The Encourager
“I Saw a Friend Die by Dee Bowman”
Death is indeed sad. To watch a death scene is an event not easily erased from one’s catalog of memories. I saw a friend die one time. It was a slow death–so slow in fact that he didn’t even know it was happening. I saw it coming. I warned him. Others did likewise. But it was all to no avail. He just finally died. May I take a few moments of your time and tell you about it? It could save your life.
He first began to show signs of disease with a loss of appetite. He didn’t seemingly care to eat, and even when he ate, he paid not attention to what he ate. He simply was not bothered nor interested in diet. He remarked that other matters needed his attention. His work needed his attention. So did his yard. So did several other things. He had little time to eat. Too many things were demanding of his time.
Now showing signs of a loss of strength, he became sluggish and obviously anemic. It became more and more apparent that he was ill. I talked with him about it. He was evasive and showed no signs of wanting to talk about his condition. He made excuses about this loss of weight, and was not at all impressed with my suggestion that he see the doctor. “I will,” he said, “when I become convinced I need one.”
Then a terrible thought occurred to me. This is a contagious disease; and even if he will not allow us to take care of him, surely he will let us help his children. “My children are my businesses,” he said. “If I die, they’re going to die with me.”
Now they are all gone. My friend, his wife and a lovely group of children. At one time, all of them were the picture of a healthy, happy people, busily engaged in living a good, clean, healthy life. Now they are gone, and I can’t believe it has happened. Why should it happen? Why should a seemingly happy family just up and die like that? It’s sad. So sad.
The preceding story is true. You have already surmised, I’m sure, that the death of this family was spiritual, not physical. I hasten to remind you, however, that the fact that the death was not physical should not lessen the impact of the story. On the contrary, it should bring a greater emphasis to it. Spiritual demise is a most tragic, unnecessary event. Hope is gone. The future is bleak beyond belief. It’s sad, because this death has a remedy; it can be prevented.
What causes this spiritual demise? If it is so that there is a remedy, why in the same of common logic was not the remedy applied? Why was not something said or done to stop this spiritual passing away?
The fact is, you can’t force people to serve God. They have the right to refuse spiritual warnings, ignore spiritual warnings, cast off spiritual concerns. And they will often disdain admonitions to take care of their spiritual health.
I hope this father and mother realize that consequences and implications in their lack of concern. It is not enough that
they don’t realize their own spiritual condition, but how sad that they are committing spiritual homicide by bringing about the spiritual death of their own children, children who had before been interested in learning about Jesus and His people. What man has the right to commit such an act? Will not God hold him accountable for such dereliction? Surely He will!
Yes, I saw a friend die–just pass away. A friend and brother in the Lord has gone. Will he come back? Can he bring his family back? I don’t know, but I hope so. How sad to see someone you love die.
