S) "8 Abraham breathed his last and died in a ripe old age, an old man and satisfied with life; and he was gathered to his people."
Genesis 25:8 (NASB)
O) This seems to be the goal in life. Death is an inevitability. Everyone dies (with 2 biblical exceptions, and excluding the Rapture). When people are about to die in movies, they seldom make exclamations like, "But I'm going to live forever!" No, more often, we hear pleas like, "But, I'm not ready to die!" This is because most people realize that death will eventually come for us all. The question then, is whether or not it seems death came "early," for a person. When a man dies at 25 years old, strangers will pity the fact that he died at a relatively young age. When a man dies at 95 years old, strangers might still feel sad for his survivors, but not so much about the "when he died" part. A real key to peace about death, though, is whether or not we're ready to die. This is why people make "bucket lists" about the things they want to accomplish. So, in Abraham's case, we see both things at work. He was a "ripe old age," and also "satisfied," when he died. However, like so many verses throughout the Bible, this one isn't really about Abraham so much as it is about God. If we dissect who Abraham is, what his life was like, and how he lived, then we start to see the translation of this verse - how it goes from being about Abraham's life, to being about who God is. Abraham, the father of faith, the first of the covenant; he believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness. It's worth noting, that he wasn't the first to believe God. Adam believed God (certainly once he was ejected from Eden). Enoch believed God, and certainly Noah did as well. But, Abraham received God's eternal covenant, becoming the beginning of God's people. He was unwavering in his faith in God, and the convictions of his beliefs. He wasn't perfect, but he was faithful and righteous and obedient (you might even say it was in that order). Sure, he was one hundred seventy five years old when he did, but that wasn't even a long time, by some Old Testament standards. That was not why his old age was "ripe." No, he was ripe to die because of his relationship with the LORD. He was satisfied with his life because of his relationship with the LORD. It wasn't just because of what God had done for him, but because of who he knew God to be. He believed God because he knew God, and so he was credited with righteousness, and so he was at peace with God, and so he was ready to die.
A) Even as a Christian, with a strong conviction about my doctrinal beliefs, and sound biblical theology, I don't want to die. At least, not right now. Today, I am a few days past thirty-three years old. My children are all less than ten years old. I'm in my twelfth year of marriage. I don't want to die. And yet, if I did die, anyone who knows me would say that I died satisfied with my life. I'm not holding onto any unforgiveness, and my submission to the will of God is complete (although exact obedience still requires grace, and I thank God daily for the mercy I need). But, I fully want what God wants. I do not mean to make this sound like I have it all figured out. I don't want to die (plus, I haven't fulfilled the other "old age" part of being "ripe"), but I am not afraid to die. That is a huge dividing line. I am not afraid to die because I know who God is. I believe in Him, and I believe Him, and I am made righteous through my faith in Jesus Christ. Because of that, I am at peace with God, and my salvation is sealed with the Holy Spirit within me. All of this gives me the confidence that my Lord can do what He will with my life, and I know it will be good - even if it means my death. When I am gathered to my people, I will be ripe for His harvest, satisfied with life. And who knows, I may even get to be old.
P) Father, it is pure joy to know You. It is only through grace, that I see You like I do, and even that is dimly lit. Open my eyes to see clearly, each and every time I open the Bible. I want to continually know You better and better. Father, Your grace has given me innumerable reasons to worship and give thanks. I am quite satisfied with my life. I don't want to die any time soon, but it's not my will but Your will, that I want to see done. Have Your way with my life, and what remains of it here on earth. When I die, be glorified even through my death, that others will see that my satisfaction and readiness to die were born of pure joy in knowing You. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
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