Putting Death on Life's Agenda

Written by: John Flanner - 2005

[Viewings: 115]

Death is one of life's greatest quandaries. It represents mankind's sternest challenge. Indeed death is a great leveller, putting every member of the human race on exactly the same footing. Death throws up myriads of questions and arouses just as many fears. Indeed it can be truly said of death, there are more questions than answers.

Speaking as one who is now 58, with my wife working in a hospice and as a natural consequence of getting older, now attending more funerals, I am of the strong opinion that the subject of death needs to be brought back on to life's agenda for discussion. It is a subject that is still taboo in many people's lives - a definite no go area for discussion. However if we are all faced with the prospect of death (as we are) then should we not be talking about it and trying to find a way forward on the many questions that death throws up?

Some who have suffered a lot may look upon death as a merciful release, while others see it as a doorway into an even greater hell. Some say death is the absolute end of things, whilst others say it is a whole new beginning. Thousands of religions, cults and sects have their own views on this particular subject, but surely there must be a definitive answer to the question "What happens to us after death?" Billions of pounds are spent every year in medical research to try and help us lengthen our lives, but one day we will all face death and I for one desperately wanted to know, is death the end or just a beginning?

I mentioned earlier that I am as I get older invariably attending more funerals and the traditional Anglican funeral liturgy leads me to believe that Jesus (who said of himself "I am the resurrection and the life") will one day raise all people up to eternal life. I have found this a bit puzzling because at those funerals this blessing has been attributed to those who I know in their lifetime were not religious and did not believe in Jesus, so do they get raised up anyway. Then what about people of other faiths, agnostics and atheists, will they be raised up by Jesus too?

It's quite common in our society to have the attitude of turning a blind eye, cocking a deaf ear, let's ignore it and hope it goes away or bury our heads in the sand and pretend it doesn't exist. However as we all know this is only postponing the inevitable for death will not go away and it most definitely does exist, lying in wait for us all. Can I make a plea therefore as a fellow sufferer of the dying disease that we pool our resources, thoughts, insights, experiences, beliefs and help each other to attack this question that faces us all in an attempt to find some vital answers and help alleviate some of those many fears and confusing thoughts that the prospect of death throws up.

For my part I would say that the idea of death frightened me as much if not more than most. Even in my teens it was a thought that scared me to the point that I did not want to talk about it. In fact as a bit of an insurance policy I would quote the "Lord's Prayer" under my bedclothes at night before going to sleep just in case I should die during the night. Somehow I reasoned that if there was a God and I had said my prayers then he would look on me favourably. It was in my early 20s however after going blind that I began to ask more questions of people about issues such as life and death. My questioning led me to look more closely at the life of Jesus Christ and his teachings. I came to the point of believing that Jesus did come down from Heaven as God in human form, in order to die for the sins of the world. I arrived at the conclusion that Jesus died to pay the price for my sins and then he rose again from the dead (making himself known after his resurrection on many occasions) and then he ascended into Heaven, from where he will return one day to bring peace on earth. I freely embraced the teaching of Jesus when he said "I am the way, the truth and the life, no man can come to the Father except through me" and "Unless a person is born again he cannot enter the Kingdom of God". There are many more references too in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John that make it clear to me that unless you are a follower of Jesus Christ and have had your sins forgiven then you cannot receive eternal life, but because of sin must face eternity apart from the loving God who made you.

Now, if my faith is misplaced or misguided I want to know about it. At this point in time I do believe that Jesus does provide the answer to my questions, but I would love to hear where other people stand on the question of death and what lies beyond it. Surely we owe it to each other to talk about this crucial subject and if people have found answers to their questions then share them so that we can all consider them and hopefully come to a clearer understanding in our own minds.

May I close with one final quote from the Bible that has helped me so much over the years "For God so loved the world that he gave his only son so that whoever believes in him will not perish but will have everlasting life" (John Chapter 3 Verse 16)

Comments

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How to face death! (Part 2)

Written by: Arthur Blessitt

[Viewings: 148]

Facing the moment of death! I have been with many people at their moment of death. I have also faced the fact that I would die in the next few moments or in a few minutes.

There are two profound moments in ones life: When you take your first breath! When you take your last breath!

Everyone reading this is in between those two awesome moments. All your loved ones and friends are also in between those moments. This is a date with death that is unavoidable. Death is as sure as life. It is one of those things you will have to do.

