During a recent 3-week stay in the hospital, I met Kathy. She shared her grave medical condition and her strong faith—an unflinching belief in Jesus. She loved Him and trusted Him, but she also knew she was heading home to hospice care. Her days on earth were counting down. As my wife and I talked with Kathy, we learned of her sadness in having to leave her teenage son and husband. The joy of soon being united with Jesus was mixed with the sorrow of having to let go.
Like Kathy, unless Jesus returns, all of us will face the day when our physical life will end. What will it take for us to avoid sorrow “like people who have no hope”? (1 Thessalonians 4:13). The apostle Paul gives us some excellent reasons in 1 Corinthians 15:
• Jesus died, but He rose again! — Our faith is based in the One who has conquered death (1 Corinthians 15:4,21,57). Paul himself said, “I also saw [Jesus]” after His resurrection.
• After death comes new life! — There is hope past the grave, for faith in Jesus leads to eternal life with Him. “Everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life” (1 Corinthians 15:22).
• Jesus gives us victory! — Instead of spending our last days on earth filled with dread, we can experience the supernatural peace, power, and perspective that Jesus alone provides (1 Corinthians 15:55,57).
There can be true hope and anticipation for those who are facing death. I saw it in Kathy’s face and heard it in her words. A “strong and immovable” (1 Corinthians 15:58) faith is often formed in the fires of pain and adversity.
When it’s time, may God help us to release those we love into His faithful care as our days on earth draw to a close. We can trust Him with our future.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Esther 1:1-22
More:
Note the comfort and encouragements John 14:1-2 and Revelation 21:4 can provide for those who are dealing with death.
Next:
Why is death so hard even when we place our trust in Jesus? What promise from God's Word brings you the most comfort as you consider the finality of death?
lukehferris on May 2, 2012 at 7:41 pm
Powerful stuff from 1 Corinthians!! I think sometimes we lose sight that our faith is based on the amazing victory over death, and that we have a hope of eternal life with our savior!
tom felten on May 2, 2012 at 10:26 pm
You’re right, Luke! Our eyes and attention can become fixed on the world and not the spiritual riches that God has given to us (Colossians 1:27). “Christ lives in us!”
joo_sg on May 2, 2012 at 8:43 pm
At death, there is a physical separation from our loved ones but this is only temporary. One day we will together again…
“Where O death is your sting?”
1 Corinthians 15:55
tom felten on May 2, 2012 at 10:28 pm
AMEN! Thanks for sharing this verse, joo_sg!
daisymarygoldr on May 2, 2012 at 10:39 pm
Even when we place our trust in Jesus, death is hard because we are torn between two desires, the Lord and our loved ones. Paul expressed this best when he said: to go and be with Christ is far better; and to remain for the sake of those we love is more needful.
It is natural to worry for those who will have to live without us. And you are right; releasing them into God’s care is the best thing to do. He is a father to the fatherless and a defender of orphans and widows. God is their Creator, we are not; and He loves them much more than we do.
Although we all know death is inevitable but not everyone is given a deadline for death. It is because of advancement in medical technology people are being given a timeline for their own death. It is sad to live our days on earth counting down. Personally, I didn’t grow up around hospice and find it is more of a help to hopelessness than hope. No matter how caring it sounds, hospice is like living on death row—being acutely conscious of the end drawing near and painfully waiting for the final blow.
Given a choice, I would rather prefer my grandma’s peaceful way of departure. She had no clue about her cancer and had no idea that she was dying. Sometimes ignorance is bliss. Even though her cancer had metastasized, she spent her last days eating, reading and chatting happily with friends and family. On her last day, she had a hearty breakfast and simply went to sleep.
Jesus always referred to death as sleep. To me, this is comforting because sleep is not permanent. No matter how difficult and dark the night is, when we die the next morning we wake up to see Jesus. For those who die in Christ, death is a blessing as we are delivered from the wretched body of sin and all the cursed consequences that we suffer in this world.
Therefore, we need not passively wait for the end of life but actively live out our life’s purpose till the very end—to be a faithful witness and make a difference for Christ as long as we are here on earth. If we live, it’s to honor the Lord. And if we die, it’s to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. (Romans 14:8)
tom felten on May 2, 2012 at 10:55 pm
As always, thanks for sharing, daisymarygoldr. Whether in hospice or not, God can use us even in our closing days. As we live out genuine faith in Him and experience His comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3-7), our last days on earth can be a powerful time of reaching others for His glory!
joo_sg on May 2, 2012 at 11:19 pm
Sometimes by clinging on to the dying one and refusing to let go and surrender him/her to the Lord, the person may end up suffering more…
My dad was on verge of death in Feb 2009. My heartached to see him suffer. When we prayed and surrendered him to God, miraculously he turned around! After 6 weeks in hospital he was discharged and even put on weight after going home. God is merciful and gracious. I believe there is unfinished business so the Lord prolonged his life.
Heaven’s a better place really – no sickness, no pain, no tears…if we truly love them, let them go. God is sovereign, He determines the length of our days.