Have you ever thought about how strange death is? How, one moment, someone is full of life, can move, communicate, contain warmth, and blink, and the next moment, all of this goes away. How sticking something sharp in a single organ can cause everything you’ve ever had in your life to come to an end.
I think for a Christian, death, in a very strange way, can be a beautiful thing. It shows even more than something does happen to us when we die. Otherwise, what is death? I think that when someone dies, their soul leaves their earthly body and goes to live with Christ with a brand new, perfect body for eternity. Though it’s still extremely sad to never have a person around again, we should be joyful that, if they are a Christian, they are with their Savior.
I have recently been thinking about what a reality death is. How, one day, sooner or later, we will face death, whether it be an instant one, or a long drawn-out, disease or injury-caused death. This really makes you pause and consider how you spend your days. When you reach the end, do you want to face it, thinking, “man, I totally wasted my life,” or, “wow, I really accomplished some great things for Christ in my lifetime.” I know I want to die with the peace that I’ve lived every moment for the sake of Christ. I know that sometimes I fail, and get lazy, but I really want to try to live out my life for Christ and His kingdom, and I encourage you to do the same.
micknick Said:
on September 24, 2008 at 2:34 am
I totally agree. You said how beautiful death can be if you are a Christian. Then you were talking about different kinds of deaths and you mentioned a “long drawn-out” one. I started to think that if you are a Christian, lying with a breathing tube down your throat, on your death bed, and death really is that beautiful, then how wrong would it be to tell the doctor to end your suffering? I thought before that it would be wrong, but now I am not really sure- kind of like Paul’s internal debate, before he died.
Sorry if that was random.
Daniel Said:
on September 24, 2008 at 4:33 pm
I’m reminded of a song here by Shane and Shane. A particular verse gives a sobering reminder of the imminence of death and the folly of pursuing riches. From the song “Over the Sun” from the album “Pages.”
“Sitting around the fireplace
With a friend who’s been through it all
Soloman, wisest one
Tell me what you have found
Under the sun, under the sun
He answered
Get over the sun
Where life is hidden
Then he put on
A somber face
Talked about how
The rich man will waste
Away in the ground
Where the poor man is found
Painted up, like a clown
Under the sun, under the sun
He answers
Son you’ll soon be done
A life spent on some shiny god
Who leaves you empty”
squigs Said:
on September 24, 2008 at 5:47 pm
Why would you want to end your suffering when you have that much more of a chance to bring others to Christ? By staying strong in Christ even in the face of death others see your example, and understand either: this person is an idiot, or their faith in Christ is really giving them something that I don’t have. By asking your doctor to help you commit suicide, you’re slapping God in the face by saying “I don’t want this extra time on earth that you’ve given me.”
micknick Said:
on September 24, 2008 at 10:29 pm
I know you are right. I was just referring to someone in a position where their death is imminent and body is basically useless. I still don’t really think it would be right even then, though. In other words, I don’t think should try to kill yourself whenever you get sick, however reading this post did make me think there could possibly be times when doing so may not be sinning. Don’t hold me to that though. . .