When Will The Bell Toll?

A few weeks ago I mentioned a friend of mine named Melvin who was struggling with mesothelioma. I asked for prayers for him. Tonight Melvin is resting comfortably in Heaven. He went home early this morning. Healings come in many ways.

The book of Job records, “Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months are with thee, thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass” (Job 14:5). If our days are numbered, one thing we don’t know is that number. While it was obvious last week that Melvin would soon be with the Lord, no one knew when he would go. Last Friday, when I was told the he hadn’t opened his eyes in two days I knew the end was probably very near. Yet, while I was in good health and Melvin wasn’t I was reminded of this verse. And I thought, “my days end could come before his.” The certainty of death is a good reminder of the uncertainty of life.

With all of our intelligence two things we don’t know are when we will die and when Christ will return. Will the “number of my months” end with a physical death in old age and thus let me lead a reckless life up to the point where I think the end is near then repent? Or, will they end early in life by some disease or accident of which time I have no way of knowing? Or, will the end when Christ returns? With no certainty each day should be lived as th0ugh our life support has just been turned off.

As painful as death can be, it can serve to be a reminder that we are to live our lives everyday for Christ. Death should be something that we keep before us more often than we do as death is a reminder of life: a life ever lasting with Christ.

Continue to keep the family of Melvin C. Hooker In your prayers that THIS phase of their lives will work for the Kingdom of God.

The rose still grows beyond the wall.
Scattering fragrance far and wide,
Just as it did in days of yore.
Just as it did on the other side,
Just as it will forevermore.

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Until next time May The Good Lord Bless and Keep You: All Y'all!

Bobby

Bobby Cohoon
North Carolina, USA
cohoon@embarqmail.com