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Embracing Death
Brian Mashburn
December 10, 2017
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Embracing Death
"The day of death is better than the day of birth." (Ecclesiastes 7:1)
Now there is a verse that does not get much press. Of all of the categories of life that we are eager to avoid, death is the chief. Think about it.
Even though the Bible claims that "it is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting" (Ecclesiastes 7:2), I do not know many that do. Myself included. I probably frequent the house of mourning more than most, but I still would prefer the other house with the meal and ball game. Who walks towards death unless they must? Who finds it better to go to a funeral than to a feast?
"The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning" (Ecclesiastes 7:4).
The wise, evidently. I wonder if there might be something to this? I wonder if the feast might even taste a bit better to the wise man who has learned from death as a teacher? Might we need death in order to fully capture life? I think so.
My observation of both scripture and life testify together that, "death is the destiny of every man; and the living should take this to heart." (Ecclesiastes 7:2)
Today, let us take our destiny - death - to heart. Let us look him square in the eyes as a friend and teacher for a moment, rather than a monster or adversary. What might we learn? What wisdom does this secret instructor hiding in plain sight have for us?
I suspect he may be the very best at convincing us of what matters most.