Cheating Death

Have you ever had a close call with disaster? I mean so close that you could have died?

I’m sure every single one of you reading this article would be able to remember a horrifying moment such as this. Or maybe the moment wasn’t so horrifying, maybe the situation happened so fast that you didn’t even have time to blink. But you knew that as you walked away, you really should not still be breathing! Maybe some of you have had such close encounters so many times you can’t even remember them all. Maybe you’re so used to living on the edge, that death doesn’t scare you?

Scripture states that we are living in “the valley of the shadow of death” at this very moment (Psalm 23:4). If you are living and breathing, this verse applies to you. David spoke about death this way: “There is but a step between me and death” (1 Samuel 20:3). Death is no respecter of persons. Time ends for each of us and then eternity.

Many people speak about ‘cheating death’, but I would like to suggest to you that there is no such thing. We all deserve death. God’s Word says the payment for sin is death. It is not our craftiness, luck, agility, intellect, or any other thing that allows us to escape the swift blow that can send us into eternity. It is God who determines our days on earth. If we have experienced such a blessing as being spared to live a little bit longer, it is because of His mercy. “His compassions fail not. They are new every morning” (Lamentations 3:23-24). Every day even though we are unaware, God withholds judgment, harm, consequences and disaster from us. Have you thanked Him or do you give yourself the credit for staying alive?

God’s word teaches us that “it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31). Death will come and we must be prepared. We cannot rely on our own skills, popularity or goodness to carry us through. If death should come knocking on your door today, how would you enter eternity? Would you face God as guilty or forgiven?

We may think that we can cheat death, but we can’t. We may also think that we can cheat God; which is absolutely impossible. God demands justice for our sins. We can never atone for our sin, but Jesus Christ who had no sin of His own, satisfied God’s demand for justice. “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21). He could have caused those who were crucifying Him to fall down dead, but He didn’t. He suffered and died for you. He made your payment for disobedience to God that you never could, and that He did not owe. This means death does not need to be feared and you do not need to fear God! If you humble yourself and take Jesus Christ as your Saviour; you can be ready for death no matter how fast it comes or how slow.

For those who put their faith in Christ’s work at the cross alone, God promises to take away the sting of death. For the Christian, death isn’t feared, it is the gateway to Heaven forever! Are you ready for your death? Are you trusting in Christ’s work alone to save you from God’s judgment?