When Is It Right to Die? #2
Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada and I smile when I talk about heaven.
I always smile when I talk about that glorious Day when I’m going to see Jesus. Oh, the joy of being with my Savior forever! But the hard part is getting there; crossing that difficult divide, right? In other words: death. True, a few of us are dying to get to heaven, but none of us like the part about dying. When God calls us home we all hope for a very quick and painless passage, please. We say, “Just let me go naturally,” but it’s not that easy. In this day of rapidly advancing technology, our ability to make clear-headed decisions about end-of-life issues can get so clouded. We can get lost in the labyrinth of conflicting medical opinions, tubes, and machines. Plus, there’s this growing trend that says, “Just skip the suffering. Doctors today can easily put an end to your pain with a lethal drug.” Many Christians even buy into that trend. But what does the Bible say?
Well, for one thing, the Bible does not advise us to skip suffering, even if that suffering is so painful that we’d rather die than live with it. As I can testify, life may come with a great deal of suffering, but it is still life. It is still a precious gift of the living God. And it is still His call when it begins, and when it ends. And God’s got good reason. He spells it out in Deuteronomy Chapter 30, verses 19-20, and says, “I have set before you life and death, therefore, choose life, that you may cling to him for he is your life and the length of your days.” Those are good words, even when you are facing a terminal illness or dealing with questions that involve the medical treatment of an elderly parent. Each of us has to seek God’s wisdom regarding treatment that sustains life, as opposed to treatment that does nothing more than prolong the process of dying. There is a clear distinction between the two, and it takes God’s wisdom to discern the difference.
If you are confused about medical treatment, either for yourself or for a loved one; if you’re perplexed, it’s always wise to err on the side of life. Until you exhale your last breath, God wants to give you every chance to “cling to Him for He is your life and the length of your days.” The world may not tell you that, but God does. I’ve so much else to say on this topic and it’s why I updated my book, “When Is It Right to Die?” In it, I tell the stories of families who have wrestled with end-of-life questions. I mean they’ve found that death with dignity is not necessarily hastening one’s exit from life. And these families have something to say to your family. In a warm, personal way, they speak about their temptation to cut short the suffering of their disabled child or elderly parent. And what they say will surprise you! So whether you have a family member approaching life’s end, or you are struggling with a chronic condition that feels overwhelming, “When Is It Right to Die?” is a valuable resource for your home. It will give you practical encouragement and biblical counsel to help you make wise decisions.
Remember, the Bible says that there is a time to live, and a time to die. And if you’d like to understand more of what that means, if you are facing those end-of-life questions, let me help you. For more info, visit my radio page today would you where I’ve posted the details. Again that’s joniandfriends.org/radio, if you have questions about ““When Is It Right to Die?” And hey, if you need more inspiration you just have to go to by Blog today at joniandfriends.org. Again, that’s my Blog and joniandfriends.org.
© Joni and Friends
