Day 20. Death, the Gate of Life
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"When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to Him and begged Him to come and heal his son, who was at the point of death!" John 4:47
This man's son was just on the edge of death — just at its door! The point of death is a point to which all of us must come at some time.
We pass through this world by many different roads. Our paths run in diverse directions, crossing each other at every possible angle. No two of us go in precisely the same path. If we could see a map of the world, with all human paths marked out on it — it would be a strange network which we would behold. But however diverse our courses — every one of us comes at last to the "point of death!" This is a point no one can ever evade. There is no road in life which goes around it. It is a strange point! At it the life suddenly passes out of sight, passes from earth, and enters on a new existence in the eternal world!
What preparation have we made for this "point of death"? Are we ready for it, so that our sudden coming to it at any moment shall not terrify us? What preparation is necessary? Only this — that we are saved in Christ, and are made new creations. Christ changed this "point of death" to a "point of life" for His people! He absorbed all death's blackness and curse. Now if we are true believers in Christ, dying is but leaving darkness and sin and danger — to pass into eternal light and holiness and safety.
A poet represents one coming up to a gate on a mountain-side, over which were written the words "The Gate of Death!" But when he touched the gate, it opened, and he found himself amid great brightness and beauty. Then turning about, he saw above the gate he had entered the words, "The Gate of Life!" If we are in Christ, death is abolished, and the point which earth calls the point of death — is really the point of life! We need then to make sure of only one thing — that we are truly Christ's by living faith and loving obedience.
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