I opened my eyes and wondered why I was lying on the floor. I grew even more confused when I saw the shock and fear on my friends’ faces. What happened? I learned that I had experienced a medical emergency. I had no pulse and wasn’t breathing. My colleague had to perform CPR on me to save my life. I was taken to the hospital. The doctors couldn’t find a reason for what had happened, and I’ve been fine ever since. But this incident got me thinking: what if my friend hadn’t been there to resuscitate me? I wouldn’t be among the living.
There is nothing like a brush with death to make you think about life. It helps clarify your priorities and sheds light on what you truly believe. It confronts you with the most important question of all: are you ready for that inevitable day when your time on earth is up?
This incident helped me realize more clearly than ever that I didn’t have to fear death. This doesn’t mean I’m looking forward to it or that I feel no apprehension about the form it will take. But the cause of fear—the unknown—is gone. I know where I’m heading.
This may sound presumptuous, but I assure you that my confidence isn’t based on anything I’ve done! It is founded on the promises of God and on what Christ did on the cross. It’s very simple, really. Christ died so that we might live. As the Apostle John writes, the person who has the Son (Jesus) has eternal life. He goes on to emphasize that such an individual can be absolutely certain of their eternal destiny. (1)
As a child, I spent so much time in church that you could say I grew up there. I heard all about Jesus. But one day I realized he wasn’t my Savior. There’s a difference between knowing about someone and knowing them personally. With Jesus, it’s no different. And that was my problem. I knew a lot about him, but I had no personal relationship with him. I had never repented of my sin and put my trust in Him. When I grasped this truth, I prayed right then, confessing my sin and asking Him to save me. At that moment, my relationship with Jesus began. From then on, I had the Son and, with him, eternal life.
Returning to my near-death experience, although I was very thankful to be alive, I was even more grateful that Christ enabled me to face my mortality with peace and calm. I knew I belonged to Jesus because I had asked Him to save me on that day so many years ago. I have experienced His presence ever since. He promised that if we have the Son, we have the assurance of spending eternity with Him. There is nothing to fear.
(1) 1 John 5:11-13