“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me…” (Ps. 23:4)
It is said that, in South Africa, when a tribesman is about to take his last breath, a witch doctor will place in the man’s hand a dead bone as sort of a “passport” into the world beyond. When I read that, I thought…what a sad attempt that is at human comfort when eternity is so close.
I am thankful I have a Savior who has taken the sting out of death. There is nothing to fear in death because when Jesus is present, nothing but the “shadow” of death remains. And just as the shadow of a knife cannot stab, and the shadow of a dog cannot bite, neither can the “shadow of death” harm the child of God!
I also read of an old Indian Chief who was told of Jesus Christ, but didn’t feel he needed him. He said, “The Jesus road is good, but I have followed the old Indian road all of my life, and I will follow it to the end.” A year later, as he lay dying, he searched in vain for comfort of his soul and some pathway through the darkness. Finally, he turned in desperation to the missionary who had been called to his bedside and whispered weakly. “Can I turn to the Jesus road now? My road stops here! There is no path through the valley.”
How about you? Which road are YOU on? There is only ONE road that leads to Heaven. There is only one path that leads “through the valley of the shadow of death.” Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6).
Come to Jesus. If you are on any other road, you are driving down a dead-end street.