The Last Unmentionable

Mention death and watch the reactions – fear, uneasiness, discomfort, even shock. Acknowledging that death is inevitable is the last unmentionable, it seems. American Baby Boomers (yes, my generation) are living longer due to medical intervention.  The percentage of Americans over the age of 75 has quadrupled over the last century. This creates a false expectation of immortality makes the arrival of death, even to those who are far advanced in years, an intrusion, a surprise.  

“Dying well” is seldom talked about, as if even the thought that life on the earth must end may hasten the day of our demise.  One researcher discovered that nearly a third of adults who have reached the age of 60 have not considered a plan for medical treatment in the event of terminal illness. An even larger percentage have not prepared a will.

Wishing to die is basically unhealthy, we know that! But, ignoring death is folly, too. The Psalmist prayed, “Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom.”   Without an awareness of the march of time to an ending point of this earthly life, we will likely waste too many days and too much of our resources on things that lack real value. We will leave disputes unsettled, love unspoken, and sacrifice deferred.

There was a time when thoughtful people kept a skull as a memento mori  (Latin for “Remember death”) at their desk. Morbid? No. They were to be a reminder for the living that they should live with an awareness of their mortality so that they would arrive at that moment prepared. What a contrast to our way of life. We sanitize death and worship youth. The dying are removed (in many cases) from our homes, placed in the care of medical professionals.  We move quickly through rituals of death and grieving  to resume ‘life.’    

Christians live with hope in the face of death.  St. Paul insists that the Resurrection of Christ is the evidence that the grave is not the end of existence. Jesus said that He is the Resurrection and the Life for those who trust Him.  So, friend, are you ready to die?  No as in “I want to die today,” but as in “I have loved, I have forgiven, I have settled debts, I have lived to create a legacy.”

The word from the Word is lengthy, but encouraging, at least for me. (smile)  Read the inspired text with a prayer that the Spirit will set hope in your heart making it possible for you to grapple with that moment that will certainly arrive.    

"Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 

Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. We live by faith, not by sight." (2 Corinthians 5:1-7, NIV)

What do you need to do today to prepare?

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Farther Along

Tempted and tried we're oft made to wonder

Why it should be thus all the day long

While there are others living about us

Never molested tho in the wrong

Farther along we'll know all about it

Farther along we'll understand why

Cheer up my brother live in the sunshine

We'll understand it all by and by

When death has come and taken our loved ones

It leaves our home so lonely and drear

Then do we wonder why others prosper

Living so wicked year after year

Faithful till death said our loving Master

A few more days to labor and wait

Toils of the road will then seem as nothing

As we sweep thru the beautiful gate

When we see Jesus coming in glory

When He comes from His home in the sky

Then we shall meet Him in that bright mansion

We'll understand it all by and by

Jesse Randal Baxter Jr. | W. B. Stevens

© 1937 Bridge Building Music, Inc. (Admin. by Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing, Inc.)

CCLI License # 810055

Seeing past the labels

Robin Leach, best known for a program on TV that aired in the 1980’s, Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, died last week. He entertained by giving people a look at celebrities and their wealth, his signature line being about "champagne wishes and caviar dreams.”  He made himself rich by playing to the American obsession with money.  Is that really a new thing?  Not at all.  Wealth has always attracted the attention of others - as far back as we can track history! 

Money creates an illusion of ‘good’ and makes a person desirable in the eyes of most.

James asks those who love Jesus to think differently.  He says, "My dear friends, don’t let public opinion influence how you live out our glorious, Christ-originated faith. If a man enters your church wearing an expensive suit, and a street person wearing rags comes in right after him, and you say to the man in the suit, “Sit here, sir; this is the best seat in the house!” and either ignore the street person or say, “Better sit here in the back row,” haven’t you segregated God’s children and proved that you are judges who can’t be trusted?  

Listen, dear friends. Isn’t it clear by now that God operates quite differently? He chose the world’s down-and-out as the kingdom’s first citizens, with full rights and privileges. This kingdom is promised to anyone who loves God. And here you are abusing these same citizens! Isn’t it the high and mighty who exploit you, who use the courts to rob you blind? Aren’t they the ones who scorn the new name—“Christian”—used in your baptisms? You do well when you complete the Royal Rule of the Scriptures: “Love others as you love yourself.” (James 2:1-8, The Message)

We say we are not impressed by the label on clothes or the kind of car she drives, but too often our glance tells a differently story.  Admitting that we treat persons with wealth differently  than the poor is a tough thing. When we look at that bias in the light of day it is ugly and shallow, isn’t it?  The lie that a person of wealth is a superior person creeps up on us, resulting in favoritism and discrimination. Those first generation Christians let it happen in their churches and Pastor James told them to knock it off for Christ’s sake!

