Death is all around us. It strikes unexpectedly, brutally, painfully. It robs people of their dreams, leaves lives uncompleted, hearts broken, minds raging. It leaves survivors in mourning, worlds fragmented, hopes shredded, families damaged. It awakens regrets, guilt, and self loathing. It creates fears.
Death is an enemy invited to this planet.
"Ye shall not surely die (Genesis 3:4, second part)," said the serpent in the Garden of Eden, the serpent through which Satan was speaking. A lie, for God had said that disobeying him would lead to death.
And since the first of humanity agreed to disobey all of humanity has experienced this painful sentence of death.
Not the end of the story.
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." So said Jesus, recorded in John 3:16.
"Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted." (Matthew 5:4)
"The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death." (1 Corinthians 15:26)
"And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." (Revelation 20:14-15)
We don't know when our deaths will occur, so let us make sure our names are written in the book of life without any delay.