Being Prepared To Die, Is A Licence To Live

Today marks the 3rd year of my wifes successful surgery to remove the cancer that had invaded a part of her jaw ,inner cheek and muscle inside her mouth . I spoke about this before , but I still recall that day vividly . The long wait of almost 17 hours till she was wheeled into the cancer wards ICU. Other than the time my youngest  suffered his first severe diabetic low and went into seizure , I can think of no other time I was in so much fear.Fear of losing my wife , fear of not seeing her again. Not talking to her , laughing with her , holding her .

But what was so amazing as well , was watching her demeanor before the operation. Even though she didn't want to die , she faced it with a peace that was powerful to me .The verse that was ever present in her mind was when Paul said ," For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain". (Philippians 1:21 ESV) Her confidence in Christ  gave her a courage to look death in the face and say , O death where is your sting , grave where is your victory. The faith that God had graced her with gave her hope, knowing her sins where covered by the blood of the perfect Lamb on the cross. She knew that if this was her time , the next face she would see would be Jesus. But God was gracious and she came through .

Today we had a recheck. The Doctor told us that at the third year mark , with her still being cancer free , she has crossed a mini milestone. That going forward , her chances of the cancer reoccurring has significantly dropped. To God we are truly thankful for His grace.

However each time we go to the cancer ward , you can see the fear of the uncertainty on so many faces . It does not matter how old one is either . We really control so little in this life really . One can never tell what is around the corner . In this world we are obsessed with staying young . Old people inject themselves with chemicals, have plastic surgery , work out taking supplements etc.. to try and maintain youth. There is nothing wrong trying to take care of yourself but much of what is being done I believe is powered by the fear or even denial of death.

As Christians we have a message that is good news . That breaks the tyranny of deaths hopelessness . Unlike the recent movie called Hereafter , which really offered no answers , we can. The truth is that in Jesus Christ , we can be ready to die and break the fear of the grave. In Jesus we are also given a licence to live to God. The simple message that death is the result of sin , we all die therefore we are all sinners  For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23 ESV)That Jesus came , the Son of God left His throne to die and take the wrath due us on the cross. That God the Father loved the world that He gave the Son , that whoever repents , turns from their sins and trust in Christ , has the gift of eternal life. The Holy Spirit takes up residence in our hearts and gives us a new heart . One that is alive to God , and walks with confidence .

The confidence my wife was given was not from any positive thinking guru , but from knowing her position before God. Forgiven and loved by a Saviour that broke the grip of sin and death , by rising from the dead. To be prepared to die , gives one freedom to live,love and give . May we share this hope .


[13] But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. [14] For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.
(1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 ESV)