The great Scottish preacher Peter Marshall used to tell the legend of the merchant of Baghdad. The merchant sent his servant to the market in the ancient Middle Eastern city. The servant returned, pale and trembling, and the merchant asked him what was wrong. The servant told him he had bumped into someone, looked up, and saw Death in a dark hooded robe, pointing at him. He begged the merchant, “Please let me borrow your horse so I can flee to Samara where Death can’t find me.”
The merchant agreed. Later that day, the merchant went to the crowded market and saw Death standing to the side, and the merchant asked him, “Why did you frighten my servant?”
Death responded, “I did not intend to frighten him. I was only shocked to see him in Baghdad, for tonight I have an appointment with him in Samara.”
We each have an appointment with death. For every life, there is death. The statistics on death are 100 percent. But the fear of death is removed by receiving the promise of eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ. With faith, we can concentrate on living this life to the fullest.
We all have a rendezvous with death. Are you ready?
