Death and Life - Devotion for August 25

Another one of my favorite artists is Gustav Klimt (I admit, I have a lot of favorites!). A few years ago, I had the chance to visit Vienna and see this painting in person, along with his most famous work, The Kiss. When I look at this painting titled Death and Life, I’m struck by the contrast. On one side, death—cold, skeletal, wrapped in dark patterns, looming with quiet inevitability. On the other side, life—vibrant, warm, colorful, full of human connection. Mothers and children, lovers, the young and the old, all bound together in a swirl of patterns and touch.

The painting tells a truth we’d rather not face: death is always near. We often try to ignore it, hiding behind distractions and busyness. Yet, there it stands, watching. But here’s what’s remarkable—Klimt doesn’t give death the last word. Life is painted more brightly, more beautifully. Death is present, but life is abundant.

Scripture echoes this tension. The apostle Paul writes: “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21)

Paul acknowledges both realities—life and death—but insists that in Christ, neither is meaningless. Life is rich with purpose: to love, to serve, to be bound together in community. Death, while real, is not ultimate. It does not get the final say because Christ has already conquered it through the cross and resurrection.

Gustav Klimt (1862–1918) was an Austrian painter and one of the most influential artists of the early modern era. He became known for his shimmering, golden style, yet he wasn’t only concerned with beauty—he often explored deeper questions of love, mortality, and the human condition. Death and Life is a striking example of this. By placing death on one side and life on the other, he invited viewers to reflect on how precious, fragile, and sacred life really is.

In Klimt’s painting, the figures of life seem unaware of death’s presence. They rest in one another’s embrace, wrapped in beauty. That’s a reminder for us too: rather than being consumed by fear of death, we are called to live fully—to love deeply, to create beauty, to embrace one another with compassion. Death may come, but in Christ, life always has the last word.

Today, let Klimt’s Death and Life remind you of the gospel truth: death stands nearby, but it is not victorious. Life in Christ is brighter, richer, and everlasting.

Featured art: Gustav Klimt, Death and Life, 1910, © Leopold Museum, Vienna