Better and Worse, Jesus as Good as Ever

https://odb.org/MY/2021/10/05/with-me-in-the-valley

As a Christian, we do not fear death since we are assured of salvation and eternal life. We know that with Jesus having redeemed us by His blood, death has lost its sting. Jesus proved this by resurrecting on the 3rd day after His death on the Cross of Calvary, as a hope of glory – showing us that one day, we who are in the faith will also be transformed or resurrected with a glorified body either during our lifetime when we are caught up in the rapture when He comes again as King of kings and Lord of Lords or on the day of judgment.

Paul said before that for him, to die is gain and to live is Christ (Philippians 1:21). Hannah Wilberforce said as she’s dying that “better and worse; Jesus as good as ever”.

As we see death of people we know in our midst, lost to disease and it became more prevalent recently due to Covid, I think we should remember that as much as life and death is in the hands of God, we must do what is assigned to us by God now and not later. Life is frail. One moment we are here getting on with our life, the next moment we are gone. We move on. What are the plans and purposes of God for us? Have we put in the effort to find out and do them. Have we found our passion in God, the thing that really inspires us to give our best, rain or shine, day in and day out?

I had experienced some pain around my chest area recently and thus instead of postponing my medical check-up due to my work schedule, I forced out some time to do a medical yesterday. Did the stress test properly this time and reached 99% of the targeted heart rate (166/167). I was prepared for the worse, at minimum aspirin or at worse angioplasty. Praise God that my heart is normal! That was indeed a relief! But I’m not in the pink of health as I already have the dreaded 3 – high blood, elevated cholesterol levels and diabetes. But this time round, I willingly requested for all necessary medication. As far as the heart and other organs are concerned, I feel I have been given a new lease of life now to make amends for the mistakes I made the past 50 years so that I may have a good quality of life for my next 20-30 years. I need to remain strong and healthy to do my part for the Kingdom as well as for the sake of my wife and children.

With what I had gone through last week and with the positive results from my appointment with my cardiologist yesterday, I sensed God’s love and compassion through it all, that as I go through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil for His rod and staff comfort me. I am grateful to God for giving me a second chance so that I can say like Paul that to die is gain but to live is Christ. Or like Hannah Wilberforce, better and worse; Jesus as good as ever.

I think everyone of us should not take death lightly – as much as it brings us back to God, we really don’t want to leave this world (if at all possible and if God permits) before we have fulfilled His plans and purposes for us. While alive and well, live the life that God had appointed for us from the beginning and take all necessary precautions to have a healthy life so we may achieve the best we can for God while still here on earth. We mustn’t take tomorrow for granted – live for God today, don’t wait till tomorrow, for tomorrow may never come. To die may be gain but if we are to live, live for Christ!