God has given me such a joy and delight in diving deeply into His words. I write to clarify my thinking and understanding, but also to share and to encourage others, both those who confess Christ and those yet to become His disciple. Glenn Livingston (Guest Blogger)
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for you are with me (Psalm 23:4a).
In previous seasons of my life the shadow of death seemed like a remote idea. But now, being over 80, I’m sensing the continuing erosion, loss of my physical vitality and abilities to deal with life. More and more it’s as if my demise, my death is looming over me as an increasingly, uncomfortable shadow. This has caused me to pursue developing a Biblical perspective regarding aging and death.
I find the Lord has given us great encouragement for dealing with living in the shadow of death as it relates to aging. It’s not to be feared. Is it not a natural process ungoverned by God? This season of life, with its attending suffering, is not without purpose.
In a general way, God seeks to use the problems of our aging to sharpen our focus on the transcendent [1] realities surrounding our existence.
And for those who are disciples of Jesus, to further develop our spirituality. The way we deal with the difficulties of life, and our infirmities, stimulates others in their faith and trust in God. [2]
What Does God say about our Impending Death?
OUR PHYSICAL BODIES function as temporary intermediaries between us as persons, our inner self (our souls) and the physical world. 2 Corinthians 5:1-8 speaks of our present physical body as a tent that is our earthly home, something temporary and of limited duration.
OUR AGING involves losing our physical abilities to function in this physical world. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 speaks of this as…our outer self is wasting away… This is but our souls being prepared to depart from our physical bodies and be able to put on our heavenly dwelling 2 Corinthians 5:2. (More on this below)
The circumstances of our aging are governed by the Lord. He uses it all to reveal how weak and fragile we are. This causes us to think less and less of this present life and more on present and future transcendent realities.
OUR PHYSICAL DEATH is not the end of our existence. 2 Peter 1:13-14 The apostle Peter speaks of death as but putting off our physical body ( this earthly tent), not the end of our personhood.
Jesus said; I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me though he die, yet shall he live (John 11:25).
Jesus told the criminal who confessed faith in Him even as he was being crucified; Today you will be with me in paradise. This man’s physical death on the cross would not be the end of his existence. [3]
Moses writes of Rachael’s physical death. As her soul was departing for she was dying …i.e. her soul was departing her physical body. [4]
In our physical death we only lose the limitations and vulnerabilities we possess through our physical fleshly bodies.
OUR ETERNAL FUTURE involves our receiving a spiritual body which we see manifested in Jesus’ post resurrection appearances. Examples John 20 and 21. Romans 6:5 …we shall certainly be united with Him in a resurrection like His.
Jesus’ resurrected body is a prototype for ours. Through Adam we received our natural physical bodies and through the last Adam (Jesus) we receive our spiritual bodies. [5]
The apostle Paul writes…the Lord Jesus Christ who will transform our lowly body to be like His glorious body…(our physical body vs a spiritual body with an enhanced capacity to know and enjoy and love God) [6]
We will be further clothed so that what is mortal – subject to death is swallowed up by life…by what is immortal, not subject to death. [7]
Then we will in no way be restrained (limited) in the manner imposed on us by our present physical bodies. See 1 Corinthians 15:44-49 (frailties, sicknesses and death)
we groan…as we await this future reality, the redemption of our body. [8]
Fear No Evil
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for you are with me (Psalm 23:4a).
Back to Psalm 23, WHY NO FEAR?
BECAUSE OF THE PRESENCE AND ACTIVITY OF GOD, OUR SHEPHERD.
Surely goodness and loving kindness will follow me all the days of my life and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. (Psalm 23:6)
WHY DO I HAVE SUCH CERTAINTY REGARDING MY FUTURE ?
Because God has given us His words that, by His grace, He has given the opportunity to have the eternal, personal experience of knowing Him; a relationship with God.
FOR I KNOW YOU ARE THE GOD; WHO has REVEALED HIMSELF to me in Jesus.
Luke 10:22 …no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him.
For God who said let light shine out of darkness, has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 4:6).
WHO has REDEEMNED me in Jesus’ death on the cross.
For there is One God and there is One mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus (1Timothy 2:5).
Who gave Himself as a ransom for all…who would receive Him (John 1:12).
In Him we have redemption thru His blood (Ephesians 1:7) .
He who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will raise us…into His presence (2 Corinthians 4:14) .
WHO has given the SPIRIT OF JESUS to reside within me, guiding and empowering me into living a qualitatively different life than I would have ever known, even as I experience aging. [9]
When the fulness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who are under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons, and because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts… (Galatians 4:4-6).
When the Spirit of Truth comes, He will guide you into all Truth (John 16:13).
Galatians 5:22-23 ..and the fruit of the Spirit is…the believers inner transformation is the evidence of the Spirit of Jesus’ presence and activity.
I identify with the Apostle Paul who wrote in Philippians 1:21-23; For me to live is Christ and to die is gain. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, that is far better. (i.e. the best is yet to come). But to remain in the flesh is necessary… for God is not through working in my life and using me in the lives of others.
And in another place God’s word says; But as it is written, What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him (I Corinthians 2:9).
Bottom Line Biblical Perspective For My Live
- I treat my death and moving towards it as but a shadow. It is a difficult time, but not to be feared for God is with me. The best is yet to come.
- I sense this time of decline is not wasted. God has given the promise that He uses all things for our good. [10] In our experiencing the weaknesses of aging and becoming increasingly weary of this life, He is weaning us off our sense of self-sufficiency in order to develop our spirituality [11] more fully.
- The promise of a personal resurrection and living in the close presence of God energizes my heart with hope and endurance through all the trials of life.
I often meditate on the testimony of Job who was physically afflicted in many ways. He testifies that it was God’s words and promises that sustained his faith in dealing with so much.
From Job 19:23-27 KJV:
Oh that my words were written, Oh that they were inscribed in a book That with an iron stylus and lead they were engraved in a rock forever!
As for me, I know that my redeemer lives – (Job acknowledges his need of a Redeemer that has overcome death)
and He will stand in the latter days upon the earth – ( He knows how it’s all going to turn out)
and though worms consume my body, – (It’s a sure prospect Job will die and his body will decay)
yet in my flesh I shall see God, (He has confidence in his personal resurrection and that he will see God)
whom I shall see for myself – (and that he would have a close, personal encounter) Yes I will see Him with my own eyes.
I am overwhelmed at the thought! (It takes precedence over everything else).
[1] transcendent – beyond what we can know by our physical senses
[2] Colossians 1:24
[3] Luke 23:43
[4] Genesis 35:18
[5] 1 Corinthians 15:44-45
[6] Philippians 3:21
[7] 2 Corinthians 5:4
[8] Romans 8:23
[9] John 16:13
[10] Romans 8:28-29
[11] spirituality – living out of a heart valuing God and eternal realities
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Joy in the Journey is about the gladness of God’s nearness in the midst of life’s adventures.
Novels by the Author:
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By finding two undelivered letters in a old shack deep in the woods, Cassie and Daniel unknowing set off a series of events which uncover a plot to wipe out a whole family Hope Remains
