We’ve all heard the famous quote, “…but in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” An interesting quip meant to call attention to how likely taxes will be in one’s future by attributing something as inevitable as death to be its equal. Also interesting is how much more time is spent by people thinking about and being concerned over taxes when death will absolutely one day knock at our door. In terms of impact, death may edge taxes by at least a nose.
I had a meeting at 9 AM today. My day was and still is planned out to the hour. Up early. Read my Bible. Noticed a police car race by me on my way to the gym. Solid cardio day followed by 20 minutes of lifting. Feeling good. Should have printed out the reports needed for the meeting last night, but I’ll still have time. Printing slow, time is running short. Crap. I’m going to be late. I rip the stack of documents from the printer tray and sprint out the door. Going to be a solid 12 minutes late for this important meeting. I couldn’t believe I let myself fall behind this early in the day. I pull up on an intersection that never has any traffic and see traffic backed up. I have zero time for this I think to myself as I quickly realize the speeding cop’s destination was this intersection where at least one person lost their life. A beautiful, warm, sunny Colorado morning. No doubt death was he farthest thing from the mind of the person now unable to hug their family, chill with friends, or perform any other tasks that may have been stacked up on their list. A tremendously sad scene, and a blow that has no doubt landed on many people this morning.
Death will come for us all. It is one of the few certainties in this life. Way more certain than taxes. When was the last time you thought about your death, your mortality? There is another certainty in life, and that is the saving Grace offered by Jesus Christ. If you are saved by the Blood of the Lamb, death holds no sting. It wields no power.
1 Corinthians 15:55-57
“Where, O death, is
your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?”
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
I would humbly suggest that if you haven’t worked out what you believe because you need to get to work, or the gym, or this or that very important thing, maybe it would be worth a few minutes of your time. Work out through evidence, logic, and reason what your belief system is and through what lens you view the world.
In case you were wondering how that very important meeting went, it was fine.
Throne Time 
I dont think about death coming for me at any specific instant much. But when I do I tend to long for it more than fear it. I cannot wait to be in the presence of our Lord and for us all to be in our holy, incorruptible bodies especially my daughter Maddie. I cant wait to get to know her on a new level of understanding in a place where she will no longer experience her daily pain, fears, frustrations, anxieties—where everyone will be able to understand her speech and she will be able to do things that were not possible for her time here. I know all this to be true and the only evidence I need is seeing how my heart and actions changed once I decided I couldnt live my life by my own strength and rules anymore and asked Jesus to be my savior. Forever blessed through all the joy and all the pain here and now, which is a mere vapor of time to eternity.
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Scott,
Thanks for taking the time to write this. Tremendously powerful and touching. I can completely relate to the idea of looking toward death as a gateway to an eternity spent with God. Through death we will find life through Christ and through Christ alone. What beautiful words about your Maddie. A father’s love couldn’t be more eloquently illustrated.
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