While it is true every human is dying a little bit each day physically based on the science of time and physics of gravity against aging, corruptible flesh…we Christians are actually supposed to celebrate death and dying. While it flies against the norm of our secular upbringing and thinking, we are instructed on these matters quite pointedly in “The Book”. We are actually supposed to choose death and denial of self over living for self or trying to sustain this life at all costs. The fear of death or dying is not to be part of our spiritual makeup and our sacrifice of all things spiritual in order to hold on to our mortal bodies is tremendously short sighted in light of eternal promise.
I invite as many as I can to die with me daily…but few people choose to think about or do this with me. That’s okay, I don’t need many or anybody actually to authenticate this spiritual call on my life by the Gospel of Christ.
The Church is my hospital, and I have replaced the mortuary plan with heavenly insurance and assurance by the shed blood of Jesus on the cross which paid the price of my sin and disobedience. I welcome the end of THIS life when the Father determines it.
I strive to live (and die) according to Philippians 1:21-23…
“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.”
And in Matthew 16:25-27… Jesus said,
“For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.” (Emphasis on “done”…not “believed”)
Simply put, let us not live our lives for the cares of this world, but let us lose our lives here that we might gain it there…for eternity.