If the man who trembles at death is a coward, he who trifles with it is a fool. There is a thousand times more rationality in the trembler than in the trifler.

There is a phenomenon in the rational world well worthy of consideration, inquiry, and solution. The strange and fatal insensibility of men to the grand fact that they are mortal. Since it is infallibly certain that they must and will die, and since death is so solemn an event, how does it happen that so few ever seriously think of it, or really prepare for it?

One would think that so grand and solemn a fact as death, especially viewed in connection with the events which are to immediately follow it, heaven, hell, and eternity, along with the uncertainty how soon it may be realized, might operate with an unlimited and altogether overpowering influence upon men's minds and hearts. But men wish to forget death. They try to forget it, and alas, too often succeed in accomplishing this fatal oblivion.

Yet we can scarcely wonder at this when we consider what their spiritual condition is and what death is. It is the commonness of death which deprives it of its extreme dreadfulness. If death happened in our world only once in a century, it would be felt like the shock of an earthquake, and would hush the inhabitants of Earth into a breathless silence, while the echoes of the knell of the departed soul were reverberating around the globe.

Death is the moment of destiny, the seal of eternity. the cessation of probation, the commencement of retribution and judgment. The antecedents of death are dreadful. So are the accompaniments. So are the consequences. To every sense, death is revolting. To every social affection, death is crucifying. To reason, death is perplexing. To everything but saving faith, death is overwhelming.

This Puritan devotional has been brought to you by Grace Gems, a treasury of ageless Sovereign Grace writings. Please visit our website at www.gracegems.org, where you can browse and freely download thousands of choice books, sermons, and quotes, along with select audio messages. No donations accepted. Thank you.