There is an old legend about a rich merchant in Baghdad who sent his servant to the marketplace, he was bumped by someone in the crowd. When he turned around he saw a woman in a long black cloak and knew it was Death. The servant ran home to his master and in a trembling voice told him about the encounter and how Death had looked at him and made a threatening gesture.

The servant begged his master to loan him a horse so he could ride to Samarra and hide so Death would not find him. The master agreed and the servant  galloped away.

Later the merchant went down to the marketplace and saw Death standing near by. The merchant asked, "Why did you make a threatening gesture to my servant and frighten him?" "That was not a threatening gesture" Death replied. "It was just that I was startled to see him in Baghdad because I have an appointment with him tonight in Samarra!"

The Bible says in James 4:14, "Whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away." We must always be ready to stand before God because we can't escape death when it calls.

Dr. Rob Coram
Associate Pastor Minister of Education / Evangelism
Fellowship Baptist Church