In the courtyard dance the rakshas: demons of Buddhist tradition. Heads masked in animal figures, they pirouette and pivot in bright costumes to the accompaniment of drums and horns. Animalistic howling from hidden voices competes with the rhythmic clashing of cymbals. This is no mere play nor a piece of entertainment, but the sombre enactment of a key Buddhist belief about the afterlife.

Bhutanese men, women and children now turn their gaze to a 15–foot figure being wheeled in by shaven–headed monks robed in maroon. The red–faced figure is topped with five skulls. His countenance is fierce and designed to instil fear, and as his wandering ends he is hoisted up onto his throne. But for what?

The rakshas continue to dip and swivel to the clanging of cymbals. They are aides to the Lord of the Dead, and this is judgement day. A young monk has died and must now appear before the god of death. His good and bad deeds are represented by white and black stones. Will the white stones outnumber the black?

Watching this display as a Christian evokes mixed emotions. On the faces of the audience we see no peace or joy as they consider fearfully whether their good deeds might outweigh their bad, unsure how many white and black stones have been tallied against their account. And we believers know that all have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. If we have broken one of God’s laws, it is as if we have broken them all. One ‘black pebble’ – one thought, word or deed – is enough to cast us from the presence of a holy God.

And yet the Lord Jesus Christ has achieved a perfect life that is offered up for believing sinners in order to satisfy our debt. He led a spotless life, accumulating nothing but ‘white stones’, as it were, and His perfection is granted to us. We do not come before a fearful demon–god, but before a Father who loved us so much He gave His only Son. There is now no condemnation for the one who trusts in the merits of our precious Saviour. Such love! Such mercy! Such undeserved grace! And how much more might we cherish that love and mercy and grace as we contemplate this scene.

But there is something else. Having experienced this amazing grace and having received this new relationship with God, are we not under an obligation? Is there not a compulsion laid upon us to open our mouths, both upwards in praise and also outwards, declaring the riches of this grace to those bound in captivity to sin, ignorance and fear? As recipients of this joyful news of a right standing with God, we cannot remain indifferent to the plight of those around us. To those who fear the day of judgment or are ignorant of its coming, let us speak boldly of the mercy and grace offered freely by the Lord of Life!