Death - The Leveller

Even as i am saddened by the tragic death of three innocent children in UAE, through food poisoning in the last 3 weeks, my thoughts went to the poem "Death the Leveller" by James Shirley, which i had learnt in school. An excerpt from the poem goes as thus:

"Death lays his icy hand on kings:
Sceptre and Crown
Must tumble down,
And in the dust be equal made
With the poor crookèd scythe and spade."

Death is a reality and one that all people, rich and poor, young and old, tall and short, white and black, will come face to face at some point of time. There is no escape. How one faces death and the sorrows of separation will depend on what we believe is yet to come. There is no one who has cheated death but one. He is the one who said " I am the resurrection and the Life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies". The Bible says that "the grave has been conquered and death has lost its sting", for Jesus has overcome.

When we believe in Jesus, we enter into eternal life for the Bible says in John 3:16, "all who believes in Him shall have life everlasting". When Christ comes into our life, death loses its grasp over us. We start walking in God's purpose and then we will die only after we accomplish what Christ wants to do through us. Then we approach death not with fear and sorrow but with galdness and joy, for death shall be just like sleep. We shall slumber for a moment and wake up to presence of God. In John 5:28, we read " do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear His voice and come out".

There will be a time of judgement and those who are in Christ will join Him forever. My friend, if you are reading this post and you have never thought of death, it is time you did so. It is a reality and if you do not know Jesus, it will "come upon you like a thief in the night". Let me encourage you, give your life to Jesus and He will give you life in abundance. Be free from the fear of death. Live that Jesus may touch many through you. Live that you may comfort the broken hearted. Live that you may bring peace in the midst of chaos. Live that you may proclaim love in the midst of hatred. Live that you may be a light in the darkness. Live that you may declare Life in the midst of death. To close with a few lines from the same poem:

"Only the actions of the just
Smell sweet and blossom in their dust."

Shalom!