Bible Studies

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Scripture speaks of there being three score and ten (70) years being the average life span.

Some will depart long before that, and others will have years beyond that point. The ones that live well beyond the seventy, will find these years laborious and sorrowful.

It will become harder and harder to do the “simple” things, and one must endure the grieving as others around them pass away.

“As for the days of our lives, they contain seventy years, Or if due to strength, eighty years, Yet their pride iI only trouble and tragedy; For it quickly passes, and we disappear (Psalms 90: 10 NASB2020).”

If we do not reach and maintain spiritually maturity BEFORE the Eccl. 12: 3-7 issues of older age come upon us, we can easily become grumpy old men and complaining old women. In this the devil is well pleased, as it raises doubts in the minds of others who observe us, about what we claimed to have believed in for most of our lives.

As we age, there can come a time when the 24/7 level of care is beyond the capability of a care-giving family member or friend to provide.

Under these circumstances, family and friends need not feel guilty, or be made to feel guilty, to hand the fundamental care over to a facility that can provide the necessary level of this logistical care.

Those who are placed in such a facility should not make family or friends feel guilty, but family and friends should not make those placed there to feel abandoned.

Both the one receiving the care and the family and friends must accept each other’s limitations.

For an advancing disciple, where and how he or she spends his or her last days on Earth is a part of the individual plan that God has in mind.

The where part is his or her last “mission field,” and the how part (participating in the Great Commission) has not changed, as long as one has the ability to respond to 1Pet.3: 15 opportunities, before going home to be with the Lord.

“…but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, ALWAYS being ready to make a defense (provide an explanation) to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope (that they see) that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; (1Pet. 3: 15 NASB2020 parentheses mine).”

Wherever the plan of God places the advancing disciple during his or her final days, he or she will want to remain a fountain of inspiration to those around him or her, and not to become an annoying, dripping faucet.

When visitors come to see a sick, injured, or dying man or woman of faith, it can be the visitors who leave comforted, edified, and inspired.

How one faces death and the process of dying can be the greatest and most remembered testimony of his or her faith. It can also be a huge victory for the devil in the last round of spiritual combat before we depart.

The devil can do nothing to change the eternal destiny of a born again believer (1), but can do much to destroy the impact of his or her post salvation spiritual life, of which how he or she handles his or her final days, plays a tremendous role.

Even with the most patient ones among us, a constant complainer can wear out his or her welcome.

Negativity is contagious and most people will want to have as little to do with it, or its source, as possible.

Let’s be honest. How many times can you expect to ask the questions, make the same complaints, give, or be given the same answers, before patience runs thin.

People are not God. They have their limitations. In some cases, well-intended people can get in God’s way with what He wants to accomplish. Such were the wife (2), and “ friends” of Job, who came to counsel him.

It’s easy not to complain when most things are going our way. The testing of our mettle comes into view when our blessings and plans begin to crumble.

Adding salt to our wounds is the prosperity that the wicked seem to be enjoying uninterrupted, while the waves of adversity pound away, one after another, on those the devil considers to be worthy targets (3).

Many things can happen to cancel or change our plans, but not His. Therefore, everything that God sends or allows to take place serves a divine purpose.

This is the answer to many of the troublesome “why” questions that the devil promotes and our self-centered, fallen nature, will raise.

The devil has no qualms about kicking us in the teeth when life knocks us down. He knows when and where to hit us for maximum effect.

When we live for His plan (4), and not for our own, we will see God’s hand in whatever comes our way.

In the case of Job, God pointed out that Job was a blameless, upright, God fearing individual, who turns away from evil (5).

Satan contended that if put to the test, Job would fail like everyone else.

“Does Job fear (respect) God for nothing (no reason)? Have you (God) not made a (protective) fence around him (Job) and his house, and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But reach out Your hand now and touch (take away) all that he has; he will certainly curse You to Your face (Job 1: 10, 11 NASB2020 parentheses mine.”

“Skin for skin. Yes, all that a man has, he will give for his life. However, reach our your hand now, and touch (devastate) his bone and flesh (physical health); he will curse You to Your face (Job 2: 4, 5 NASB2020 parenthesis mine).”

Satan was proven wrong in the case of Job, but would have had a better chance to make his point had he chosen many of us as his example.

Job lost ten (adult) children, his wealth, and his health, all within a relatively short period of time, having done nothing to deserve it.

Many Christians have turned away from walking with God in the midst of a lot less adversity than what Job went through.

It is when we can accept the adversity that God sends or allows to take place as readily as we accept His blessings, that we have reached the upper level of spiritual maturity that it takes for one to comply with the challenging “ no complaining or argument” command of Phil. 2: 14.
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(1) Rom. 8: 1 (2) Job 2: 9, 10 (3) Psalms 73: 3-17 (4) Phil. 1: 21 (5) Job 1: 8

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