A Step Away From Death
1 Samuel 20:1-3, "And David fled from Naioth in Ramah, and came and said before Jonathan, What have I done? what is mine iniquity? and what is my sin before thy father, that he seeketh my life?
2 And he said unto him, God forbid; thou shalt not die: behold, my father will do nothing either great or small, but that he will shew it me: and why should my father hide this thing from me? it is not so.
3 And David sware moreover, and said, Thy father certainly knoweth that I have found grace in thine eyes; and he saith, Let not Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved: but truly as the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, there is but a step between me and death."
David was being pursued by Saul, not because he had been disloyal or disobedient, but because Saul was filled with envy toward David, because of the accomplishments attributed to David by Saul's followers. We talked about Saul's insecurities and rebellion, and it is demonstrated by his pursuit of one of his most loyal followers, David. David proclaims to Jonathan, Saul's son, "...there is but a step between me and death." Pursued by the king or not, the statement is true. Yes, it was accentuated by Saul's pursuit, but it is true there is but a step between each one of us and death.
This truth, that there is but a step between us and death, should not strike fear in us, but it should lead us to a place of preparedness and urgency in our lives. Sometimes, Christian people attempt to determine the day Jesus is coming again. They go to great lengths to determine this, when they should be focused on the reality of His return and being prepared for it. Notice what Jesus said in light of His return in Matthew 24:44, "Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh." Jesus tells us to be "ready" for His coming. Now I know the rapture and death aren't exactly the same thing, but they are both transitional from earth to Heaven. We need to be prepared for His coming, and/or death, by making certain we are saved, by being in a right relationship with the Lord through a daily walk that is real and vibrant. We need to live life with the urgency of not allowing God given opportunities to pass by because of our laziness or apathy. Jesus said, "I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work." (John 9:4)
Life is short, and we never know when we have come to our last day. May we live being prepared for death or the rapture, and may we serve God with an urgency while we have opportunities before us. Ephesians 5:14-17, " ... Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. 15 Seen then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is."
Your Friend and HIS,
Pastor Abbott
ONE QUESTION TO PONDER
1. Are prepared for the day you will meet the Lord?