By James H. Cagle
“There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath he power in the day of death: and there is no discharge in that war; neither shall wickedness deliver those that are given to it” (Ecclesiastes 8: 8 KJV).
Death is a real problem. It’s man’s greatest enemy. He has been fighting his war with death since the beginning of time and he has made no advance. He is no closer to defeating death now than he was when this war started. When Adam sinned in The Fall, the penalty for his sin was death. The guilt and condemnation of his sin was imputed to all his descendants and they all die as well.
Death is separation not annihilation. Death is when the body dies and the spirit separates from the body and goes to another condition of existence; that being Heaven or Hell. When a person dies their spirit leaves their body and they are separated from their friends and family that they left behind, but they join others who went to their same condition of existence after death.
We meet death by appointment (Job 7: 1, 14: 5; Heb. 9: 27). We do not make the appointment with death and thereby determine when we will die. God alone decides when we will die (Job 14: 5).
If any man had power over man’s spirit to retain (hold back) and thereby keep it from separating from the body, then he would have power over death. But no one has that power. The spirit of our loved ones slips through our arms as we hold them while they breathe their last breath.
We cannot escape death by exemption. In most countries there are exemptions from military service in certain cases. In the battle with death, no such exemption may be had.
There is no earthly power that can overpower death and deliver us from its grip. Making a pact with Satan or wickedness will not deliver us. Though one gives themselves over to Satan and wickedness in the day of death, they cannot save us from death.
The only one that conquered death was Jesus Christ. He shares His victory over death to all those who put their faith in Him for salvation.
We must all face death; will we face it alone or with Jesus Christ?
