Pastor Watches Three People Die In Quick Succession And Delivers A Message Every Christian Needs To Hear

Pastor Reflects On Sudden Death And Mortality After Losing Colleagues And Family Members

Pastor Doug Reed of The Tabernacle in Buffalo, New York, penned a deeply personal essay after a string of devastating losses shook his faith community. A well known pastor in his denomination, just 62 years old, preached an evening service at his church and died of a massive heart attack hours later with no warning.

That same day, Reed preached two services himself before attending the funeral of a church member's daughter. The young woman had turned 44, received a cancer diagnosis shortly after, and passed away within ten months, never seeing her 45th birthday.

The two deaths reopened wounds from 2018, when Reed's father in law collapsed during a family Thanksgiving vacation. At just 57 years old, he was pronounced dead on the floor of the vacation house after the family performed chest compressions and called 911.

"It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of everyone; the living should take this to heart." Ecclesiastes 7:2

Reed emphasized that death is the great equalizer that no one escapes. He urged believers to stop living as though they have unlimited time, pointing to Psalm 90:12 and the ancient phrase memento mori, meaning "remember that you will die."

He called on Christians to live each day as if it were their last, not recklessly, but intentionally. Reed challenged readers to make the call they have been putting off, give the hug that is long overdue, forgive the person who needs forgiving, and have the hard conversation they have been avoiding.

"Your goal should not be to make it safely into your casket. The aim of the Christian life is not self preservation but faithful obedience. Not comfort but calling. Not applause from people, but approval from Heaven." Doug Reed

Why Every Christian Needs To Confront The Reality Of Death And Start Living With Urgency

Reed also quoted Steve Jobs, who once said that remembering he would be dead soon was the most important tool he ever encountered for making the big choices in life. Reed concluded with words often attributed to Chief Tecumseh, urging believers to "sing your death song and die like a hero going home."

The pastor challenged Christians to give generously "because you can not take it with you," noting that "you never see a hearse pulling a U Haul." He called on the faithful to share the Gospel while they still can and to pray dangerous, faith filled, heaven stretching prayers.

The Crusader's Opinion

This is the kind of wake up call most of us desperately need. We sit in our comfortable churches, scroll through our phones, argue about things that will not matter in five minutes let alone eternity, and we forget that the clock is ticking. Every single one of us is one heartbeat away from standing before the Almighty. Pastor Reed buried people he loved and watched life vanish in an instant. If that does not shake you out of your spiritual laziness, nothing will. Stop playing church. Stop living like a coward. Your Savior went to the Cross for you. The least you can do is live boldly for Him while you still have breath in your lungs.

Take Action

• Read the full article by Pastor Doug Reed on The Christian Post and share it with someone who needs to hear it today.
• Listen to the Shoulder to Shoulder podcast hosted by Doug Reed and Rabbi Pesach Wolicki for more on faith, culture, and Christian Jewish relations.
• Support persecuted Christians around the world through www.TheShepherdsShield.org so that those facing death for their faith are not forgotten.
• Have that hard conversation today. Call the family member you have been avoiding. Forgive the person who wronged you. Do not wait for tomorrow because tomorrow is not promised.
• Donate to Open Doors or Voice of the Martyrs to stand with believers who face the reality of death every single day for following Jesus.