Counseling

It is a trip we all take.

And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (Hebrews 9:27 KJV)

Much political talk has taken place over “end-of-life counseling.” Frankly, I’m all for it. And, it should start at a very young age.

Several years ago, three teenagers died about three miles from my house. All five had been drinking through the night and into the early morning. All five had lied to their parents about where they were going, what they were going to do. Running out of alcohol, they decided to go get some more, at a high rate of speed. When the emergency crews cut them out of the truck, three were dead, one paralyzed and another scarred to her very soul.

Just last year a high school senior, well liked among her peers, active in multiple school activities, looking forward to graduation and the rest of her life, text messaged instead of paying attention to her driving. Students were shocked as they attended her funeral.

Where was their end of life counseling?

End of life is not reserved for the elderly. We all need to be aware that death is a reality. It does not just happen to other people. It does not just happen to people we know. It will happen to us, whether we are prepared for our lives to end or not.

One gentleman wrote that he wanted to live his life so that even grown men would cry at his funeral. Not me. I would prefer rejoicing. Christ said so:

Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I. (John 14:28 KJV)

Christians have specific service to do here. At times we’re not certain how things are going to turn out, but we do know they are in God’s hands. As Paul wrote, we walk by faith, knowing something’s missing.

Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (2 Corinthians 5:6 KJV)

That confidence comes through the walking by faith, not by sight. Where does the faith come from?

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17 KJV)

Through prayerful Bible study, faith grows. Then we look forward to the journey, leaving our departure in His hands.

We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. (2 Corinthians 5:8 KJV)

I may not have all the options given to me about medical treatments at the end of my life, but God has provided for me much further than this life. Has he done so for you?