Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord... 

     On June 8, 1971 Jerome Irving Rodale (1898-1971), founder and publisher of Prevention Magazine, was a guest on the Dick Cavett television talk show. During the interview the 72 year old Rodale said, "I've never felt better in my life. I've decided to live to be an hundred..." Afterwards while Cavett was interviewing his next guest, Rodale appeared to have fallen asleep sitting up on the interview couch. Upon a closer examination, it was discovered that the man who was going to live to be an hundred had just died of an heart attack within moments after his interview.
     Like Rodale, we all shall "in a moment go down to the grave" (Job 21:13). But, "the righteous hath hope in his death" (Pro 14:32) for "to be absent from the body (is) to be present with the Lord" (2Co 5:8) who will "change our vile body... like unto His glorious body" (Phi 3:21). Thus "to die is gain" (Phi 1:21). Therefore, "let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" (Jn 14:27) for "death is swallowed up in victory... through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1Co 15:54,57).