Death is a persistent, jealous man

He’s got his eyes fixed on the whole lot of us. It’s a steady gaze, a sure gaze.

Truly, no one can escape this spectre’s cravings, and not a one can evade this alloted end. What is it but the grave that spirits away our darlings, only to leave ashes in its wake? Is life nothing but a fool’s campaign? Be it nothing but a dance into the flames? And do we not in vain flee his wrath? Ha! What an ambition marked by idiocy. We refuse to even call death what it is because we’re afraid to make eye contact with our destiny. Oh, we can joke,  maybe even watch a film, but we’re all damned liars caught in our charade. Look at us! We look like some old hag attempting to cover reality with cheap makeup and strong perfume. Is there any denial more frivilous? Sometimes our bastardly minds even flirt with the possibility of death, but we are never really willing to give him a run for his money–because that is one race we know we’ll lose.

If we’ll but open up our eyes and unstop our ears we will connect to reality! Most assuredly, there is One who is yet more jealous than the grave by far! It is the Man Christ Jesus.

I fled Him, down the nights and down the days; I fled Him, down the arches of the years;
I fled Him, down the labyrinthine ways
   Of my own mind; and in the mist of tears
I hid from Him, and under running laughter;
            Up vistaed hopes I sped;
            And shot, precipitated,
   Adown Titanic glooms of chasmed fears,
From those strong Feet that followed, followed after.
            But with unhurrying chase,
            And unperturbed pace,
Deliberate speed, majestic instancy,
            They beat — and a Voice beat
            More instant than the Feet—
“All things betray thee, who betrayest Me.”

-Francis Thompson

He has fire in His eyes, but it is not a fire of death, no, it’s a fire of love! And He will destroy all that hinders love. He is a Lover, but not like the cheap ones they sell at the cinemas. Hear His voice. Hear the call of eternity! He has set the eternal upon out hearts, but we must have eyes to see and ears to hear!

He calls out, to any who will listen. “Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm, for love is strong as death, jealousy demanding as the grave. It’s flashes are flashes of fire, the very flame of the LORD. Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it. If a man offered for love all the wealth of his house, he would be utterly despised.” Song of Songs 8:6-7

“I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” 1 Corinthians 15:50-54

BEHOLD, IT IS JESUS IN HIS GLORY. KING OF HEAVEN SPLAYED UPON A TREE FOR WRETCHES WHOLLY UNDESERVING.

BUT HIS LOVE IS STRONGER THAN DEATH.

~ by saltedwithfire on September 20, 2008.