People tend to avoid the subject of death when it comes
up. But death is real, we all face it someday, maybe today, and most are afraid
of it. Due to religious, societal, or denominational preferences, most like to
believe that when they die, they are good, and go to heaven, based on who they
are, not on what they have done. They may act like hell, but don’t want to go
there, and reject or make sport of those who espouse heaven and the only way to
get there, Jesus Christ. They want all the benefits, they just don’t want the
one who gains them access. Years ago while discussing death, we agreed we are
not afraid of death, we know Jesus and are saved, but we are not sure about the
process. Having been as close to death as you can come without dying, I can tell
you part of the process is falling asleep. And like being asleep, you don’t
realize you were until you wake up. And you cannot choose the day of your death,
although some try, just as you could not have a voice on the day you were born.
And scripture plainly tells us “the day of our death is better than the day we
were born,” if you are saved. Two deaths, not my own, have particularly touched
me, let me explain.
While watching TV the other day, during my surfing
exercise I came upon a documentary about death. It was filmed live, about a man
serving a life sentence in prison, and his slow death. Not sure where he was
with Christ, but even the guards felt sorry for him in his slow death process.
No family, only guards, he was so lonely, and I thought of my friends in prison,
and their loneliness in life, and now death. It must be horrible to live in
prison, but worse to die there. How horrible to die alone. No friends, no
family, no one to care. But this death was different, as a group of black men
who knew Jesus had formed an hospice group, and ministered to him unto death.
They gathered around this dying white man, and gave him comfort. No preaching,
but loved on him. Sharing Jesus in action, backing it up with words. And being
there when he died. When he fell asleep. Comforting him being led by the spirit,
the one Jesus sent to comfort us while alive. How sad it took death for this man
to be part of it. He may have rejected Jesus his whole life, but these men
stayed with him to the end, even moving the guards and warden to compassion.
Lonely in jail, lonely in life, lonely in death. And when no one came to claim
his body, off to a free field where the poor prisoners were buried. With only an
ID number to remember him by. I was touched by his death, he fell asleep as I
did, but more touched by the hospice men. They showed love and compassion for
him until the end. Showing him heaven, yet it was his decision of his final
destination. Despite his choice, which was never told, they loved him. I wonder,
could we do the same?
I worked with Kevin’s dad, and never got to know him
until we moved west. When we were over for dinner, we got to see Kevin at home,
not the hospital. He had lost one leg to cancer, and was in and out of the
hospital. He pushed my sons around in his wheelchair, and was known for knocking
on his hollow leg, and watch his teacher go to his classroom door to see who was
there. He was filled with life, but sadly also filled with cancer. Some would
claim it was his youth, but Kevin knew Jesus, and had no problem telling about
him. He was going to die, he knew, as the cancer was spreading throughout his
body, but he faced each day, even the last ones, with a smile. I was awoken one
morning with a phone call from his father, telling me Kevin had died. He was
only 13. He told me how in his last days Kevin was hospitalized, and kept
insisting he was going home. Emphatic about it. Yet his parents and doctors knew
he never would. He was too sick. Yet when he died, peacefully and joyfully it
was only then that his father knew what Kevin meant when he kept exclaiming “I’m
going home.” He meant heaven, he was so close to God he knew. Up until his final
breath he testified about Jesus. His body may be dying, but his spirit was
alive, and he was excited abut going home. One final note, his mother was
stricken with blindness just before he had his leg amputated, and just after
Kevin died she got it back. God had spared her the pain and agony of seeing her
son less than whole. A miracle within the miracle. And the next time they meet
they all will be perfect in heaven....and I want to go back. Which is the best
way I can describe what I saw, what I experienced. I want to go back.
So in death we receive life in Christ. Born twice, die
once, or born once, die twice as the saying goes. But you don’t have to die or
live in loneliness. Jesus sent the spirit, the comforter, his spirit to guide
and be with us. We are never alone. It took a show about death in prison to
remind me, and I still feel the loneliness that man felt. Don’t go through life
alone, or worse yet lonely. Jesus wants to be your friend, turn to him now. The
best friend you will ever have, he will not abandon you unto hell, yet will
guide you into heaven. And heavenly things on earth. Kevin knew and couldn’t
wait to get home, he knew where he was from and where he was going. He comforted
others in his final days, a reverse hospice if you will. And I will think on
those prison hospice men for some time, and how Jesus showed through them. No
bars could contain them from their freedom in Christ. They may be incarcerated,
but where the spirit of the Lord is, they enjoyed his freedom. And will share
the same heaven with Kevin someday. As I will....and I hope you will too. Jesus
makes the difference between life and death. Don’t wait until you are facing
death to know him, know him today and know life. Be excited about going home. We
will all have a release date from earth, don’t leave here with out Jesus.
Meanwhile we are all serving a life term here, who you share it with is up to
you. Everyone’s last ride will be in the same kind of car, a hearse. Where your
soul goes is up to you. Meanwhile, love one another as if it were their last
day. It may be yours. Know Jesus and face the day of your death with eagerness
and great expectation. Someone once loved you enough to share him with
you...pass it on. See you at the Homecoming....until then love one another as
Jesus loved us. And loves us. And remember life is a process too. Now I lay me
down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep.....
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com
http://www.gracebeforedying.org/intro.html