“and (Job) said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart.
The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.”
Eccl. 8:7,8 'Since no one knows the future, who can tell someone else what is to come? As no one has power over the wind to contain it, so no one has power over the time of their death.'
Edwin Lutzer in his book, “One Minute After You Die”, relates a Middle Eastern fable. A Baghdad merchant sent his servant to the marketplace to run an errand. When the servant was about to leave the marketplace he turned a corner and unexpectedly met Lady Death. The look on her face so frightened him that he left and hurried home. He told his master what had happened and requested his fastest horse so that he could get as far form Lady Death as possible. He rode all the way to Sumera before nightfall.
Later that same afternoon the merchant went to the marketplace and met Lady Death. “Why did you startle my servant this morning?” He asked.
“I didn’t intend to startle your servant, it was I who was startled,” replied lady Death. “I was surprised to see your servant in Baghdad this morning, because I have an appointment with him in Sumera tonight.”
As I conclude the series on “What Happens After I Die”, I felt the need to address one other issue. Who has the right to say when it is time to die? Life and Death issues are being debated in our society like never before. As Christians we want the Scriptures and the leading of the Holy Spirit to be our guide.
The question of death is often debated in the medical field. When we will die is not a matter of accident or chance; the Bible makes it clear that our lives are in God's hands. He knows the time of our death, and He has even appointed it. The Bible says, "Man's days are determined; You (God) have decreed the number of his months and have set limits he cannot exceed" (Job 14:5).
Does this mean we shouldn't seek medical care when we are sick, nor that it doesn't matter if we do dangerous things. We do know this: Someday we will all die. When we know Christ, then we can say with the psalmist, "My times are in your hands" (Psalm 31:15)
Jesus came to give us life -- life right now, and life in the world to come. Make sure of your commitment to Christ today.
This week I will relate four areas that have caused many Christians concerns or questions on the morality of death.
Application: As you go about your tasks today, thank God for your life and the ability to do what you need to do. Then do it all for His glory.
Prayer: Lord, my life is in Your hands, help me to make the best ust of every miinute of my day to glorify you.