After my times of near death and being with others at death and hearing the report of how many die I believe that as a follower of Jesus He gives "dying grace". When that moment comes the real Presence of Jesus will be with you and give you the strength and peace to face that time of passing. This is a supernatural impartation of God to you. The angels of God will surround you and will carry you to the Father.

I am simply encouraging you to prepare for that moment. For it "shall" come.

I want to add the following devotions by Charles Haddon Spurgeon. I could not say it as well as he. So please read the following.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834-92) was England's best-known preacher for most of the second half of the nineteenth century. In 1854, just four years after his conversion, Spurgeon, then only 20, became pastor of London's famed New Park Street Church. The congregation quickly outgrew their building, moved to Exeter Hall, then to Surrey Music Hall. In these venues Spurgeon frequently preached to audiences numbering more than 10,000?all in the days before electronic amplification. In 1861 the congregation moved permanently to the newly constructed Metropolitan Tabernacle also known as "Spurgeon's Tabernacle". Charles Spurgeon is my favorite historical preacher. I even had the honor and pleasure of preaching in that church and pulpit in 1972. Spurgeon wrote what is now known as "Morning and Evening" devotions. My wife Denise reads these every day. You can read these daily devotions on the Internet at: http://www.spurgeon.org/daily.htm

The following will help you with instruction and inspiration and the Word of God to deal with death as well as to live life to the fullest.

IN THE END, NOTHING TO FEAR. GENESIS 49:33

Unless the Lord comes quickly, we will soon leave this body and expect to gather up our feet. We may expect to breathe our last and like our fathers go to meet our God (Gen. 49:33). But do not let sorrow dim your eye. Do not let fear trouble your spirit, because death is vanquished. We have no reason to fear. ourage,
Christian soldiers, for you are encountering a vanquished enemy.

If your Master had been defeated, you might expect to be blown like chaff before the wind. But the power by which He overcame, He lends to you. Awaken all your powers to the conflict and strengthen them with the hope of victory, because if the Head conquers the members cannot be defeated. You must conquer for Christ has conquered. The Holy Spirit is in you. Jesus Himself has promised, Lo! I am with you always, even to the end of the age! (Matthew 28:20).

Are you afraid to die? Does the grave alarm you? Do not fear, for you cannot die? Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep! For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive! (1 Corinthians 15:20, 22). Oh, the comfort of the gospel.

All me to say this: If your trust is in Jesus, there is nothing in the Bible to make you afraid. Nothing in the Bible, did I say? There is nothing in heaven, nothing on earth, and nothing in hell to make you fear, if your trust is in Jesus Christ. Jesus said, ?Because I live, you will live also. At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you? (John 14:19-20).

THROUGH THE VALLEY. PSALM 23:3

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me? (Psalms 23:4). I intended to keep this choice promise in reserve until I came near the river Jordan. Then in my last hour, I hoped to enjoy its sweetness. But the other day I needed this heavenly loaf, and I ate it.

Children are told that they cannot have their cake and eat it too, but his rule does not apply to God's comforts. You can have a promise and enjoy it, too. Several days ago, when a trial howled around me, I ate the honey out of this verse. Its sweetness is still there, and no doubt I will enjoy this promise again when I come near death?s gate. The blessed Holy Spirit has already sealed it to my soul with rich and full comfort. Would to God that every believer who is burdened and depressed might find it precious.

Although this promise has an inexpressibly delightful application to the dying, it is also for the living. If you are depressed by any difficult trial, then you are walking through the valley of death-shade; I urge you to repeat this promise, and may the Lord help you to feel its truth. ! Yea, though (even now) I walk through the valley of the shadow death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.?

The words are not in the future tense; they are not reserved for a future moment, so use them now. Do not let this song lie on the shelf until your last day. Sing it all the days of your life.

HE HEALS BROKEN HEARTS. PSALM 147:3

The Holy Spirit mentions this as a part of the glory of God and as a reason to declare His praise. The Lord is a Healer. He restores the brokenhearted.

The leaders of the earth think that they are great through their loftiness. But Jehovah becomes great by His condescension. The Most High associates with the sick and the sorry, the wretched and the wounded. He walks the hospitals as the good Physician. His deep sympathy with mourners is a special mark of his goodness.

