Dying in Style *

        Lots of people feel a need to live in style. They need the good stuff – love, money, good looks, physical fitness, nice car, good connections, good job, decent housing, status, lots of friends, etc. I think humans have always promoted their lifestyle in these ways. But how many folks consider “Dying in Style”? And what would that mean? A few examples may be in order:
  • I was told today, 5 Jan. ’24 about my VA nurse’s grandfather who was a hard-working farmer of 81 years. He was found by his son in the field STANDING “dead as a post”, leaning on his running tractor. Good style AND “a class act” (note # 48).
  • Some believe that soldiers, sailors & police who are killed in action are heros & have died in style – good style.    
  • A friend in our church recently died after (botched?) heart surgery. At that time a 10-year-old kid in same church had a spiritual dream (note # 174) of that same man ascending a long staircase up into the clouds (note # 148). The case was sudden & sad, but in my opinion, Sam died in style – good style.
  • Then we have my father who died in ’07 in our house after gall bladder surgery. The operation was successful, but he refused to eat after the operation. He resolved to starve himself to death. His “fast” lasted about 2 weeks. (My cousin who is a Catholic nun said it was the only legitimate way to self-end one’s life.) Good style??
  • We have all heard of those who put a gun to their own head. Bad style . . . then someone else has to clean up the mess & too often deal with P.T.S.D., - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, see note #115.
  • How about the Biblical character king Jehoram of 2 Chronicles 21 who was judged by God while living. He was to die a miserable death with a serious bowel problem. Bad style . . .
  • How about Jesus Christ? Did He die in style? Yes, but it was God’s plan & HIS STYLE. And God is known to do things His Way which often baffles the minds of His creatures. Ref. Isaiah 55:8-9, see note “What is the Gospel?” #196
        Well, there has to be lots of other ways of “Dying in Style”. But what would be the ULTIMATE style? I think we have a New Testament doctrine which hits the spot. The RAPTURE of 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 “For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the archangel’s call, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first; then we who are alive, who are left, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so we shall always be with the Lord.” Now this is the hardest to believe of ALL Bible doctrines, and the most controversial. But it is Scripture . . . And if millions come flying out of their graves, those have to be SPIRITUAL bodies (or souls). For those living raptured at that time, our bodies need to be changed to SPIRITUAL bodies (or souls). Some kind of physical death of millions at the same time. Now the question may arise; if a physical death & transition is involved at the time of the rapture, would it be painful? Scripture doesn’t say, but if it’s God’s end time effort to remove His blood redeemed from end time tribulation wrath on this sinful earth, there shouldn’t be a lot of pain involved – Jesus did the painful part two thousand years ago. But I can imagine a HUGE WHOOSH , and sobering EXCITEMENT as we ascend heavenward in white robes. That is “dying to this world in fabulous Style” – beyond human comprehension, and the ULTIMATE miracle! (see note # 116 “Last Miracles).
I believe “Dying in Style” “for all practical purposes”, means being squarely in the center of Christ’s salvation when our sober & serious time comes. Then we can let the style factor – good, bad, or fabulous – take care of “itself”. Choose Jesus, He is Alive. Revelation 3:20 “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come into him and eat with him, and he with me.” (My “NOTE” #86 also dances around the theme above.)

                                                                                                                                                    *  *  Fred J. Stone  *  *
                                                                                                                                                                                   201
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*This is another Tim Burton style Gospel Note. See note #122.