the Shadow of Death

 

I asked my Cousin, Edie Kauffman-Landis, if she would be willing to share an exchange which took place between herself and her now departed husband, Paul.  She has graciously provided myself and the Reader this very important and enlightening account.  This is penned from her hand just as she shared it at his funeral:

During the years we were married, Pail showed his talent for apt illustrations.  He had insights uncommon to most.  One time he and I had been discussing death and the 'Valley of the Shadow of Death', as spoken of in the Shepherd's Psalm.  Psalm 23.  Of course we wondered what it was going to be like when either of us had to make the journey to our final home, what would it feel like?  How would we experience those final minutes of our lives here on earth?  Would there be overt sensations of pain?  Just what lies in that final valley so feared by almost every human on the face of this planet?  We talked of it, then let it go.

Several days or weeks later, when he came in from out-of-doors, he revisited the subject and said he'd had another insight into it.  He said, "I saw an airplane fly over fairly low and could watch its shadow rushing over the ground below; part of the shadow crossed over me and I thought, 'Did that shadow hurt me when it passed over me?  No, it didn't.  If the airplane had crashed on me or a piece of it had fallen off of it to land on me, THAT would have hurt or else I'd be dead, but the shadow itself caused no pain nor did death come with it.  I was safe through the time the shadow fell across my path and was gone.  It seems to me, because Jesus has taken the sting and death for sin away that is why we need have no fear when death comes to us.'"  Once more, I was amazed at the insight he had when he pondered things deeply.

Today we are again pondering Death, and the Valley of the Shadow of Death.  Paul is no longer on this earth.  He has traversed that Valley of the Shadow of Death and he IS home with our LORD God, so I will urge any of us present IF we have not accepted God's gift of grace and mercy, do it today.  We are not promised any tomorrows in life, we HOPE for them, but they are not guaranteed!  Death is final and choice is not optional afterwards.  God's provision of salvation through Jesus' life, death and resurrection will get us safely through that valley of the shadow if and when we accept it, but will profit us nothing if we refuse His gift.  We will have to bear the fullness of death and destruction when it comes our time to die.  We will know the full sting of death and sin; there will be nothing we can do to mitigate it.

I know these are strong and sobering statements but, as Paul's widow, I also know he would have told you all the same message I am giving you now.  I know how much it would gladden his [and my] heart to know you had accepted the God of Grace's free and awesome gift!  Mercy and pardon are free to all who humble themselves before Him and accept them and God is ever the willing and redeeming God!