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An old tale from the Middle East speaks of a merchant from Baghdad who sent his servant to the market one day. Before long the servant came back, white and trembling with fear.
In great anxiety, he said to his master, “Down in the market I was jostled by a woman in the crowd, and when I turned around, I saw it was Death that jostled me. She looked at me and made a threatening gesture. Master, please lend me your horse, for I must hasten away to avoid her! I will ride to Samarra and there I will hide. Death will not find me there.”
Wanting to be helpful, the merchant lent him his horse and the servant galloped away in great haste. Later the merchant went down to the marketplace and saw Death standing in the crowd. He went over to her and asked, “Why did you frighten my servant this morning? Why did you make a threatening gesture?”
“That was not a threatening gesture,” Death said. “It was only a start of surprise. I was astonished to see him in Baghdad, for I have an appointment with him tonight in Samarra.”
According to the Bible, everyone has “an appointment in Samarra,” so to speak. In Hebrews 9:27-28, the writer claims:
Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.
All of us must prepare for that “appointment.” The only way to do so is with Jesus Christ.
Topics Illustrated Include:
Choosing Christ
Death
Fear
Jesus
Misunderstanding
Prepared
Salvation
Stress
(Resource cataloged by David R Smith)
