Borrowed Truths

How Long To Live?

how long to live
Borrowed Truths

How Long To Live?

How long are you planning on living for, at what age were you planning on dying?

Now, many of you might see that as a ridiculous question, for none of us know for a fact when that moment will arrive. We know “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” (Psalm 90:12) Also “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:” (Heb. 9:27) And those of us who have reached a certain age group contemplate Psalm 71:9, “Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth.” But as for the specific day the Lord will call us home, that is entirely up to Him.

You may find comfort in Psalm 116:15, “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.” but still, how have you planned for your death, at what age are you prepared to leave your mortal body behind?

Hopefully you said you are prepared right now, but what if the Lord decides to keep you around until old age ravages your body, when stairs are no longer an option for you, when you tire after simply walking a few steps? What if medical needs arrive, what if the money runs out and you are forced to sell everything, what if everything is gone and you have nowhere to go but the street, while the pain continues?

Who allowed Lazarus to lay at the rich man’s gate?

“And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.” (Deut. 31:8) Does that mean you will always have enough money, does it mean you will always have medical insurance or even a hospital or clinic to go to, or does it mean that He will sit with you under that bridge while you suffer physical pain?

I fear most people who claim Christ as Lord fit into the former category, they believe they will always have a warm, comfortable house, medical services when they require them, pain pills and basically a life void of any real inconvenience, save for the occasional trial which they will still question His will in.

“In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.” (Job 1:22)

They expect God to serve them because after all they are one of His children, and, at least in their minds, they have behaved accordingly. This is not pride, it is a type of self-enablement, living in what they consider a godly manner because if they do not there will be punishments from the Almighty, and to them that punishment is pain that will not go away, a loss of the ability to pay for health care, for the services of a physician, or even to purchase what they consider the necessities of life.

I ask this question again only for your contemplation, would Job, if he was alive today, and the Lord allowed what He allowed to happen to him go to the doctors office, even if he had no money or health insurance?

How long were you planning on living and in what physical condition do you need to be in before you say, “Enough, I am ready to go home to heaven.” When will Christ be enough?

“And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.” (Job 2:4)

Does that verse speak of you, will you sell everything for one more day of life, will you put the mask on, get the vaccine and all the boosters so you can walk into that clinic and ask them to make the pain go away, ask them to help you have just one more day of life?

You should know by now the verse I am going to end this short letter with.

“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (Phil. 1:21)

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