Death, many of us fear it and some of us don't stop to think about it, it's inevitable. I must confess that I worry about how I'll die (fearing death).
The truth is I usually separate myself from death by compartmentalizing the issue but I was unable to do so on Sat.Aug.30.08. On Saturday my neighbour called my attention to our land lady's dog, sparkle, which was bleeding. The dog was afraid of the thunder and lightening Gustav brought to Jamaica and it seems that he burst a blood vessel which may have been the cause for the bleeding. This didn't help his already bad heart condition.
In an attempt to assess the situation properly we had to wait until 8:00am to talk to a veterinarian. Unfortunately that was too long, when we went back to look at the dog he was dead. We were too late and nothing the vet told us could help. Sparkle was gone, just like that.
As I reflected on his death I'm reminded of the saying "Tomorrow is promised to no man" and how we put off things we can do today for tomorrow, when we have no guarantee. James tells us not to boast the days to come, he says "...you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes." (James.4:13-15 N.I.V). I'm not suggesting we live our lives in fear that we die at any given moment but that we live each day seeking to fulfil God's purpose for our lives.
Yow! Real big man ting...I'm not at that place where I can fully live my life without the fear of death but I pray that my desire to be a true follower of Christ will overpower that fear and that I will "not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell." (Matt.10:27-29).
Why do you think we are afraid to die, even as Christians?
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