There are many offensive words in our English language. Nobody wants to talk about it. Nobody wants to admit it… but, this one affects all of us. It is negative; it is harsh; it is down right ugly. It reminds of us of our human limits. It is known as “the debt that all men pay.” Have you figured it out yet?
I have been reminded of this word far too often in the past few months. In fact, I am still dealing with this cruel irony.
Death… or Deliverance?
“Why, would you want to write about a topic like this?” you may ask. It is a horrible topic to talk about. Well, guess what? It happens every day to thousands of people. “Well, that sounds so shallow and insensitive!” you reply. Why yes, it does, and I am sorry I offended you.
But, there is good news. There is hope. “How?” you now scream at me. “Tell me how you are going to explain yourself out of this mess?” My reply, “Gently, and with love.”
I believe that all human beings have a difficult time with the concept of death. All the statistics show that 100% of us are going to experience it at some point, we would rather not think about it. I used to be one of those idealists who figured that I would have to worry about this tragedy when I became old.
Today marks a new day for a young lady, whom I have not yet met. She is the age of my eldest son, and she will never walk down the graduation aisle or the wedding aisle. But, last night, she walked her last steps on earth, and marched straight into heaven.
She was delivered from her earthly body, full of pain and disease.
This is not easy news to bear. Nobody wants to hear about suffering, illness, or death. But, at some point, we ALL will have to face one or more of these things.
So, even when we will come to this point in our lives, we don’t have to choose sorrow.
Death equates with sorrow.
Deliverance equates with saved.
I have had my share of pain. Five years ago I was inflicted with an acute illness that could have taken away my life here on earth. I was fortunate. Through the immense amount of pain and physical symptoms, I was healed. I was given a second chance. I was delivered from my pain, and I am still alive on earth for a while longer.
Some people are given second chances at life. Some are not so fortunate. The view of life and death is a matter of perspective. It’s a matter of God’s choosing. (Yes, a lot will disagree here).
The apostle Paul wrote in the book of Philippians in the New Testament, “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Ch 1, verse 21).
In 1st Thessalonians Chapter 4, verse 13, he says, “Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that do not grieve like the rest of mankind.”
And, in 2 Timothy Chapter 4, verse 7, he says, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
The list of verses can go on and on about having life on earth, and then be swept into eternity.
It’s not so much about how a person is going to die, but what a person does with his or her life on earth… so that death will bring about a legacy of hope and eternal salvation!
Becoming Process Driven 