“The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.” (Psalm 90:10)
There is a reason the Holy Spirit caused those words to be placed in the Scriptures for us by Moses, a man who lived much longer than those seventy years. Hezekiah was sick unto death until the Almighty granted him another fifteen years. One must question, not how did he live those additional years, but what were the thoughts of his mind as that fifteenth year drew to a close?
“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:” (Heb. 9:27)
Let us not pursue the foolishness of the weaker mind that contemplates the manner of death that the Most High has designed for you, nor the fact that if you have been born-again that the death of the flesh is the only fear of death you will ever face. Instead let us contemplate the man of God, those crucified with Christ, who live their lives with little to no thought whatsoever about their last breath here.
“O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” (1st Cor. 15:55)
Those who live for self, those who live in and for the world state that when they have experienced what they call a “near death” experience, that it alters their perception, their appreciation of life, and many of them will continue in the time remaining to them with the same exuberance that we can imagine King Hezekiah did. The realization of the truth that they are but dust reinvigorates their desire to live life to its fullest.
For me personally, when those moments have happened to me since the Almighty hid me in Christ, I have opened my eyes here on this planet, and experience a form of sadness, and then realize that whatever work He has called me to do has not been completed yet.
“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.” (Psalm 23:6)
The body will continue to deteriorate, the physical pain and mental frustrations will not lessen, and the battle has yet to be finished for me.
It is not what form of death that will arrive for you my friends that we are to fear, or even consider, it is not the glory that will be revealed in us, the pleasures forevermore that are to occupy our thoughts, it is the work that has been set before us. No man can run the race well who believe otherwise.
“Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” (Phil. 4:11)
“Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.” (Job 13:15)
Those who attempt to stay alive here for any other reason are selfish, and that reason could almost be considered foolishness. Those who spend all their time considering heaven, though admirable to a degree, generally place the work set before them by the Almighty as secondary, and again become selfish.
If you have been crucified with Christ then you know where you are going, and you know the way there, through the door of death. That should be the fulness of your thoughts on that subject.
“Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.” (Matt. 24:46)
Working for His glory while waiting in patient anticipation, performing the tasks set before you, and dying to self while performing them.
The path leads to the straight gate, the door of death is right before it.
Those who walk boldly to the throne of grace walk just as boldly to the final door, they stand against the fear of the way it will occur, they do not need to experience that near death moment to realize the joy that has been set before them.
The man of God works in the manner the Lord has called him to, seeing death as nothing more than a door into His presence.
