It is curious to observe that people die so easily. You might think me morose and foreboding--usually I am occupied with life. But when there is an experience common to man, we could at least give it some consideration. My main thought is that a human being dies much like an animal does. It seems like it should not be so. Periodically over the years I have entertained this.
There is a verse in the Bible that comes to mind when I think of this phenomenon. It is Psalm 49:20, “Man in his pomp, yet without understanding, Is like the beasts that perish” (NASB). That statement seems to be related to what I am thinking, but really does not have a very close connection. In its context it is describing people who have no time for God and live for themselves. They will disappear from the earth and will carry with them none of their wealth or fame. In that sense they are like the beasts that perish.
Maybe that verse relates a bit to what we are mulling here, but not really very much.
I could be wrong here, but I suppose that most people instinctively recognize that animals and people are different on some level. People seem to have another dimension. As far as we know, animals are not very creative. Neither do they seem to communicate abstract ideas. I don’t think our dog ever exclaimed to us over the colors of the sunset. (Of course, he probably couldn’t see it from where we lived, but you know what I mean.) Matthew 10:29 indicates that God does care about a fallen bird: “Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.”
But death comes to both similarly. We watch by the bedside and finally the line on the hospital machine goes straight. She’s gone.
We watch the motorcycle race. Suddenly on that curve is a crash, and another bike runs over the fallen rider. The fallen rider never moves again. The ambulance comes, but it doesn’t matter. Now the race track is named after him.
I have seen something similar happen to a coyote. There was no track named after him.
It is too easy to take another’s life. Just like taking the life of an animal. Regardless of whether there is another dimension. Too much the same. Should be more than taking the life of an animal. Shouldn’t be possible through what is merely a mistake.
My mind is battling here to make more of it, even while it appears to be the same kind of event. Seems like entering E T E R N I T Y should make it a big deal. No matter on whose side you are.
The Bible tells us what we expected in some sense, that there is a future after death. In fact it relates two kinds of future. And if that’s the case, then death is a big event, bigger than the death of an animal, even if the passing looks the same. The Bible indicates that the death of a believer in Christ has a high value (Psalm 116:15). Also, Hebrews 9:27 says “it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment;” we never read that regarding animals.
For the Christian believer there are the angels providing escort to our new dwelling place. There is a brand new environment empowered by the eternal God. The second law of thermodynamics is gone. Our new home is filled with beauty and joy. And the life that was meant to be! And it’s life with Jesus personally and unrestrainedly present!
At the end of all that consideration, I still think it curious that the death of a human seems as easy as the death of an animal. But looks can be deceiving.