"I'm Not Afraid of Death."

From: The Gospel Messenger: Volume 21 (1906)

HE had been a well-built young man, but disease had done its work, and in the emaciated form which lay before me there was but little evidence of former strength.

Our first interview was unexpected. We had never met before, and yet he seemed to have an idea of the purpose of my visit, for on asking him how he was, he answered that it was only a matter of time; and then added,

“I’M NOT AFRAID OF DEATH.”

I was not a little surprised at this affirmation since I had been told something of his previous history. I learned more afterward, from himself and from his friends.

“God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not” (Job 33:19¹⁹He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and the multitude of his bones with strong pain: (Job 33:19)). God had spoken distinctly to him on two previous occasions, necessitating two prolonged visits to the infirmary, but still he was unawakened to eternal things; and now God’s hand was laid on him again. Let me narrate the circumstances.

While serving in the South African War he was severely wounded during one of the engagements. So serious was his condition that he was picked up as dead. Fortunately he manifested some slight evidences of vitality while being carried away among the dead, and was consequently transferred to the company of the wounded. After some time he had recovered sufficiently to return home, and though not restored to normal health, yet he had apparently many years before him. A wrong step, however, brought him once again to death’s door. Thinking that a change might do him good, he went to camp with the volunteers. He caught cold, consumption set in, the bullet shot he had formerly received in the head opened the way to paralysis, and with the year 1905 drawing to a close I found him a terrible sufferer, and, as I have said,

ASLEEP TO THE REALITIES OF ETERNITY.

Without referring to his past life of sin, and the danger of eternal damnation—he was apparently unawakened as to either—I began at once to speak of the death and sufferings of the Lord Jesus Christ. We spoke of Him in His life of toil and weariness, but all the sufferings of His life were as Naught in comparison with the anticipation and the reality of the cross.

Looking on to Calvary from Gethsemane He is in an agony which He had never experienced before. He is about to drink the cup of judgment. He who knew no sin is about to be made sin for us, and as the sweat, as it were blood, drops from His holy brow, He says, “Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me.” He confesses to the intense anguish that fills His bosom at the thought of being made sin. A few steps more and the kiss of the traitor opens the last page of His history this side of death—a page that reaches its climax when the echoes of the darkness of Calvary resound to the cry of the forsaken One. Why did He cry, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” Was He really forsaken? Yes, indeed, He was. He was forsaken that we might know God’s estimate of sin. Moreover, the One who thus suffered was Heaven’s spotless One; the One who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth; the One who went about doing good.

My friend listened to the story of the sufferings of the Saviour as he had never done before, for it had now a peculiar application to himself. He could no longer be careless and thoughtless about his own approaching end, and by his countenance I knew well that the message had done its work. After a few words of prayer I left him with

AN AWAKENED CONSCIENCE.

He was anxious that I should visit him again, so after a few days we met for the second time. We soon settled down for a long talk, which was of a rather different character from the former. Then we had spoken of sin, death, and judgment, now we spoke of grace, life, and blessing. The old, old story of a Saviour coming in grace to save the lost was new to him—new because he had never before referred it to himself. Fully conscious of his need, he drank in the glad tidings of Jesus and His love. We spoke of a Saviour who was rich but for our sakes became poor; who bore our sins in His own body on the tree; who is now the justifier of the ungodly, and who is still willing and waiting to save.

Over two hours had passed, and I had to leave him again. I felt sure, as I prayed with him, that to his awakened conscience was now added

A THIRSTING HEART.

Having promised to call soon again, at the earliest opportunity I was by his bedside. In the meantime he had been reading his Bible and the tracts I had left him. After a little conversation I felt that the moment had come for him to make his decision. He was growing weaker day by day, and could not last much longer, so, leaning towards him, I said: “Now I am going to ask you a direct question. I have told you a great deal about the Saviour, also about sin and death. I want you now to just think of the black life you have lived, of the death which is very, very near, of God’s horror of sin, and in the light of what Jesus has done for you on the cross, tell me if you are ready?”

A direct question demands a direct answer. He knew it. Besides this was no time for trifling. Death’s forerunners were there. His soul was in the balance. The issues were eternal.

Eagerly I waited for the reply, and I was not kept long in suspense, for after some minutes’ deep reflection, he turned to me, looked me straight in the face, and answered,

“IF IT IS TRUSTING JESUS, THEN I AM READY.”

Gladly I showed him from Scripture that all that was necessary was to trust the Saviour. His choice was made. Turning away from his own ways and thoughts, from his misspent life and sinful heart, he came to the Saviour, trusted Him, and was saved. As we turned our faces heavenward in prayer, we both tasted the joy which fills heaven when a sinner is brought to repentance.

Several weeks passed before the Lord called him home to Himself. He bad thus the privilege of giving evidence of the reality of his conversion, and this lie did abundantly. On one occasion one of his old companions, who had called to see him, remarked after conversing with him, that he could now speak of nothing but the blood of Jesus. Yes, the precious blood of Jesus! What a theme for the few weeks that remained! What a theme for the countless ages of eternity! Death had now no terror for him, nor yet the judgment beyond, for the Saviour had borne the latter, and the sting of the former was gone. Before the new year had come he passed peacefully out of the sphere of sin and death, out of the land of tears and sorrow, into the region where God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes (Rev. 21:4⁴And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. (Revelation 21:4)).

Dear reader, are you at rest about eternity? Are you trusting to the blood of the Lamb? Or is your peace the product of neglect, as is so often the case in these days of hurry and bustle, when men in general profess to have no time to think of these things? Let me warn you. If you have no time now, then in hell you will have plenty of time to judge yourself for your folly. Be wise today. Hear His voice. Harden not your heart. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” Then, when passing into eternity, you will be able to say―

“Call it not death!

No, death has lost its gloom;

The blessed Lord has risen from the tomb

And burst the gates of death, and all its fear

Is gone forever—banished to the air.

Call it not death!

No, Jesus has been there,

And thus my heart is freed from every care;

Nay, more than this, I realize the love

That prompted Him to leave His home above

To conquer death,

And break for me its power;