Few will associate with the depressed, but Jehovah chooses their company and stays until He has healed them with comfort. He wants to handle and heal the brokenhearted. He applies the ointment of grace and the soft bandages of love. He binds the bleeding wounds of those convicted of sin. This is Godly compassion.

Well may those people to whom He has acted graciously praise Him. The Lord is always healing and binding. This is not new work for Him. He has done it from old. It is not a thing of the past, of which He is now weary, for He is still healing, still binding. Come, broken hearts. Come to the Physician who never fails to heal. Show your wound to Him who tenderly binds them up.

FROM DEATH INTO LIFE. JOHN 5:24

Death is the end of dying. The day a believer dies, dying is done with forever. The saints who are with God will never die again. Life is wrestling and struggling, but death is the end of the conflict. Death is rest and victory. Life is full of sinning, but blessed be God, death is the end of that. No transgression or iniquity will follow us to heaven.

Life is longing, sighing, crying, wasting away, and desiring. Heaven is enjoying, possessing, and delighting one?s self in God. Life is failure, disappointment, and regret. These emotions are over when death comes, for glory dawns with satisfaction and intense contentment.

The day of our death will be the day of our cure. There are some diseases that will probably never be healed until the last Physician comes. Then with one gentle touch of His hand, we will be healed forever. All infirmity and all sickness will vanish in our last hour. Blind sister, you will have your eyes. You who lost your hearing will hear the song of angels. You will limp will dance. You will have no infirmity. Death cures the ills of old age.

Our death day will be the loss of all losses. Life is made up of losses, but death loses losses. Life is full of crosses, but death is the cross that brings crosses to an end. Death is the beginning of our best days.

NEVER SEE DEATH. JOHN 8:51

Some of you are comforted by the belief that you will live until the Lord returns, and so you will not sleep in the grave but be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye (1 Corinthians 15:51-52). The hope of our Lord?s appearing is a blessed one.

I do not, however, believe that to be alive at His coming is anything to desire. Is there any great preference in being changed rather than in dying! We who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep" (1 Thessalonians 4:15). This is a great truth. If I die rather than being changed, throughout eternity I will be able to say that I had fellowship with Christ in death. This is an experience that those saints who survive will never know. How precious will Christ be when, in the ages to come, we shall think of His death and be able to say, "We too have died and rise again."

You that are alive and remain will certainly not have a preference over us, who, like our Lord, will taste death. We do not grieve for those that have fallen asleep before the Lord's gracious appearing, because our Lord has said, "If anyone keeps My word, he shall never see death" (John 8:51). This is not only for the few who will remain at His second coming, but also for the entire company of those who have kept His Word. Even though they pass into the grave, they will never see death. Glory!
A pilgrim follower of Jesus,

Arthur Blessitt Editor
Luke 18:1
Denise Blessitt Associate Editor

Comments

If you have any comments on the above article or would like to communicate with John Flanner about any matters or need encouragement in any way, please email him at:

Email:    This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

How to face death! (Part 1)

Written by: Arthur Blessitt

[Viewings: 137]

I have often thought of writing some columns on this subject. With the passing of my Mother from earth to heaven over the past weekend (July 25th 2003) I have now felt it time to deal with this subject.

Let me state it clearly:

You - will - Die!

No doubt about it. Your death and my death are approaching with every beat of our heart. We all have a date with death. No matter how rich or poor you are, no matter your age, race or language, male or female your death is drawing near.

The subject of how to die is seldom dealt with by preachers or even pastors in a public message. All ministers have to deal with this in their ministry. There are classes for those planning to get married, classes about how to have a successful marriage, how to lose weight, and classes for almost every subject except for the 'One' subject that is relevant to all. How to die!

Well I am going to walk into this very difficult subject. Just remember none of us are experts in this subject. The experts on death have died and the mystery remains for the living.

There is only one expert on death and dying and that is Jesus!

Jesus lived and died and arose again on the 3rd day! He was and is alive and has conquered death and hell and the grave! Hallelujah!

Accept the 'Fact' that you will die. Let this become a living reality. The Bible says 'the living know that they shall die'. As sure as we live we shall die. Many people live with an almost total mental block about their approaching death. This is a very foolish way to deal with this subject. The temptation is to just focus on now and self-gratification no matter the consequence. The wise person confronts death and deals with it and then faces now and the future with trust and faith in God without fear. I urge you to say 'I am going to die!' Then say 'How am I going to Live?' 'How shall I deal with my approaching death?' This is freedom to live and be happy and blessed and responsible.

