In America, the average medical cost in the last year of life is almost $160,000 in 2014 dollars (details here). Of course, this ranges from a quiet passing at home to intense hospitalization.

Death for the Lost

One can certainly understand why many hold onto their earthly lives with such tenacity, given the uncertainty of death. I will never forget the last hours of my own father’s life in a hospital bed with tubes in his nose, down his mouth and in his arms … the fear in his eyes, knowing he was facing the unknown, was palpable (details here and here).

When we are relatively healthy, it is so easy to put off the reality of an inevitable death. God does not need to exist, nor does Heaven or Hell, as life on earth can be all-consuming.

However, as we move through the later stages of life, as we see friends with failing health and death coming closer and closer, we are forced to confront its eventuality. For some, it catches us more by surprise than for others. We pass away peacefully in the night or, as my mother did, a seemingly inconsequential fall that likely resulted in a stroke, where her mind simply turned off and, as a believer, passed in peace from this side of the grave to the next. For others, like my father, who had diabetes, heart disease, a past bout with cancer and on dialysis, death came slow and oppressively.

Running the Christian Race

At 72, and one who has been saved for over 35 years, the concept of earthly death is of increasing fascination … and expectation. There is a desire to “go through the tape” as one still running up to the end of the race. And, I suspect that is partly the reason, in my own retirement, our blog site Biblical Christian Worldview exists. Perhaps that is the sin of pride showing through. A desire to leave a legacy of some value. Or, perhaps it is God allowing me to continue in His service. I often wonder if our desire as Christians to serve the Lord is often tangled up in our own sin nature of pride. However, the Bible is clear that, unlike the secular world, if we are faithful, God does not offer a retirement package, just another form of ministry based on the capabilities of our current temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). Some Scripture verses that offer insight into God’s view on running the race of life include:

James 1:12 - Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

Galatians 6:9 - And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

Hebrews 12:1b - Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.

Philippians 3:14 - I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Stuck in the Tent Rather than the Building

Again, for the Christian I am fascinated by our desire to hold onto our earthly tent as it becomes wrinkled, leaky and tattered. We spend millions of dollars to put patches here and there, fix the zipper and repair the frame, as our soul, spirit, and Spirit hides within its poor and ever deteriorating covering.

2 Corinthians 5:1 - For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

As Biblical Christians, we should have confidence by faith that the Lord has made us an eternal home that far exceeds the abuse (through sin and neglect) we have made of our own temple (tent) over the years of our lives.

1 Corinthians 6:19a - Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God?

If we truly have confidence that when we die we will immediately be in the presence of the Lord, why do we, as believers, resist that eternal life over our failing earthly life? This is the question I am increasingly curious about.

Just as God puts a vacuum in the heart of mankind which only He can truly fill … perhaps He also puts a drive within the believer that holds us within our earthly tent, even if we are convinced Heaven awaits. Or perhaps our unwillingness to let go has more to do with our fear and lack of faith. In either case, just how far do we go in determining where the line is between a quality of life and just being alive?

Do Not Resuscitate

Five years ago, when my wife and I sat down to iron out our wills, we also were confronted with the question of what constitutes a quality of (earthly) life. It was at that point we both agreed to DNR’s. Our desire was to not burden the other with hard decisions by holding onto life at any cost, even given the reality that we would lose temporary fellowship until rejoining in Heaven.

Human life seems to be an invisible blend of medical achievement and God’s perfect will. Theologically, as Christians, we know that God controls the number of days in our life.

Job 14:5 - Since his days are determined, and the number of his months is with you, and you have appointed his limits that he cannot pass.

But, medical advances have changed the point at which life ends when one considers two hundred years ago a simple tooth infection could end in a lengthy, painful death.

Paul struggled with death as well ….

2 Corinthians 5:6b-8 - We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

But Paul went on in the next verse to say …

2 Corinthians 5:9 - So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.

And perhaps that is the answer to the deeper question. Perhaps the question is not “when do we move from a quality of life to life for the sake of life?” But, instead, accept that regardless of the underlying reason we humans cling to our earthly tent, we should simply focus on pleasing God in all we do and let the Lord choose His timing for our eternal home.