死亡時,要怎樣面對?

概要

務必到耶穌那裡,用強大的信心,滿心確定,緊抓著基督不放。他是帶你經過死亡的道路。



約翰福音 14:6 耶穌說:我就是道路、真理、生命;若不藉著我,沒有人能到父那裏去。

我們的日子終將滿足,不再存活於世。當我們言行和工作終歸停止時,這個問題將浮現:「我到哪裡找到一個堅固的橋樑,可以安全地帶我去另一邊的生命呢?」
當這個時候來臨,不要尋找任何「人」的道路、或標記著我們自己的好行為、或聖潔生命的橋樑。不要尋求這些道路。

你卻要用主禱文把這些道路盡數摧毀。
你反覆地說:「赦免我們的罪」。
你要緊抓住說「我是道路」的那一位。
你確定這些話語堅實地刻入你的良心裡。
如此深刻,直到你可以感覺到基督。他會對你說,正如他對多馬說的:「你為甚麼尋找其他的道路呢?看著我,然後拒絕一切其他去天堂的思想。你必須把這些思想從你心裡刪除。除了我的話「我是道路」之外,不要再想甚麼了!務必到我這裡來,用強大的信心,滿心確定,緊抓著我不放。我作帶你經過的道路。頃刻之間,你將脫離死亡和地獄。因為,我正是鋪設道路的那一位。我定准了路線。我自己也走過這道路,穿過死亡;所以,我可以帶領你和跟隨我的人經過。你必須毫不猶豫地將你的腳踏在我上面,投注在我身上,歡喜快樂地走,奉我的名死。」——馬丁路德(《約翰福音的講義》,第14至16章)(AE 24:42)


In Death, Which Way Is Right?

John 14:6 Jesus said to him, 「I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

When the hour comes in which our deeds and works must cease, when our days are numbered and we can no longer tarry, here, when the question arises: 「Now where will I find a secure bridge or path that will take me safely into yonder life?」—when that hour comes, I say, do not cast about for any way that bears the human label or the mark of our own good works or holy life. No, bury all this with an Our Father, and recite over it: 「Forgive us our trespasses.」
Hold solely to Him who says: 「I am the Way.」 Make sure that then these words are firmly imbedded in your consciousness, so deeply that you can feel Christ’s presence and He can say to you as He does to Thomas here: 「Why are you seeking and looking for other ways? Look to Me, and reject all other thoughts regarding ways to heaven. You must expunge these completely from your heart and think of nothing but these words of Mine: ‘I am the Way.’ See to it that you tread on Me, that is, cling to Me with strong faith and with all confidence of the heart. I will be the Bridge to carry you across. In one moment you will come out of death and the fear of hell into yonder life. For it is I who paved the way and the course. I walked and traversed it Myself, so that I might take you and all My followers across. All that is necessary is that you unhesitatingly set your foot on Me, wager boldly on Me, go cheerfully and happily, and die in My name.」(Sermons on the Gospel of St. John: Chapters 14-16)(AE 24:42)