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.” The captivating picture of death as portrayed in the Bible doesn’t fall short of our notice as Apostle Paul plainly states, “Death is gain for me, I desire to depart and be with Christ.” He anticipated death with a supernatural undying hope. This longing and desire of hope is only possible in the ultimate intimate union with Christ.The King George VI of Britain, just before he died of cancer gave this famous speech about his own predicaments: “I said to the man at the Gate of the Year, “Give me a light that I may walk safely into the unknown.”
He said to me, “Go out into the darkness, and put your hand in the hand of God, and it shall be to you better than the light, and safer than the known.” What confidence! What boldness in the face of death! It was God that gave him such an un-daunting voice. In relation, Godwas the anchor of his soul. The conviction of forever-ness in human hearts points to the reality of life after death. Death and decay are inevitable. Generations come and go. It will never pass by again. Death tells us to look at the world temporarily. Death teaches us to cherish life and people around us. Death removes pride and reminds us that humans are nothing but mortal beings. Death is not the end but the inauguration of the forever-ness of life. Therefore, we sing with confidence, “Where, O Death is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” (1 Corinthians 15:55). God bless.
Vebu Khamo, Bible student.
