By Jamali Jack (Kingstown Church of Christ, SVG)
Recently, I attended an outdoor gospel meeting where a well-meaning preacher, in commenting on being born again, stated that coming out of the watery grave of baptism would be the "best time to die". While his sentiment is by no means unique, for some reason I decided to seriously consider the oft expressed idea. On one hand, I can understand the thinking behind it - one has just been translated from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of God's Son; all their sins have just been washed away; they are now as spiritually clean and innocent as a new born baby. What better time to die? Attractive as it may seem, there are a few flies in this ointment of opinion.
Consider for a moment two very similar parallels. Imagine a bride and groom on their wedding day. Both immaculate in each and every detail to look their very best for the other, on one of the most important and euphoric days of their lives. They blissfully look into each other's eyes after exchanging vows and proclaim, "This is the best day of our married life. We will never look this unblemished again. Now would be the best time to die." Again, imagine an expecting father and mother in the delivery room following nine anxious months of pregnancy. After the tension of labour, with bated breath the silence is broken by the piercing cry of a new born baby. Within minutes, the beaming parents look admiringly upon their perfect offspring and state, "Our child is perfect in every way that God intended, this would be the best time for death to put in an appearance." I am reasonably certain that the absurdity of both scenarios is clearly evident.
You see, it is God's intention, that the Christian life, like marriage and even our mortal life itself, increases in value with every passing moment. The propensity to encapsulate a frozen moment in time (often in the past) paralyses our progression into a promising future. The church at Sardis was given stern criticism with the admonition in Revelations 3:1, "You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead." They, in essence, were basking in the glory of a fading past. They felt that their best days were behind, rather than ahead of them.
Understandably, most human beings have a natural aversion for struggle. We do not like difficult things. However, the Bible shows us over and over again that some of the most meaningful things come only through and after great struggle. No greater example can be given than Jesus Himself, the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:2). The Christian is encouraged to do likewise by Paul who states in Philippians 3:14, "I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."
If we truly believe our best days are behind, we will never be motivated to move towards an even brighter hope in the future. As much as Paul had achieved in the past, he was still able to say in Philippians 3:12-13 (ASV), "Not that I have already obtained, or am already made perfect: but I press on, if so be that I may lay hold on that for which also I was laid hold on by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself yet to have laid hold: but one thing I do, forgetting the things which are behind, and stretching forward to the things which are before."
May we always be reminded of Peter's words, that while earthly pain is short-lived, the heavenly reward to those who endure is eternal (1 Peter 1:6-7). Paul echoes this sentiment in Romans 8:18, "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." May we never again be seduced into the comfortable state of apathy that is characteristic of some of those that "lay at ease in Zion" (Amos 6:1). May we continue to add to our faith (2 Peter 1:5-11) those components that fortify and beautify Christian sojourn. In doing so, we will march confidently into what may seem to the carnal observer to be an uncertain future, boldly embracing the notion that every step grows sweeter as the years go by.
Recently, I attended an outdoor gospel meeting where a well-meaning preacher, in commenting on being born again, stated that coming out of the watery grave of baptism would be the "best time to die". While his sentiment is by no means unique, for some reason I decided to seriously consider the oft expressed idea. On one hand, I can understand the thinking behind it - one has just been translated from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of God's Son; all their sins have just been washed away; they are now as spiritually clean and innocent as a new born baby. What better time to die? Attractive as it may seem, there are a few flies in this ointment of opinion.
Consider for a moment two very similar parallels. Imagine a bride and groom on their wedding day. Both immaculate in each and every detail to look their very best for the other, on one of the most important and euphoric days of their lives. They blissfully look into each other's eyes after exchanging vows and proclaim, "This is the best day of our married life. We will never look this unblemished again. Now would be the best time to die." Again, imagine an expecting father and mother in the delivery room following nine anxious months of pregnancy. After the tension of labour, with bated breath the silence is broken by the piercing cry of a new born baby. Within minutes, the beaming parents look admiringly upon their perfect offspring and state, "Our child is perfect in every way that God intended, this would be the best time for death to put in an appearance." I am reasonably certain that the absurdity of both scenarios is clearly evident.
You see, it is God's intention, that the Christian life, like marriage and even our mortal life itself, increases in value with every passing moment. The propensity to encapsulate a frozen moment in time (often in the past) paralyses our progression into a promising future. The church at Sardis was given stern criticism with the admonition in Revelations 3:1, "You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead." They, in essence, were basking in the glory of a fading past. They felt that their best days were behind, rather than ahead of them.
Understandably, most human beings have a natural aversion for struggle. We do not like difficult things. However, the Bible shows us over and over again that some of the most meaningful things come only through and after great struggle. No greater example can be given than Jesus Himself, the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:2). The Christian is encouraged to do likewise by Paul who states in Philippians 3:14, "I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."
If we truly believe our best days are behind, we will never be motivated to move towards an even brighter hope in the future. As much as Paul had achieved in the past, he was still able to say in Philippians 3:12-13 (ASV), "Not that I have already obtained, or am already made perfect: but I press on, if so be that I may lay hold on that for which also I was laid hold on by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself yet to have laid hold: but one thing I do, forgetting the things which are behind, and stretching forward to the things which are before."
May we always be reminded of Peter's words, that while earthly pain is short-lived, the heavenly reward to those who endure is eternal (1 Peter 1:6-7). Paul echoes this sentiment in Romans 8:18, "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." May we never again be seduced into the comfortable state of apathy that is characteristic of some of those that "lay at ease in Zion" (Amos 6:1). May we continue to add to our faith (2 Peter 1:5-11) those components that fortify and beautify Christian sojourn. In doing so, we will march confidently into what may seem to the carnal observer to be an uncertain future, boldly embracing the notion that every step grows sweeter as the years go by.
Sweeter as the Years Go By | Lyrics: Lelia N. Morris, 1912 |
| Of Jesus’ love that sought me, when I was lost in sin; Of wondrous grace that brought me back to His fold again; Of heights and depths of mercy, far deeper than the sea, And higher than the heavens, my theme shall ever be. | Refrain: Sweeter as the years go by, Sweeter as the years go by, Richer, fuller, deeper, Jesus’ love is sweeter, Sweeter as the years go by. | He trod in old Judea life’s pathway long ago; The people thronged about Him, His saving grace to know; He healed the brokenhearted, and caused the blind to see; And still His great heart yearneth in love for even me. | ’Twas wondrous love which led Him for us to suffer loss, To bear without a murmur the anguish of the cross; With saints redeemed in glory, let us our voices raise, Till Heav’n and earth re-echo with our Redeemer’s praise. |