He is not just asking Christians to be ‘nice.’  We may do kind things for those we see as ‘different’ all while keeping them a distance, our kindness coming from sympathy rather than true love.  James invites us to be completely different, changed from the heart by the Holy Spirit.  We need the eyes of Jesus, the ability to see others not for their color, clothes, or attractiveness; but for their heart and character. 

This is not just sentimental or idealistic. Loving all, the ‘royal law’ in James’ words, is the basic trait of those who know Jesus.  (He does not address it, but there can be a similar response in the poor who let caricatures about the rich cause bias as well.  That is equally offensive to our Father because it leads to giving value to a person solely based on first impressions and external appearance.)

Paul came at the problem of discrimination this way. In our word from the Word he reminds us that entrance into God’s love is not found in noble birth, high position, or personal wealth.  "Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God." (1 Corinthians 1:26-29, NLT)

Let pray for release from our prejudice, for a new and honest way of living.   Pray that you will choose to live God's way! "True godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. . . . people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction." (1 Timothy 6:6-10, NLT)

_________________

How to stay on top of life

Tuesday was not a grand day at my house.  There were the petty irritations– a broken appliance, a missed appointment. Then there was a phone call that brought the news that a person I care for had taken yet another step in the long process of destroying his life, his choice both breaking my heart and filling me with anger!  I was disappointed in myself, too, wondering why I could not be more consistently loving in these situations. You know about those kind of days, don’t you?  They are too common.

That old Curse of sin fills our lives with frustrations.

In the story that tells about sin’s coming to Creation, there is a choice of rebellion, resulting in the alienation of the created from the Creator.  Then, we read God pronouncement that because of sin, the ground "will produce thorns and thistles for you … By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.” (Genesis 3:18-19, NIV)  There you have the summary of human existence and it isn’t a pretty picture, is it?  Apart from God, our days are a struggle. We are often defeated. And, we die – spiritually and physically. Many just give up, deciding to relieve the tedium with some momentary pleasure, regardless of the long-term consequence.

But I do not live in Genesis 3 any longer, nor must you! 

Jesus came to announce a new Way for us to see the grip of sin broken – so that we can find "a rich and satisfying life." (John 10:10, NLT)  In the middle of the messes of this sin-sick world, those of us who are ‘in Christ’ can stay on top of it. How?  Paul, after experiencing terrible persecution for bringing the Message of Christ to a pagan city, was knocked down for a time.  But, he got up and dusted himself off, pressing on with hope.

Take encouragement from the assurance that pulses through the Spirit inspired words he penned.  "We know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence. All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:14-18, NIV)

So, what can we learn that will change the broken to whole, the meaningless to purposeful?

-Because of Christ, we are headed HOME!

Genesis says, ‘you just dirt, destined to return to dirt!’  Jesus says, “You’re an eternal creature and though you die, you will be raised to the Presence of God!”

-The difficulties of life are the fertile soil in which God’s grace can grow!

When we live hopefully in Christ, when we find His strength to overcome, people see Him. (Remember yesterday’s thought about treasure in clay pots?)  When others see that we are connected to an unseen, yet very powerful Person, the message spreads and the Kingdom of God expands. We don’t just survive with gritted teeth; we thrive with a joy that rises up through our tears – not because we are clever or strong, but because the Spirit is renewing us inwardly, day by day.

Here is that same passage from a paraphrase of Scripture. Prayerfully read this word from the Word and let it sink deep into your mind. “The One who raised up the Master Jesus will just as certainly raise us up with you, alive. Every detail works to your advantage and to God’s glory: more and more grace, more and more people, more and more praise! So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever." (2 Corinthians 4:14-18, The Message)

Kneel for a few moments and wait for the Lord. Hand off the frustrations, the sins, the fatigue to Him.  "Cast all your anxiety on him because He cares for you." (1 Peter 5:7, NIV)

___________

Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)

You call me out upon the waters

The great unknown where feet may fail

And there I find You in the mystery

In oceans deep my faith will stand

And I will call upon Your name

And keep my eyes above the waves

When oceans rise

My soul will rest in Your embrace

For I am Yours and You are mine

Your grace abounds in deepest waters

Your sov'reign hand will be my guide

Where feet may fail and fear surrounds me

You've never failed and You won't start now

Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders

Let me walk upon the waters

Wherever You would call me

Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander

And my faith will be made stronger

In the presence of my Saviour

I will call upon Your name

Keep my eyes above the waves

My soul will rest in Your embrace

I am Yours and You are mine

Joel Houston | Matt Crocker | Salomon Ligthelm

© 2012 Hillsong Music Publishing (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)

CCLI License # 810055