AS DEATH NEARS

AS DEATH NEARS
(By Joe R. Price)

Hospice care is designed to ease physical pain and suffering as death nears. It is a helpful service that offers dignity, palliative care, and comfort to the person approaching death, as well as their families.

Surprisingly, many people will not even talk about death, their own, or that of a loved one. Of course, that does not slow death's approach or prevent its arrival. Perhaps they convince themselves that by not thinking and talking about death they can avoid its encroachment. Or perhaps the topic is too unpleasant and painful for them. Nevertheless, death is common to us all (Heb. 9:27).

Solomon, in his wisdom, said it is wise to go to the house of mourning because "that is the end of all men" and "the living will lay it to heart" (Eccl. 7:2). Visit the house of mourning with me for a moment as we ask ourselves a few questions.

(1) Am I ready to die? This is not a question about whether we want to die right now, but whether we are ready to die should it happen now. We do not know when we will die. This is why we must be watchful and ready; only a breath separates us from death. Paul could say, "To live is Christ, and to die is gain" (Phil. 1:21). He was ready to die because he was living for Christ. That is how we are ready to die as death nears (James 4:13-15).

(2) Am I right with God? How you answer this question depends largely on how you answered the first one. Being right with God does not mean I "think" I am right (remember the people of Matt. 7:21-23). Paul was not ready to die when he persecuted Christians, although he thought he was right with God (Acts 26:9-11). Later, Paul was ready to die because he had fought the good fight, finished the course, and kept the faith (2 Tim. 4:7). The man with great wealth was not right with God when his soul was required of him. That parable is a tragic illustration of treasuring up riches for ourselves but failing to be "rich toward God" (Luke 12:15-21). Get right with God now. Obey Christ's gospel and live by faith in Him. Then you will be right with God as death nears (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:36-41; Gal. 2:20).

(3) What spiritual legacy will I leave? In the end, what matters will not be how large a financial estate we leave behind. Each of us will leave some kind of spiritual legacy to the next generation. Will our lives speak beyond the grave of faith, love for God, and service to others (Heb. 11:4)? Will the next generation know God because we spoke His truth and lived faithful lives (Psalms 71:18)? What spiritual legacy are you preparing to leave as death nears?