For death has crept in through our windows and has entered our mansions. (Ecclesiastes 7:4, NLT)
Right now, April 15, 2020, golfers should be sipping coffee and still discussing with great pleasure the amazing Masters golf tournament that ended on a glorious and sunny afternoon three days ago.
Perhaps, “Can you believe Tiger won again?” Or maybe, “I am so glad Rory finally got his grand slam.” Or the best of all, “Unbelievable! Can you believe Bernhard Langer birdied eighteen to win the Masters at age 62. How does he do that?!?”
Instead, springtime has been a steady diet of Andy Griffith reruns and Shell’s Wonderful World of Golf. I must say, there is nothing quite like watching Byron Nelson come out of retirement to beat that young whippersnapper Gene Littler at Pine Valley. Or Gene Sarazen nipping Henry Cotton with his coat, tie and flippy putting stroke on a miserably cold windy day at St. Andrews.
Without a Masters review, this April 15 we are reminded of the old adage: “There are only two things certain in the world—death and taxes.”
But this year, taxes have been pushed to the back pages. Instead of our normal April 15 tax concerns, death has taken center stage.
Indeed, today is the day when scientific models have predicted the peak of death in the United States from the COVID-19. Experts says an anticipated 2,600 will die today in the USA from the virus.
Still, consider these bigger facts. Nearly 60 million people die every year. That is two people per second. The lines to get inside the Pearly Gates are longer than the ladies’ room at Madison Square Garden. Every day!
Death will not miss a beat.To break it down, nine million die annually of hunger, eight million from smoking, three million from alcohol, one million from HIV, over one million die from car accidents, one million from suicides, and—get this—about 500,000 die from the old fashioned flu that basically scares no one.
So, let me say what you may not want to hear.
Death is here to stay. Death will be here long after the coronavirus has been conquered. Death will be here long after the economy has recovered. Death will not miss a beat.
The great teacher Job understood this. “If God snatches someone in death, who can stop him?” he asked. “Who dares to ask, ‘What are you doing?’” (Job 9:12)
The Bible offers three awesome persons with sound advice for those who fear death.
First, King David wrote, “Death wrapped its ropes around me; the terrors of the grave overtook me. I saw only trouble and sorrow. Then I called on the name of the Lord: ‘Please, Lord, save me’” (Psalm 116:3-4). Call on the Lord!
Second, Ezekiel reminded God’s people that we have a responsibility in this hour. “If the watchman sees the enemy coming and doesn’t sound the alarm to warn the people, he is responsible…. They will die in their sins, but I will hold the watchman responsible for their deaths” (Ezekiel 33:6-8). Warn the people!
Third, then Jesus himself told us, “I died, but look, I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave” (Revelation 1:18). Jesus is Alive!
So, death is here to stay.
But praise God, the tomb is empty. Death has been defeated!
—
Tim Philpot
April 15, 2020
Copyright 2020 Links Players International
The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.
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