When Death Lies at the Door
When death lies at the door, waiting to enter, our lives are often thrown into turmoil. Whether because of medical conditions, injuries, sickness, or disabilities, when the possibility of death is staring us down it can be very intimidating.
In 2 Corinthians 1:9-10, Paul recounts a time in Asia when he was burdened beyond measure, above his strength, to the point of despairing even of life itself. Death was lying at the door, and Paul saw no way to stop it from entering.
In Paul’s letter to the Philippians, he writes about their messenger, Epaphroditus, who had been sent to minister to his needs. During his time tending to Paul, Epaphroditus became gravely ill. Death was lying at the door. Paul recounts how God showed mercy on Epaphroditus and himself by healing Epaphroditus (Philippians 2:27).
In such circumstances, despair grips our minds like an iron fist, oppressing our every thought and discouraging any remaining hope. However, as Paul and Epaphroditus learned, God allows these trials—even to the brink of death—so that we may learn to rely on Him rather than on ourselves, modern medicine, or any man-made means to avert death.
When death lies at the door, spiritual maturity does not waver. Through our circumstances, we witness God’s hand at work in our lives.
When Paul brought the gospel of salvation to the region of Galatia, he was in a state of physical infirmity. Yet the Galatians did not despise or reject him because of the trial that he endured within his flesh (Galatians 4:14). Instead, they received Paul as a messenger from God. So much so, that they would have plucked out their own eyes to give to him if they could (Galatians 4:15). Despite being unable to remove Paul’s affliction, the Galatian saints remained by his side, offering comfort. Similarly, we can stand alongside our loved ones and fellow saints, even when we lack the power to remove their suffering. God allows us to provide comfort, strengthening those who face pain and suffering, while encouraging them to find contentment in our shared confidence in Him, while not allowing death to intimidate them.
When death lies at the door, I might ask myself, What can I do to please God? My body is so weak, my breaths labored, my mind consumed with pain—death is all around me. Yet, there is a life that still resides deep within me. A light that continues to shine, even in the face of unending pain. When I focus on that light, I see life, not death. I feel fellowship with the Holy Spirit. I feel love—not a fleeting emotion, but a deep, everlasting type of love that is seeking the best for me, even as I lay suffering, waiting for death.
As I take hold of the life I have in Christ, I realize that death has no sting. Therefore, even in my weakness, I will seek the desirous will of God. Through His strength, Christ will be illuminated in me, so that perhaps those around me will see the truth: Christ died for our sins and was raised on the third day, according to the Scriptures. Therefore, there is hope, even as I face suffering, confusion, and the possibility of death. This hope exists because He loves me, and I have a life within me that cannot be extinguished, even when this body fails. For I belong to Him.
Today, whatever strength my Lord allows me to possess I will use to His glory. And instead of allowing my mind to be overcome with grief, I will choose to use the new mind I have in Christ—a mind that enables me to test every situation and discern God’s desirous will for me (Romans 12:2). Because of who I am in Christ, I will speak, seasoning my words with salt and grace—not from a place of pain, but offering benefits without regard to worth—so that my speech meets the needs of those around me and reflects a proper opinion of God.