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Waiting to Die
When are you going to die? Would you like to live to be a certain age? If you could choose how to die, how would you like to go?
Don’t worry, I’m not in a morbid mood and I’m not depressed either. I have been contemplating mortality the older I get. When I was a kid I thought I’d live forever. The only person I knew that had died was my Grandma, and as a child of four I understood that she had moved to Heaven. In fact, we joked that the thunder was Grandma bowling. Through my life I’ve experienced the passing of favorite teachers, high school pals, more grandparents, and even a very dear friend. It’s a natural part of life to consider the shortness of it. But what would a healthy perspective be on the subject?
I spent some time recently with a 72 year old friend. She has been vibrant and healthy until this year. Now she finds herself in a nursing home learning to walk again, praying for one more chance to get out there and live before she dies.
My mom is in her sixties and winning her second battle with cancer. My friend Jeremy was giving a death sentence called Lymphoma at age 33, but was miraculously healed. One of my best friends was injured severely in a freak accident and died suddenly.
It occurs to me that we have no promise of how long we’re going to live. I don’t even think that is the important question. Not “how long will you live”, but “how will you live?”
If you had a serious diagnosis from the doctor, would you accept defeat, sit down and wait to die?
You see, God doesn’t promise us a long life. In fact, if you ask a healthy person in their eighties if they’ve lived long enough, you’ll probably hear about how short it has really been. The point is that we’re not called to live a long life, but a life worth living. Every day is a gift, an opportunity to bring Glory to God, to walk in His love, and to be grateful for what we have. Each day you have something to do that needs to be done, whether you like it or not. I have a family to care for, children to raise, a wife to love, a job to do, friends to encourage, prayers to pray, God to worship, and life to live. I’m convinced that whatever things may challenge my earthly mortality, I’m not leaving this life one moment before God has planned for my departure. I love the words of a song by Country stars Big & Rich that say “I’ll live this life, ‘til this life won’t let me live here anymore.”
It’s natural to consider how short our life may be, but it is not acceptable to sit around and wait for the end to come. Psalm139 says that God knew all of our days and wrote them in His book before we lived the first one. So, I choose to live each given day intentionally. I will wake each morning with gratitude, I will meet each challenge with courage, I will cripple each fearful moment with faith, and I will live a life worth living until I stop breathing. That’s when I will just begin to live.
Added October 21, 2009 by Sammy Pawlak
Judi Crowhurst on Wed, 21st Oct 2009 12:23 pm
Sammy, what insight you have. That is exactly how I would say it. I’ve also been told of a “death sentence” but I refuse to accept it. I will live under God’s command as long as He sees fit. Praise God we can trust Him and His love for us. I have plans for the future and excitement about fulfilling it.
Blessing!!
Gene Gott on Wed, 21st Oct 2009 4:50 pm
I always thought i would die young because i lived a very hard, and reckless life in my youth. i never even planned to live past fifty. Until i met Jesus life to me was just something i had to do and at times i couldn’t wait to be done with it. I’m comming up on 46 now and a few years ago i had a real encounter with Jesus and accepted him as my Lord and savior. Now i look at life and death much differently. I regret the way i used to look at life because had i known then what i know now i would certainly lived it much differently. now i look forward to each day rather than dreading the monotany of another day. life only truly begins when you come face to face with Jesus. Cherish each moment you have here but wait in expectation for the moment you are gone because only then will you truly live
Rocky Pawlak on Thu, 5th Nov 2009 6:12 am
hay to die is to move on one more step to be with are lord
just to be able to see him is worth the very short wait so just injoy the time here on earth and plan on a group meatting
when we all get there some times we cant spend time here with are loved ones oh but look at when we get to heaven there be forever what a great word forever keep up the good fight it will be worth it
rocky
April Goodner on Tue, 10th Nov 2009 2:08 pm
Great word of encouragement. It’s always a good reminder for me, with my family & schedule & craziness to remember to be intentional with loving and encouraging others. This simple life is such a short breath compared to eternity…it’s just a dress rehearsal here for the real deal when we live with Jesus and rule and reign with Him. I don’t want to get so lost in the chaos of this world that I forget to prepare for the one to come. Thanks, Sammy! Again, you rock!
John on Wed, 3rd Feb 2010 5:51 pm
The miracle of mortal death, is an inmortal eternity!! When my great Grand Father was dying in 1973, he was 97 years old… As he begsn to fade from this life, he said in the presence of his Kids “There He is!!” The Kids all ask.. Who Daddy who?” He replied “I see Jesus, He is coming to get me, and there is Sally (Wife) and their are the Kids, they are awaiting me too!”
Then he faded away…. So when your life is hid in Christ, though we lay this body down, when we die in Christ, we then live in Spirit! You can kill the body, but you can’t kill the soul.
When your in Christ, then you step into His kingdom, the Kingdom of God! What an amazing and glorious place we have to look forward to!
I love the Lord all the more!!
I can’t wait to say also….”There He Is!”
John Little