In his  book ”The Sickness unto Death”, Søren Kierkegaard contends that nothing in this life, not even death itself, can ever be the sickness unto death, if Christ is there!  When Lazarus was critically ill, - indeed,  he actually died -, the Lord had said,  “This illness does not lead to death” for the strength of His words was the fact that Christ would raise him from the grave.

But Kierkegaaard´s point is that even if the Lord had not raised Lazarus, it would still be true that his sickness was not a sickness unto death, because He was there!  Death is but a small, commonplace thing as long as the Conqueror of death is there!  Is Kierkegaard just delivering a piece of poetry or philosophy?  Or trying to be “spiritual”?  Are his words more than words?

I´m honestly asking such questions as I´m sitting  day by day at the deathbed of a dear friend – a Catholic lady who has trusted the Lord as her Savior.  What is meaningful to her now?  He is there!  Simple hymns are being sung, key words from the Bible are being read, why?  To create a certain religious atmosphere?  No, because He is there!

Some say to me, “Don´t talk so much about death!”  Even well-meaning Christians say that.  I despise their humanitarian nonsense being tempted to cry out, What!  Am I really the only sane person left?  Isn´t this the solemn moment where  truth should be spoken?  The truth of the gospel, the truth of Calvary, the truth of victory about Him who  “has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel!”  (2 Tim. 1:10).

I´m going again today provided she´s still there.  So what?  He is there!  We´ve dwelt on His words of triumph, “It is finished!” (John 19:30)  One day instead of saying “Goodbye”, she said, “It is finished!”  O, the room  was filled with His presence.  I said to her, “You´re going home!”  Home sweet home! Her weak smile brightened the room, for He was there!

Why visiting deathbeds?  Well, Spurgeon´s advice was it´s a very healthy thing to do.  I agree!

March 15, 2013 – jn