Your friends, family and loved ones will die. Often we block from our mind the fact that our loved ones will die. The pain of loss is so deep we just try to erase any thought of their passing from our mind. This is not good for you or for them. It leaves you totally unprepared for their passing. My wife Denise and I often speak of what we would do concerning the death of either of us. We live a life of travel and danger so we deal with the subject and plan options of action should one of us die. We also have instructions should both of us die at the same time. This honesty and openness I think is very healthy for us. Asking a loved one in the proper manner and with love and understanding about the subject can be very helpful when that time comes and you must make decisions for them. Begin now to love and share your love with those you love! Leave no words unspoken!

Prepare to Meet God. The Bible declares: 'prepare to meet thy God'. Having a right relationship with God 'Now' is the best way to prepare for death. For death often comes in the most unexpected moment. On the way to the grocery store, on the way to work, at your favorite restaurant, at home or at night during sleep. For some death seems never to come. Hours and days and weeks of pain and suffering precede the time of departure. So the way and time of death is so different you cannot make a concrete plan for you cannot say for certain how you will die.
So: Accept Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord and commit your life to following Jesus! Seek to glorify God in your living, actions and words. Seek to live in such a way that your last moment will be in harmony with the eternal life in heaven you are about to go into.

Angels will be there to accompany you into heaven. (Luke 16:22 in the Holy Bible)
And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom.

(2 Corinthians 5:8 in the Holy Bible) We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.

I must also warn you that there is a real Hell and many will be going there. (Luke 16:22-23 in the Holy Bible) 'the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments.' (Matthew 7:13-14 in the Holy Bible) "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it." (Luke 13:24-29 in the Holy Bible) "Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open for us,' and He will answer and say to you, 'I do not know you, where you are from,' "then you will begin to say, 'We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.? "But He will say, 'I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.' "There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out. "They will come from the east and the west, from the north and the south, and sit down in the kingdom of God."

I would not be honest should I not warn you of hell and that being a place you could spend eternity. Oh come to the cross. Come and let the Blood of Jesus that was shed for the remission of sins wash your heart and soul and make you clean. Come and follow Jesus as your Savior and Lord. Call on Him now and pray: 'Dear God I need you. I know I am a sinner and believe that Jesus died for my sins and rose again. Please hear my prayer and save my soul. As best as I know how I repent and give my life to Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior. Write my name in Your Book and make me a home in heaven. Fill me with the Holy Spirit and fill my with Your love and Presence. Thank you Lord. In Jesus Name I pray.'

Now Jesus is 'in' you. When you die He will take you to be with Him. The Holy Spirit that lives in the heart of a believer will not take you to hell but heaven.

Make out a Will. You can make out a Will on just a piece of paper with your signature. It is best to have a witness or two sign it. However I suggest you get an attorney to draw up the proper work and put things in a legal way. Should cost only a few hundred well-spent dollars. My suggestion is that you write down on a paper what you want to do with your home, the things that you posses and how you want it divided after your death. Should you be leaving much behind it is very important to take care of this. Because the more you leave unsaid the more room there is for conflict among those left behind. Even if you are poor please take care of your loved ones by leaving a Will. Do not be unclear. Spell out everything you want done. Consider your wife or husband. What about your children? What about other family members or friends or even a stranger?
How could you help a needy ministry or what could you leave behind to help lead others to Jesus? Is there a person that you could bless in a very special way that has been a great blessing or inspiration to you? Your death could be your final way of helping others. Consider all this carefully and then Do It before it is too late.

