OUR PRE-DEATHBED EVALUATION
On Tuesday, I attended the Celebration of Life for Bishop Frank Otha White, a long-time General Board Member of the Church of God in Christ. It was an impressive service – with the laudatory voices of so many reprising his prolific accomplishments in life and ministry. Indeed, he was a blessing to the Body of Christ.
On Tuesday, I attended the Celebration of Life for Bishop Frank Otha White, a long-time General Board Member of the Church of God in Christ. It was an impressive service – with the laudatory voices of so many reprising his prolific accomplishments in life and ministry. Indeed, he was a blessing to the Body of Christ.
In my earlier life, I feared death, quite a
lot. This is no longer the case since I continue to make my “calling and
election sure” in the grace of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. (II Peter
1:10) Admittedly however, I am my greatest critic when it comes to actualizing
and analyzing the God-given purpose for which I was created and situated on the
planet, and my perceived distance from the same.
Occasionally, I am motivated to contemplate my own death, which quickly morphs into rigorous self-examination. But let me be perfectly clear. On such occasions, my thoughts seldom center on the views or expectations of others. Instead, I make every effort to objectively evaluate myself, i.e. my motives, my thoughts, my words, my decisions, my deeds and my accomplishments by comparing and contrasting myself with the immutable teachings of God’s Word. This works rather well for me.
Although this might seem to be a morbid thought, I suppose that the ultimate examination of life would be to think carefully about how you might ‘SEE’ your life from the vantage point of some terminal illness, while lying on your deathbed. After reading the reflective questions that follow, close your eyes for a few moments and carefully consider:
If this day and hour were the time of your departure, would you be prepared to peacefully meet your Maker?
Does your personal attitude and actions mirror and reflect Christ?
Are there unhealthy or broken relationships that you would seek to mend, if you had one last chance?
Have you walked through life with boldness? That is, have you lived with genuine confidence, according to the expectations of God and yourself, or have you merely existed within the real or imaginary boundaries that others have sought to superimpose on your life?
Are you deserving of your employment compensation, or do you put in just enough time and effort to get paid?
Has fear limited your faith and your progress?
Occasionally, I am motivated to contemplate my own death, which quickly morphs into rigorous self-examination. But let me be perfectly clear. On such occasions, my thoughts seldom center on the views or expectations of others. Instead, I make every effort to objectively evaluate myself, i.e. my motives, my thoughts, my words, my decisions, my deeds and my accomplishments by comparing and contrasting myself with the immutable teachings of God’s Word. This works rather well for me.
Although this might seem to be a morbid thought, I suppose that the ultimate examination of life would be to think carefully about how you might ‘SEE’ your life from the vantage point of some terminal illness, while lying on your deathbed. After reading the reflective questions that follow, close your eyes for a few moments and carefully consider:
If this day and hour were the time of your departure, would you be prepared to peacefully meet your Maker?
Does your personal attitude and actions mirror and reflect Christ?
Are there unhealthy or broken relationships that you would seek to mend, if you had one last chance?
Have you walked through life with boldness? That is, have you lived with genuine confidence, according to the expectations of God and yourself, or have you merely existed within the real or imaginary boundaries that others have sought to superimpose on your life?
Are you deserving of your employment compensation, or do you put in just enough time and effort to get paid?
Has fear limited your faith and your progress?
Have you brought joy and justice into the
lives of others, or have you been the thorn in someone else’s flesh?
Have you served your fellow man with
consistency? Are there any infirmed, incarcerated, or indigent persons who are
‘better off’ today because of the investment of your time, talent and treasure?
Have you done your best with the gifts God endowed at birth and those you have developed along the way?
Have you done your best with the gifts God endowed at birth and those you have developed along the way?
Have you typically been obedient to His Word,
or have you lived as a maverick, insistent on having your way?
Have you maintained your Christ connection
through frequent prayer, intimate worship, systematic Word study, sacrificial
fasting and faithful service as His ambassador to those who are lost?
Have you been consistently committed and
involved in the community of faith, or have you been an apathetic participant
or a strident critic of church leaders and members?
Have you walked in a loving covenant with
your family, your spouse, your parents, your children, your siblings and other
relatives?
Are you a life-long learner, or a
know-it-all?
Have you focused more so on empire-building,
or more on establishing God’s Kingdom?
Perhaps these questions will lead to others
that are far more personal and specifically applicable to you. I hope so. While
we do not live in fear, our existence should be both substantive and seriously
considered. Before any of us can ever hear our Lord saying “Well done,” it
would behoove us to be able to whisper those same words to ourselves, with full
measures of awareness, integrity, peace and gratitude.
What would JESUS say about YOU?
Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all
else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!
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