There are many times in your life when darkness seems to reign. Like when the doors of heaven seem to be closed, when God seems distant, when God seems silent to your prayer requests, and on it goes. Those are dark times indeed. There is another time, too: when life on this earth comes to a close and eternity opens before you.
Death is certain. Often, you do not talk much about death or topics related to it. Too frequently, you avoid the topic as it seems to bring with it an attitude of gloom. This does not have to be the case. Yes, life on earth is terminated, but for the Christian life everlasting in eternal bliss opens before you. D. L. Moody was an evangelist that was used mightily by God in the twentieth century. Everywhere he went God moved and a multitude of people accepted Christ. Leslie B. Flynn, when describing D. L. Moody’s death, said this, “When D. L. Moody was rushed home to Massachusetts after a sudden illness during a western crusade, he said to his son, ‘Earth recedes, heaven open before me. If this is death, it is sweet. There is no valley here. God is calling me and I must go. This is my coronation day. It is sweet.” Death for the believer is a glorious day indeed.
The Scriptures talk about death in Isaiah 25:8, “He will swallow up death for all time, and the Lord God will wipe tears away from all faces, and He will remove the approach of His people from all the earth; for the Lord has spoken.” What encouraging words for Christians! The Lord tells you that death will forever be removed and, in its place, He will eliminate tears for all time. Also, the sins of His people will be no more.
When that darkness reigns in your life in which death seems near, be encouraged! It is only a transition from earthly existence to heavenly grandeur. It is sweet, indeed!
