‘Tis the lot of every man to hear the portal call.
Some respond in infancy, and others when they’re old—
Active youths quite full of life, and ancients growing cold.
Many times death comes without a hint of imminence;
Just as oft, the denouement brings sweet deliverance.
All will die, but none can tell just when, or where, or how;
The duty of each man and child is to be ready now.
Death comes swiftly, when it comes, or it comes not at all.

Copyright © 2017 Angela Umphers Rueger – All Rights Reserved

February 4, 2005 ~ One of our fellow church members passed away at five o’clock this afternoon. His name was Murray H., a dear old saint and father to fourteen children. He was battling cancer for the second time and had entered the hospital. A few days ago we were told that the doctors gave him six days to six weeks, yet he was gone home to be with Jesus even before the six days had expired. The inexperienced at death thinks it an advantage to “know your loved one is going to die.” Somehow, having a terminal illness is supposed to prepare the grieving loved one for the loss. But it doesn’t. Bro. Hines’ passing came just as suddenly as though he had been killed in an auto accident.

In my last line, I do not intend to imply that some will not die, but rather that the swiftness of death is a certain as death itself. Some will argue that they have seen death come extremely slowly in certain cases. I contend that they were watching the life build to its climax, or perhaps settle into its denouement; but they were not watching the death. Death is merely an entrance into eternal life. It takes but a moment to walk through a door. It is not a process, but an instantaneous transformation—some to glory, and others to perdition. Make sure that when it comes your turn to cross this portal, your path will end in the presence of the Lord.

1 Corinthians 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

Photo taken at the Oakwood Annex Cemetery, Montgomery, AL, 2017