Do Not Resuscitate! This is a very sensitive subject but very important in western countries where there are many ways to prolong death. I am not the judge on this subject just bringing up the subject so You can make the decision you feel is right for you. In most if not every U.S. state the law requires that emergency services use resuscitation when they arrive unless they are presented with a state approved ?Do not resuscitate? paper signed by the person and their doctor. When one is admitted into a hospital you must have this form or they are required to put you on life support and seek to resuscitate you should you need it. I will not seek to persuade you one way or another. Modern medicine is a wonder of advancement but it also presents a huge new problem of how to let people die that do not want to have their life prolonged in a non-natural way.
This is personal choice. I carry with me a "Do not Resuscitate" Florida card signed by my doctor and me. For me should I face death I desire to die in the most natural way possible. Many others seek to use every method possible to extend it. You make the choice you desire. On this question you do not have to make a decision. In America it is made for you unless you opt out. I do think it important to consider a ?Living Will?. This is different but I will not go into it here. Check it out and let your family know because they may have to make these decisions for you should you be incapable. Putting off these important decision puts a huge stress on your family as they seek to make decisions for you concerning your life and death. Often there are conflicting opinions that tear families apart or leave family members guilty for the remainder of their lives. Help your family by deciding about a "Living Will" and "Do Not Resuscitate".

Discuss your funeral plans with someone close or list your desires on paper and keep it with your Will.
This is another of those important decisions that can help your family. For missionaries and traveling evangelists and people living in other countries you should be very clear with your family as to whether you are to be buried in the nation you die in or your body taken back to your homeland. Some want to be buried where they die, others taken back. The worst time to make funeral plans is at the time of death. That often is when all the plans are made. The family is grief-stricken and very emotional. Please help your loved ones by discussing with them or putting on paper your desires. Where do you want to be buried? Who do you want to speak at your funeral? Do you want a funeral or a memorial celebration? Do you want to be cremated?
Be careful not to let a Funeral Home sell you a hugely expensive funeral or coffin at an emotionally vulnerable time.

Do not leave anything left unsaid. Should you love someone in a special way then tell them. Express your love to family and friends. Leave nothing left unsaid should you or they die. Many people live a life of regret having left some things unsaid or undone. You don?t have to make that mistake. I have often seen people go to a funeral home or funeral to see a person that had died and yet it had been years since they had gone to see them when alive. The same thing could be said about talking to someone. Years pass and you never call that person then they die and you have all these wonderful things to say about them. They sure would have liked a call while they were alive.

As for me I am alive now. Should you have something to say to me then do it now I'd like to hear it. Don't wait for me to die then write. Ha! All we have is now so say it all now.

Live as though you would die today. I think one of the most important things in life is to live each day as though it were your last. There is freedom in this and joy. Be free and don?t be bound with fear. Even the Bible says in James 4:13-15 - Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit"; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that." I just love the above verses. It keeps things in order and focuses on the truth of the shortness and uncertainty of time.

Life is not your God. I want to make just a short but powerful comment here. I think how you live your life is more important than how long you live it! Some people seem to worship life itself. We are to worship God not life. Think of the fact that all will die and then you face eternity. The older I get the more I come to realize I now have more friends on the other side than I have on this side. People often make the choice to die rather than live. Think of all the military people that have made a decision to die if necessary for what they believe in. Many people hold values they would rather die for than give up this truth are value or conviction. God gave life so He can also take it.

You don't have to know the reason "Why" someone died. It is so naturally human to want to know the reason why. But almost always we don't know and never will know "why". From accidents to cancer to old age or children or babies we seek answers to the age-old question of "why". I can give you no answer except that the Bible says "it is appointed unto man once to die, but after this the judgement". (Hebrews 9:27 in the Holy Bible) Somehow come to accept death as an unavoidable part of life.

There is nothing wrong with tears and sadness and grief for the loss of loved ones. Jesus wept! He cried several times in the Gospel record of His life. Once this was upon hearing of the death of Lazarus a friend of His. So tears are not a sin. Be free and express you emotions. You may not feel like crying and that too is fine. I did not weep when I heard my mother was dead as we were on the way to see her but I did later. Mostly my tears have come as it gets dark because I phoned her almost every night. She has now been gone just a week but I find it even hard to see the computer through the tears of love and loss that flow down my face. I was holding my father's hand when he died. I did not cry till I was back on the road carrying the cross and then the tears just poured. We are all different people, so be the person you are.

Now go out and "Live"! God loves you. Many people need you. Be at peace with God and with others. Let the world know the glorious news of Jesus.

John 11:25-27 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. "And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?" She said to Him, "Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world."

A pilgrim follower of Jesus,
Arthur Blessitt Editor

Comments

If you have any comments on the above article or would like to communicate with John Flanner about any matters or need encouragement in any way, please email him at:

Email:    This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.