Dad, Are You Ready to Die?
I remember the day I led my dad to the Lord. I was awakened in the early hours of the morning with a strong sense of urgency to get to his hospital bed. At eighty-one years of age, Dad was still sharp of mind and healthy. Suddenly, for no apparent reason, within hours, he had grown extremely weak and had difficulty speaking.
The following morning, I had no reason, other than what I was sensing in my spirit, to believe that Dad did not have long to live. My wife Jan, our kids, and I were leaving the following day to fly home, and now was the time to talk with Dad about eternity.
When I walked into his room, he was awake, alert, and himself. I read Psalm 23 to him and then asked if he knew he was ready to die. All those years, he had never allowed himself to be vulnerable enough to make a decision to follow Jesus. But that day, the conversation we had and his prayer of salvation are among the most special memories of my life.
Eternal Change: No Fear of the Future
I asked Dad what song he would like sung at his memorial service. His response was immediate: "He Touched Me." Dad then requested that I gather all the family, including his brother and his wife who had just arrived from out of town. His request was that he could tell them He had just given his heart and life to Jesus. There was no fear in his eyes about his future.
By the time everyone arrived in the room, Dad was having difficulty speaking and asked me to communicate his testimony about His decision for Jesus. He would go home a couple of months later. He died in faith in Jesus.
Who Are You Living For?
Over the years, I have walked with many people through the process of their death. Some were quick departures. Others lasted a long time. One Scripture I shared had the most impact. It is found in Paul's letter to the Philippian church: "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain" (Philippians 1:21). (Photo via Pexels)
Paul said that for him, in this life, it was all about Jesus and serving Him. And in Paul's death, it was his expectation of seeing the Lord face to face. In either situation, life or death, it was all about Jesus.
I highlighted Paul's declaration with each person facing death. I did not focus on a conversation about extending their life. More often than not, I prayed for healing, but what mattered most was living for Jesus in whatever days they had left on earth. We talked about the hope that awaited them in eternity. We talked about how their relationship with Jesus removed the sting and fear of death.
How they lived in their remaining days and how they died would become their testimony. Their remaining days on earth would become a time to make things right with others. Their story would leave a lasting impact and give hope to others. I saw this in my Dad. It was a point of resolution, with less fear and more hope.
What Awaits...
What awaits a person who puts their life into the hands of Jesus? The apostle Peter wrote: "In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in Heaven for you" (1 Peter 1:3–4 NIV). If we believe this truth, we have nothing to fear in this life, even in our time of death.
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Garris Elkins, Author and Prophetic Minister
Prophetic Horizons
Email:Â garriselkins@gmail.com
Website:Â www.garriselkins.com
Garris Elkins and his wife, Jan, are a spiritual father and mother to many, both in the United States and abroad. Garris' ministry, Prophetic Horizons, is a ministry of teaching, writing, and prophecy committed to raising up a prophetic generation to speak to the cultures of our world with the empowered voice of Heaven. Garris and Jan live in southern Oregon.
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