I got a little more than I bargained for yesterday when an older gentleman, who I did not know prior to today, collapsed in the hall outside my office. We did our best to resuscitate him, but to no avail. The situation was grim when the EMTs carted him out because he was still unconscious and had not given us any sign of recovery. Later, word came back that he died.

It is my first experience with a heart defibrillator, and my first experience being with someone in the last moments of their earthly life. Rolling him over, I thought I could feel his heart, but it was hard to tell if it was my heart or his. It could have been his heart trying to pump without success. I am glad he has gone on to be with the Lord.

Later this evening I remembered that I had read Ecclesiastes 7:1-4 earlier this month. It says,

“A good reputation is better than precious perfume; likewise, the day of one’s death is better than the day of one’s birth. It is better to go to a funeral than a feast. For death is the destiny of every person, and the living should take this to heart. Sorrow is better than laughter, because sober reflection is good for the heart. The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of merrymaking.”

I stopped this evening and reflected on this verse, wondering why death and sober reflection are good for the heart.

First, death today helped me understand my helplessness. Even though I did my best, there was nothing I could do to save this man. God is the only one who could have restored his life. Even if I did everything right; whether I did something wrong; God is the one who would have worked through my strengths and weaknesses. To top it all off, God did save this man today because he went home to be with the Jesus.

Second, and related to the first reflection, death helps us realize we’re not God. It shows us our limitations, and that each of our days have been numbered. Thus, death causes us to ask ourselves, “Am I ready to die?” My answer, “Yes, I am ready to die because Jesus died for my sins and rose from the dead. I have put my faith in him; he is my LORD and God.” Death causes us to realize that we need God, since he is the only one who can give us victory over the death of our earthly bodies.

I guess, death and sober reflection does help us to be wise because it humbles us before the one and only God.

LORD, please bring comfort and healing to this man’s family — Amen