The reason one must embrace death before one can live through the last chapter of life includes several reasons. The first is entrusting the end of life to God. It is very important to understand that my times are in God's hands (Psalms 31:15). All of my days ordained for me were written in His book before one came to be (Psalm 139:16). He determines the times set for us and the exact places where we should live (Acts 17:26). Surely this would include God determining you shall live your final chapter at the local nursing home. In God's providences he orchestrates a multitude of forces to place one in their current situation. When Jesus calmed the storm he directed the jet stream long before the moment arrived and perhaps even affected the elements even to this day. Remember God knows the sparrow and when it falls from the sky and all the necessary things are in place for the hunter to be able to shoot the sparrow from the sky. The bird and the hunter had a divine appointment and the atmosphere was just right for the bullet to travel through the sky hitting the sparrow perfectly to remove him from the sky. God has your end determined precisely as well.
It reminds me of a story of a young man caught in the rip-tides during a hurricane. He was tossed by the waves as he rolled along the sand unable to come to the surface when someone grabbed him and pulled him to shore. The young man grasp for air breathing heavily as he said "God is good" at which time his rescuer whispers in his ear "God is good whether he spared your life or not." God's goodness is not based upon where you spend your final days or how you come to an end. You must embrace God's goodness despite your situation. Where else will you go? God is your only help.
You may not understand God's wonderful plan but certainly you have learned and trust that suffering has a God pleasing purpose. If not then trust Paul when he says "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed to us" (Romans 8:18). Like a woman at child birth forgets her suffering the moment she hears the crying child you too will forget your suffering when you hear the Savior's voice. John told us emphatically "In this world you will have trouble" (John 16:33). Remember when we are weak He is strong an shortening our suffering will also shorten His grace. Your opportunity to glorify God in your end of life suffering will come to an end. You will have missed the opportunity.
We also want to remember that the eternal rewards and eternal welfare of the soul is far more important than the short term good of the comforts of the flesh. Paul said "For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal" (2 Corinthians 4:17-18). Perhaps we can say when visiting the hospital or nursing home it is far greater to think about how we will phrase our prayers and which Bible passages we will share with our loved one then how we can save them from the current painful situation.
I remember visiting a resident of a local nursing home when she went into the hospital. She laid there lifeless and I just whispered in her ear this is why you went to church all of your life to strengthen you for this moment so trust Jesus. Lean on him. Give him your life to him now. Believe on him and his goodness. Don't look at your current situation just embrace him. Trust him with your life. You've been taught this all of your life for this final moment. Exercise your faith as you have all your life and trust him. Trust and Obey. There is no other way to be happy in Jesus than to Trust and Obey. Submit to His Sovereign grace and trust him with your life.
It reminds me of a story of a young man caught in the rip-tides during a hurricane. He was tossed by the waves as he rolled along the sand unable to come to the surface when someone grabbed him and pulled him to shore. The young man grasp for air breathing heavily as he said "God is good" at which time his rescuer whispers in his ear "God is good whether he spared your life or not." God's goodness is not based upon where you spend your final days or how you come to an end. You must embrace God's goodness despite your situation. Where else will you go? God is your only help.
You may not understand God's wonderful plan but certainly you have learned and trust that suffering has a God pleasing purpose. If not then trust Paul when he says "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed to us" (Romans 8:18). Like a woman at child birth forgets her suffering the moment she hears the crying child you too will forget your suffering when you hear the Savior's voice. John told us emphatically "In this world you will have trouble" (John 16:33). Remember when we are weak He is strong an shortening our suffering will also shorten His grace. Your opportunity to glorify God in your end of life suffering will come to an end. You will have missed the opportunity.
We also want to remember that the eternal rewards and eternal welfare of the soul is far more important than the short term good of the comforts of the flesh. Paul said "For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal" (2 Corinthians 4:17-18). Perhaps we can say when visiting the hospital or nursing home it is far greater to think about how we will phrase our prayers and which Bible passages we will share with our loved one then how we can save them from the current painful situation.
I remember visiting a resident of a local nursing home when she went into the hospital. She laid there lifeless and I just whispered in her ear this is why you went to church all of your life to strengthen you for this moment so trust Jesus. Lean on him. Give him your life to him now. Believe on him and his goodness. Don't look at your current situation just embrace him. Trust him with your life. You've been taught this all of your life for this final moment. Exercise your faith as you have all your life and trust him. Trust and Obey. There is no other way to be happy in Jesus than to Trust and Obey. Submit to His Sovereign grace and trust him with your life.
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