More Than Just A Chance
…it is appointed unto men once to die,
Hebrews 9:27 KJV
Trying to assimilate the doctor’s devastating diagnosis of
stage-4 colon, Jeremy had decided to speak to his pastor. Pastor Raymond Miller
listened as his long-time parishioner and friend shared how he felt about it, “I
never seriously thought about dying, Ray. I always figured I’d live forever.” After
a pause he added, “Or that Jesus would Rapture me and the Church first.”
Jeremy spoke candidly, comfortable with this man, “I know
what the Bible says, Ray. You know…the part about our appointment with death.”
Ray remained silent, knowing Jeremy would work his way
through this.
“But now…” Jeremy picked back up, making an attempt at
levity, “now there’s a chance I’m actually going to die!” Jeremy
went silent; his crooked smile belied his true feelings.
Ray broke the silence, “Jeremy, you said that you might die
from this cancer…and that’s one possibility. The truth is—that short of the
Rapture—we must all face death. It’s more than just a chance, as you jokingly said,
it’s a fact. But it’s also an opportunity…an opportunity to lean on God instead
of trying to navigate life in our own strength. Jeremy, God wants you to be
rightly-related to Him, not just saved…and to fight for life until the day He
takes you home, no matter when that is.”
†
The human mind is wonder-filled. The scope of its full
potential is unfathomable, yet it is equipped with a tremendous capacity for
denial where death is involved.
Not many of us really contemplate our own death. We watch
those we know and love face it, but for some reason we don’t really believe it
will happen to us any time soon; if ever.
Each of us is on a collision course with death. It is
imminent. We are literally unable to cheat it. With such knowledge, how can we
allow our salvation and/or sanctification to remain in limbo, hanging on to the
chance that our death won’t occur
today?
Being rightly-related means moving toward our goal, not
holding it at arms length.
Prayer
“Draw me ever closer,
Lord Jesus. My mind wants to deny the truth that death is more than just a
chance. Help me live like I might just see Your face today. Amen.”
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