What would you do if you knew you had only week to live? Would you go away? Would you go home? Would you do some last minute sinning, or some last minute repenting? Would you be sad? Angry? Hopeful? Afraid? How would you spend those final hours?
Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love. (John 13:1)
When Jesus had one week to live, he chose to wash his disciples' feet. He did the work of a common slave, ministering to those who were closest to him. He washed their feet (John 13), he comforted them (John 14), he encouraged them (John 15-16), prayed for them (John 17), and then he died for them. He spent the last week of his life fulfilling his purpose; he spent the last week of his life being a servant.
...the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. (Matthew 20:28)
You and me, we have a week to live: this week — and most probably hundreds more. I want to spend this week fulfilling my purpose, doing that which is most important in terms of eternity: serving Christ by serving others.
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3 comments:
Does God honor a death bed conversion?
That question has always stuck out in my mind especially when I see a situation where someone, an athiest perhaps, knows they are about to die and suddenly wants to make peace with Jesus Christ.
You have said yourself that God is the God of second chances...and third, and fourth and fifth chances. I personally think it boils down to the heart. If the desire to accept Christ is sincere, I don't see why it wouldn't be accepted.
I think in life there are many reasons people accept Christ. Some probably do so because of a crisis that wakes them up and makes them realize exactly how much they need God in their lives. If I am in a car accident and as a result decide to accept the Lord and follow him, does it matter whether I live for another 5 minutes or 50 years? It's the decision that matters, and the work of the Holy Spirit prompting me to make that decision.
Or consider it the other way. If 5 minutes before my death is too late, then who's to say that the decision I made at the age of 27 after years of denying God wasn't also too late? As soon as you open the possibility that there is an absolute "too late," I think you're heading for legalism and limiting God's grace.
God is the only one who can ever know the truth of anyone's conversion, whether it happens at the age of 4 or with a person's dying breath. Either way, I say, "Celebrate!"
We clearly should live as if each day or week will be our last. Far too often we are consumed with the urgent and don't get to the important. When the pressures of life rise, we tend to put the unimportant things aside for the important. If we could truly live our lives as if we knew it was going to end in a week, I guessing most of us would have to admit that our schedules would be different.
As for the 'death bed confession' issue. The Bible clearly teaches that it is never too late to accept Christ. The Bible even contains an example of a death bed conversion. Luke 23:40-43 records the conversion of the thief on the cross who recognizes who Jesus really is.
It doesn't seem fair to think that someone can live their entire life for themselves, and at the last moment, accept Christ and enjoy eternity in heaven. Life isn't fair, and we should be glad that God, through His mercy, doesn't give us what we deserve.
In Matt. 20:1-16 Jesus tells a parable that teaches us that, regardless of when you 'agree to work for Him,' the reward is the same - spending eternity with the God who loves us!
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