As I stood at the bedside of patients and watched them succumb to death throughout the years of my nursing career, what I witnessed for many was a long and agonizing experience of physical suffering. As a critical care nurse, death, or the process of dying was a daily occurrence. Invariably, the most repeated questions when approached by family members were; “Why doesn’t God just take him or her, and put an end to this suffering?” or “Why is God allowing them to suffer like this?”
Those were tough questions. In essence, I realized the same questions came to mind as I watched someone linger for days, even weeks, when death (according to medical standards) should have already occurred.
Is it likely that God is not finished with the person yet? The question now becomes, is God still waiting for that particular individual to accept the grace that has already been extended to him? The point is God can and will knock at the door of a man’s heart up until the time of death (“Behold I stand at the door and knock” – Rev. 3:20). In spite of physical suffering and imminent death, it is still man’s choice to open the door to his heart.
“Jesus remember me when You come in Your kingdom” (Luke 23-42)! The good news is there is such a thing as a deathbed conversion.
While a person experiences physical suffering, could it be for the first time in the their life that God has their undivided attention? Remember the thief on the cross? While facing imminent death he asked Jesus to remember him when He came into His kingdom (Luke 23:42). Jesus said to him “Today you will be with Me in Paradise” (Luke 23: 43). In the end it was not too late for him, and neither is it too late for anyone if their hearts are ready.
After all our loving God, who sees a soul at the brink of eternity, will step in to save him. The postponement of death during physical suffering could be what brings a person to Christ.
God extends His grace to those who experience physical suffering because He is a God of love. He can use this experience to save a soul who has kept God away, and may finally be ready with an open heart.
We’ve heard the remarks from skeptics, “He’ll never turn his life over to God,” or “He is hopeless.” Maybe at times we’ve been skeptical ourselves. Although we may give up on mankind, God does not. What is true, nonetheless, is we cannot make those determinations and let them guide our actions. One thing for sure only God knows the condition of a person’s heart.
My concern for us Christians is that we would view physical suffering as an opportunity to share the gospel. In view of the fact that a person is in pain, semi-comatose, or comatose they can still hear us. So let’s read the scriptures to them, and share the gospel with them. Also, I might add, it is better to follow through with our convictions. We may not know the end results, but we won’t have any regrets either.
This is absolutely true that we must reach out to those in need of salvation until his or her death.
Yes, when these situations come into our lives, we need to try and reach out even if we feel unsure of ourselves, or what the outcome may be.
I am so thankful that God never gives in or gives up!!!
Me too Pam.
Thank you Aida for giving us more insight to the possible reason a person is not taken right away. I just pray that most of them accepted Christ as their savior and King. He just keeps giving us grace up to our last breath. What a loving Father to not want to loose even one.
God of love and grace till the end.
Aida,
That article is sooooo true well stated and written it is correct that one can be certain of God’s unconditional love even at the time of death. So true
God bless and thanks for sharing it.
Tony D
God reaches out to mankind even at time of one’s death. God Bless Tony
I was my dad caregiver his son for and he passed away from Terminal ill Cancer he was suffering with pain. And my question is do all the terminal illness with cancer with suffering gets gods grace and go to heaven. Please get back with me. There’s my email
Only those who accept God’s free gift of salvation will enter into His kingdom. Its a choice every person has to make while abiding on this earth. A terminal illness does not mean a person has eternal life, the individual has to accept Christ as Lord and Savior and this is possible even at the very end of a person’s life even to their last dying breathe.