I am ready to die

“And Paul earnestly beholding the council, said’ I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day?’”

Before this many people warned Paul not to go up to Jerusalem, “Then Paul answered, 'What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? For I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.’”

Sometimes we are asked to do hard things in our journey here on earth, but death is easier sometimes that some of the things we are asked to bear. Paul had suffered much in his life and now he was willing to do whatever the Lord asked of him even unto death. I think that sometimes we go to extremes to stay alive. I know of a situation where a man’s wife had a stroke and would have died, but he having money said to the doctors, “Do whatever you have to do the keep her alive.” They did and she, trapped in a body she could no longer care for and would no longer move in the manner she was accustomed to lived out her life in anger and hate making everyone else miserable.

Another example is my father who had a massive heart attack. My sister seeking to save his life had him flown to a hospital some distance away. Dad was angry they were trying to save him and fought them.  Which made her angry that he didn’t appreciate what she was doing for him. I tried to tell her later that he was ready to die.

Like Paul, had lived in all good conscience before God. He was not a perfect man, but neither was Paul as he persecuted the Christians.  Paul’s works we know, but Dad, just a poor, humble farmer no more feared dying than did Paul. Why because he was an honest and good man who loved and forgave quickly the wrongs of others. I try to do the same.