Dying Well

Genesis 50:24–26 (ESV) And Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will visit you and bring you up out of this land to the land that he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.” 25 Then Joseph made the sons of Israel swear, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here.” 26 So Joseph died, being 110 years old. They embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.

I think the best part about a Christian's life is how they die. If they die believing God for greater things, if they die believing God is able, if they die still trusting the sovereign nature of our God and His promises - to me, that is a great testimony for the world.

A Christian is not one who throws their hands in the air in frustration at the future. No! Our God is able! A Christian is able to face death not seeking to escape the cataclysm of the world but a Christian is able to face death know God's Spirit and power will work mightily through those coming up in the ranks. 

Notice Joseph made his children swear that God would come for them:

"Then Joseph made the sons of Israel swear, saying, God will surely visit you"

He was sure to have them believe it and confess it. He made them say it! I fear that too many Christians watch too much news and disregard the good news of the Gospel. They become weeping willows sagging into the grave rather than conquering athletes finishing the race and winning the prize! 

We must point out the stark difference in Jacob's last words and Joseph's last words. Jacob dwells on the hardness of his life and past. He praises God's faithfulness through it all, yet he does very little to encourage those he's leaving behind. He demands they travel to and bury him in the promised land. I wonder if he somewhat doubted they would be able to take "his bones" with them as they may not leave. For Joseph, there is certain confidence. As prosperous as he has become in Egypt, he knows the promises of God cannot fail for future generations. He is buried in Egypt fully believing it will not be his final resting place.

It wasn't.

We need to be like that! We need pass on an expectant faith in the hearts and mouths of those younger than us. I fear too many generations of Christians pass on an "Uh oh, what now?" kind of thinking! LET IT STOP WITH US!

Yes. There will be "perilous times" in the last days (1 Tim 3:1). But we've been in the last days since Jesus ascended to the father. Notice John's own words from the Bible:

1 John 2:18 (ESV) Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it IS the last hour.

John did not say the last hour was ahead of him. He knew it to be the time in which he lived and ministered. And though he warns that this is the last hour, he spends a great deal of time encouraging faith in the lives of those he pastored to understand the anointing that abides within them! Notice how he goes right from talking about defecting believers to the power of the Holy One in those that remain:

1 John 2:19–20 (ESV) They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us. 20 But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge.

Christian, it is not faith to despise the times in which you live. Stop watching the news and read your Bible, it ends with Christ in charge and on the throne. Don't let the politicians and talking heads of your generation get you flustered. Take a break to reconnect with the ONE Who never left you. Drink deeply of the Living Waters that Jesus promised to flow from within you! Draw close to Him who will draw close to you.