Flying Into Eternity

I

t was a beautiful Saturday morning with clear skies stretching across Texas all the way to Florida. A perfect day for the space Shuttle Columbia to successfully complete its 28th flight from outer space. Seven excited astronauts were anxious to step out on land to greet their families, friends, and fans. But something happened! While one of the astronauts was talking to Houston, in the middle of a word, his voice turned to noises on the communication system.

What was wrong? The white vapor across the light blue sky that divided into multiple streamers told the sad story. For in a matter of split seconds, seven souls flew into eternity!

There are those who say, “There is no way I would want to leave the earth and fly in a rocket shuttle, because in a second, my life could be taken.” This is true, but what they fail to consider is the fact that all of us, inside or outside a rocket shuttle, are only a heartbeat or one breath away from death. For, until the Lord returns, all of us have an appointment with death. “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27).

Thus, all the great medical facilities and expert physicians cannot prevent ultimate death. They may prolong life for a time, but sooner or later death comes.

Job of old summed it up in these beautiful words: “Man who is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble. He comes forth like a flower and fades away; he flees like a shadow and does not continue” (Job 14:1-2).

Whether we live the full-allotted time of seventy years or not, it all equals the same. In the words of the psalmist about life: ”For it [life] is soon cut off, and we fly away” (Psalms 90:10).

James fully represented God’s truth when he asked: “For what is your life?” Then he gave the true answer from God: “It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away” (James 4:14).

How are we to react to such a shocking truth? Shall we go around worrying all the time? Should we give up on life because death is certain and sure? No, the answer is to live life within God’s will, and then whenever death comes, it will be a blessing to our eternal souls.

The apostle John was commanded to write these cheerful words: ” `Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.' "Yes," says the Spirit, ‘that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them’” (Revelation 14:13).

The apostle Paul lived in such a way that he did not fear death. He wrote: “For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's” (Romans 14:8).

Therefore, death can come to us at any moment, or the Lord can return at a time when we least expect Him (Luke 12:40). However, if we are prepared, or if we die “Safe in the arms of Jesus,” all will be well for us, both now and forever! —BBBristow