Many times he had found himself in the presence of death, and long ago it had ceased to frighten him.”
–James Oliver Curwood (Back to God’s Country)
“Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.”
–Matthew 5:8 (NKJV)
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No, I am not dwelling on death, but it does cross my mind now and again since my heart attack, and I’m almost six years past my allotted time. Now mind you, I’ll take whatever time the Lord gives me, and no, I’m not morbid, wringing my hands as to when it’s going to happen. Look at the news and ponder… This is a world of death. Death’s owner, the devil smiles whenever another one dies especially if they do not know the Lord. General Harold Moore said this regarding the world and the battle we face, “This is perhaps the ultimate terror: to be lost and alone in a hostile land where the next man you meet wants only to kill you.” He was speaking, of course, of the war in Vietnam. However, there is more truth in what he says in the spiritual sense as well.
Many of us as we journeyed through this life have faced many and myriad wilderness experiences. Some have wandered in the dry and hot deserts of life. Some were in the rugged mountains, or the dense jungles. Some may have experienced them all at one time or another, but know this–no one survives the final wilderness journey of death. Oh, in the bright days of life we may mock death. We “tip our hat and take our last ride,” but in reality are we ready for it? If you are a Christian it is but a last ride in this life, but oh, the rides that await us in eternity. To the unbeliever death is a terror, an unknown, a mysterious, fearful phenomenon that, ready or not, must be faced.
This wilderness may not be your own now, but surely one day it will be. Right now it may be the loss of a dear loved one; that in itself is a special ordeal. Sorrow is a wilderness all of its own and everyone who has faced the death of a loved one must deal with it. As Christians we most certainly believe as Paul, “To die is gain”; however, facing it is another thing entirely. Some call it “crossing the Divide,” others “crossing over Jordan”; those terms in themselves declare the struggle of crossing through the experiences that may be faced in the wilderness.
People mockingly joke, “He is so heavenly-minded that he is no earthly-good”; but perhaps this is the answer or a help in the wilderness of death. Since the road of the journey of life stops, the answer lies on the other side of the veil, the river, the divide. To be properly prepared, we need to focus on eternity in heaven realizing the brevity oflife on this earth.
Yes, it is a mystery, even for the Christian. What is it that is needed to face this new journey? I would say four essential things. First, a pure heart, one that has been changed by the spiritual regeneration of the Holy Spirit. Second, trust in the Word of God; God will do what He says. Third, that great requirement of the Christian life and walk–faith; this coincides with knowing and trusting in the Word of God. Fourth, hope, a wondrous hope in the promises of God, in heaven itself. He has gone to prepare a place for us! Someone once wrote, “An eternal hope is the oxygen of the soul.” As we require oxygen to live this life on earth, perhaps it is that eternal hope that brings life to the soul enabling it to cross the wilderness of death. And do not fear, the Lord will be there as He always has been holding your hand.
(much taken from Trails in the Wilderness)