Death and Dying... we're all in this together
If there exists one experience that, throughout history and
around the world, binds mankind together, it is death. Death
is something we all must face--no exercise or diet regimen,
no meditation techniques, no amount of money can avoid it.
It is the great equalizer.
The finality of death, coupled with the uncertainty of an
afterlife, results in fear, for many. We see it all around
us as we try so hard to stop the aging process. We hope that
the next pill, the next surgery, or the next genetic
discovery will be the key to extending our lives.
Death and Dying... combating fear
Not everyone, however, faces death with fear and
uncertainty. A few years ago a friend of mine faced this
faceless enemy. At 16 he was diagnosed with stomach cancer.
The doctors tried every treatment at their disposal, all to
no avail. For a year and a half Rob was in three different
hospitals in two different cities. In that time he lost 90
pounds and all of his hair. He was an inpatient and an
outpatient. Sadly, after 18 months, nothing remained to be
done for him.
Having reached the end of their rope, Rob's doctors did
the only thing left to do. They sent him home to try to
enjoy the last days of his life. At this point, I was
horribly sad, afraid of losing a dear friend and mad at God.
I was mad that God did not heal him. I was also mad that Rob
would miss out on so much.
Amazingly, Rob did not share my anger. In fact, he seemed
to be meeting this horrible fate with the anxiety one might
experience on a first date. To this day, when I think of his
peace in the face of the storm, I am in awe.
His peace was not merely an inborn, laid-back look at
life. Nor did it spring from a devil-may-care attitude.
Instead it came from a decision Rob made only months before
the initial diagnosis. With that decision, Rob found peace
with God.
Death and Dying... finding peace
The peace Rob knew, he found in the Bible. In the book of
Romans, he read that "all have sinned and fall short of
the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). He also read,
"The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is
eternal life in Christ Jesus" (Romans 6:23).
Jesus is the one Isaiah referred to when he wrote,
"And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor,
Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace" (Isaiah
9:6). The Prince of Peace came to Earth so that each person
might have peace with God. Rob decided to put his trust in
Jesus, and this peace became very evident.
Rob is not the only person who needs to make this
decision, we all do. We must decide if we will accept God's
gift of eternal life. If we reject God's gift, we are
condemned to spiritual death--eternal separation from God.
If we do accept, however, then eternal life is ours.
While this eternal life does not mean we will escape
physical death, we can face death a lot easier knowing that
it leads to eternal life in heaven. This is the truth which
Rob discovered, and the ensuing relationship with God made
all the difference in the world. This is the truth I have
discovered, and the relationship makes all the difference
everyday of my life.
If you are facing death and dying, or maybe you are
facing the struggle of living, you can still have peace and
hope. If you would like to e-mail someone to discuss
this please Click Here.
©
EveryStudent.com
