In Life and in Death

When the 19th-century Spanish general Ramon Narvaez was on his deathbed, he was visited by a priest. After a few moments of small talk, the priest inquired about the condition of the officer’s soul, “General, have you forgiven your enemies?” “I have no need to forgive them,” Narvaez replied weekly, “I’ve had them all shot!”

Dramatic deathbed conversions are actually a rarity. A person who has spent a lifetime avoiding or even opposing the idea of God does not usually change his or her mind near the end of life.

On the other hand, I have witnessed the serenity and peace of faithful people near the end of their lives more times than I can count. It is beautiful to see the quiet trust of someone who knows they belong to God – in life and in death.  

The Apostle Paul wrote (Romans 8:38), “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, not things to come… nor anything else in all of creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

I pray today that you would know the depths of God’s love for you – a love that endures through eternity. May that love empower you to live, trusting in the way of Christ now and forever.

Let us pray: We come before you with open hearts today. Some of us are full of joy, some of us are depressed and hurting, some of us are celebrating, and some of us feel so far from you. But we all have this in common – we need your love and grace to fall afresh on us today. Indeed, our hearts are restless, until they rest in you. So, I pray that you would rest your Spirit on each one of us – even now. In Jesus’ name. Amen.