"For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." -Philippians 1:21.
In Matthew 7:16-20, Jesus tells us that, "By their fruits ye shall know them." Along this train of thought, I have observed a very bad spiritual fruit within the professed body of Christ today; it is a fear of death, an unwillingness to leave their temporal life in the flesh.
Two days ago, a 32 year old woman from our locale was on her way to nursing school in the morning; she was set to graduate with a B.A. just 48 days from now. Apparently, a vehicle coming from the other direction lost a tire (a big tire), and it struck her car in the windshield, and she was killed. No one knows yet where the tire came from, and it was apparently unknown to the person who lost it.
"And it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:" -Hebrews 9:27.
God appoints the time of our deaths, and for many it is sudden, unexpected. What if you had been this young woman? Are you ready to die, and face your maker? What is your attitude toward dying? These matters are important, for they reflect well the state of your spiritual standing with Christ.
"He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal." -John 12:25.
"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him." -I John 2:15.
And that is the real issue; professed believers in Christ loving their lives in this world. Never, never, never should such a thing be! You can hear it from their lips, see it in their actions- especially when confronting death. They don't want to die, don't see in this world the evil that prevails, don't see themselves as being mere "pilgrims" upon the Earth (Hebrews 11:13).
How many times have I seen and heard of it? Supposed Christians taking every treatment, having every operation, wasting enormous amounts of both time & money, just to spend a few more years (or less) here in utter corruption! Then I sometimes hear, "Oh, no- you don't understand. I am ready to die, but I want to 'be here' for my children." Such a statement indicates a severe lack of faith, and a lack of the LORDSHIP of Jesus Christ in a person's life. Trust in God to heal you physically, or to take you home as He sees fit. And the Lord is well able to take care of your family after you've gone. Your dependence should be upon Him right now, and then that trust will naturally continue through at the time of your departure.
If you struggle along these lines, please don't be ashamed- just take it to the Lord! Ask for Him to work the changes in your heart/mind through the blessed Holy Spirit which He has given to those who have received Him. Study the Word; through it, you will understand what God expects from His children, and how He will grow and perfect that work during the course of your life.
After reading the obituary of this young woman, I at least have hope that she was in right relationship with the Lord at the time of her death. Perhaps God took her home, before any worldly corruption could come into her, and turn her away (Is. 57:1,2). Someday, we will know...
These next verses are from II Corinthians 5:1-11, a section that I encourage you to read entirely. It gives us a great idea of what our sentiments should be, that are pleasing to God.
"For we know that if our earthly house is dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven... We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent we may be accepted of him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ..."
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