Considerable publicity is given today to a so-called "modern philosophy" on death. According to this concept, when death is imminent the terminally ill decline all artificial devices designed to prolong life and let death take its course.
Such an approach to the end of life permits what is now called "death with dignity."
When it is remembered that "By one man sin entered into the world and death by sin, and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned" (Rom. 4:1212And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised. (Romans 4:12)), the question arises: What dignity can be attached to the death of a sinner, since death is the wages of sin?
"Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift!" For though "the wages of sin is death,... the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Rom. 6:2323For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23).)
No stoic philosophy, natural bravery nor human fortitude can match the "dignity," calm submission and confidence of the Christian in the hour of death. He is sustained of God. He knows the "Everlasting Arms" are underneath. He knows and trusts the One who has promised: "When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee." Isaiah 43:22When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. (Isaiah 43:2).
The dignity with which a true child of God may die, and the mournful end of the unsaved is portrayed in the following true story, translated from the German.
The scene is a little old town, and as in every other town, Death is no stranger. He has visited there often. But this time he strikes twice in a single night, claiming the lives of two girls, both of whom are well-known and much loved.
Grief, like a heavy cloud hangs over the whole community, as on the same day, at the same hour, two black hearses bearing two caskets, travel to the cemetery where two open graves are waiting. Many are the mourners that follow in sad procession.
A short time before, both girls had felt well and happy. Neither dreamed that she would soon be in the place from which there is no return.
But it is of their dying hours that I wish to tell my readers, for there all similarity ends, and all is contrast.
We enter the home of one. She is a Christian. She and her only brother are orphans. She has just called him to her bedside and asked him to sing once more her favorite hymn. He sings:
"The Lord of life in death has lain,
To clear me from all charge of sin;
And, Lord, from guilt of crimson stain
Thy precious blood has made me clean."
Having concluded the first and second verses, his voice fails, but seeing the pleading look on his sister's face, he manages to sing on:
"Clad in this robe, how bright I shine!
Angels possess not such a dress;
Angels have not a robe like mine—
Jesus, the Lord's my righteousness."
A heavenly smile steals over the dying girl's face. All is peace. She whispers, "Thank you." Only a few more minutes and she is free from all sorrow and pain— with Christ.
We now enter the home of the other girl. Not long before she had: attended a dance— the merriest of the crowd. Returning home she did not feel well; but thinking it was due only to the excitement and giddy whirl of the dance, she went to bed.
But during the night she became violently ill. Subsequently, two physicians were called. Now her condition has become so serious that the doctors remain with her all night. In agony of despair she keeps crying: "I won't die! Oh, do not let me die!" So she languished until just before daybreak; then she entered eternity, it is feared, without Christ, without hope. In her pursuit of pleasure she had neglected the "great salvation" until it was forever too late.