I am in no way an expert on dealing with death bed salvations, but
it has been my experience, that very few folks seek God when they are dying.
While you may think they do, they don’t! What they do seek however, is a
temporary peace in the process of their dying. They want to let go of
their fear and embrace their death no matter how they have lived or what they
have believed up to that point. As a Christian, I am bound by Scripture to lead
them to the One that offers not only temporary, but eternal peace. The peace
that surpasses all their worries and understanding. But for so many, by the
point of dying, they have passed God up so many times in their lives, they no
longer realize that it is still the craving for God that they are seeking, even
though it is peace that they are wanting. I have however, dealt with people who
struggle with finding that peace and when I have shared with them that asking
Christ to come into their hearts will satisfy and bring them peace, many have
said that it is too late for them or have some other sad discourse to share. It
is heart breaking! While some may think that it's best and most important to
respect that person’s wishes, I find myself wanting to and have at times, beg
them to invite Christ into their hearts. But you know, even with death knocking
at the door, some people refuse God’s offer for salvation. For some, like the
thief on the cross who slandered Jesus, instead of asking for mercy, like the
other thief that begged Jesus to remember him; some people will still refuse
the grace of God even upon their death. While we cannot change that, we can
offer God’s love to them, His compassion and encourage them with what we do know.
For what we do not know is if they have passed the opportunity to open the door
that had once been knocked at by the Son of God to come in and sup with them.
But they will know. We must always be willing to offer to them the bread of
life and allow them to make that decision. Before Christ came in to my
heart, I had hope that was based on wishful thinking. When Christ came in to my
life, my hope was changed to peaceful satisfaction and is now steady. My hope
now provides me with the eternal peace that my heart longed for before I came
to Christ. Before Christ, my hope was based out of fear. You see, fear always
replaces Hope. Fear from the unknown, fear from things that scare us. By asking
someone what they are afraid of, may bring about an honest discussion of their
fears and can help you know better how to comfort them.
From a biblical perspective the moment you are born, you are
simultaneously dying and will eventually do so. Life only exists because of
death, and death exists because of life, they are polar opposites of the same
thing, one can’t exist without the other. The problem is that when we cling to
life, we then become afraid of death. Being diagnosed with a terminal illness
can be very traumatic. But sometimes, the comments that we try and offer in an
effort to offer comfort, can be equally distressing. The truth is, many of us
just don't know what to say to a loved one or friend who may be facing their
mortality. But in trying to find the right things to say, it is essential to
understand the seeker, the person seeking comfort, before you try to find out
what it is they are seeking. Is that person seeking peace with God or are they
simply seeking peace to die? Are they struggling over leaving loved ones that
they are concerned for, knowing that they will no longer be alive to take care
of or be of help to? Find out what exactly it is their fear stems from and go
from there. But remember, the best thing to do for someone who may be
facing death, is to allow them to guide your conversations and actions
responding to them with honest answers. God did not make every person a
counselor, but He did give every human being a heart that can show tenderness
and compassion if they so choose to show it. They may just need a friend to
walk with them through the dying process. It is not your responsibility to give
them peace, only God can do that. But they must be willing to receive His peace
on His terms and accept the things they have no control over. Some people live
their whole life fighting against God and they are never able to get rest apart
from letting whatever it is that they are angry about go. The reality is that,
whatever fulfillment we are searching for, is available to us in the very
moments that God convicts the heart to receive Him in. It is the first and last
freedom that God gives us as humans. We have the choice to choose Him and have
eternal peace or to choose eternity without Him. That is the free choice God
has given to every man and woman. Yet, the scriptures are clear in 2 Corinthians
6:2 that, “For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day
of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold,
now is the day of salvation.” While we may not know what that time or hour is
for others, it is always our job to offer and ask. A person will respond to God
in times that we may not understand. If we can help to bring peace to those who
hurt and are far away from God, then I say we make great effort to do so. For
who is to say that that dear one may be allowed to enter eternity with nothing
to show, but their death bed testimony. Keep offering hope as long as you can.
When someone quits clinging to life as their eternal hope and accepts the way
God is speaking to them, they go beyond their fear and realize the scripture is
right when Jesus said in the book of John, that He is the life and no man
comes to the Father but by and through Him.
Loving on you today,
Bren
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