We must all face death of our flesh. And just like us, Paul an apostle of Christ was facing execution because of his faith in Jesus Christ. He wrote 2 Timothy while he was awaiting execution. This is what he says:
"... the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." (2 Timothy 4:7)
Paul knows Jesus Christ has "destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel." (2 Timothy 1:10) Therefore, Paul is able to face death with strength and unwavering faith.
He says, "The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever." (2 Timothy 4:18)
This letter was written while Paul was in jail, persecuted for his faith, awaiting his beheading. Because of his strong faith through the grace of God, he is at peace, and is able to stare death of his flesh into the eyes, knowing that eternal life awaits. He has "fought the good fight."
So often do I lose sight of death, yet when I admit my flesh will someday perish, I am able to focus on more meaningful things in my life. I must rely on God's grace.
Paul, facing martyrdom, accepts death gracefully because he knows what awaits him. Have we admitted our mortality to ourselves? It is a humbling experience knowing how fragile our flesh is and how powerless we truly are. Yet, we are offered eternal life, not because of our righteousness but out of God's mercy for us. All we have to do is choose, to have faith, and open the door to God.
1 comment:
Eventually, we will all die one day. Some of us do bury this thought and continue to live our lives as immortals. Some of us don't have time to think of it, we're too ‘busy ‘... how busy? Some of us just don't want to talk about it because it could be bad luck ... so is this the way you live your life, by luck? Some of us are scared or frightened to picture our last breath of life in this world … why the fright?
Go and ask yourself, why don't you want to think about it? It might be one of the answers above or you may have another answer. There is no better time to think about it than now, especially if you are gifted another day of life.
We all take time to plan our day, work schedule, meetings and appointments, retirement, investments, wills/trust(estate), purchasing of items/spending, home improvement, vacations, college, entertainment, meals, holidays, and other plans that I have neglected to mention. Why do we do this? The answer is maybe because it is very important and probably a good and smart thing to do.
Ok, if we are all ‘smart’ enough to think about what we plan alive, then where is the 'smarts' to think about a plan for our physical death or especially after death?
Do we just go only as far as thinking about funeral arrangements? Should we believe that when we die, there is nothing else beyond that. If so, doesn’t it conjure up the question then what is my life on earth all about and what for?
Do we just rely that we go automatically to heaven after death? Some of us do. Remember how the saying goes. If there is a heaven, there must be a hell. So how do you guarantee that you will get to where you want to go? How do you know for sure, especially if you want it to be heaven?
Can we believe that in doing ‘good’ always, that this will be our ticket to heaven? Many of us think this way, but what are the ‘good’ things, where is the list, and if there is a list, who created the list? Can we always do ‘good’ or will there be some occasions we will miss the mark?
If you believe that our relatives that have already passed on will receive you as part of the family again, when or where did you find this promise or have you just used this thought for comfort?
If you believe there is a supreme being that will take care of this death issue, how is this supreme being communicating this to you or is it a feeling that you have?
I hope these questions and comments are provoking enough so you feel urgency and would yearn daily for the truth and that your yearning increases as each day go by until you get fulfilling answers that would speak and comfort your heart.
Fortunately, I already have been blessed and given the answers by my faith in God through Christ, my Savior.
Warren
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