Counseling Through Your Bible Handbook (41 page)

“Do not lie. Do not deceive one another”

(L
EVITICUS
19:11).

Embracing God’s gift of life means accepting death as part of life’s package. The moment you are born, you take the first step toward death. Spiritual maturity recognizes death as a natural part of God’s design following the Fall.

The path to recovery leads to a sound understanding of God’s perfect plan for your life, which will accelerate your progress on the Road to Transformation—such that your maturity in Christ will one day silence the cries, “Why me?”

“There is a time for everything…a time to be born and a time to die”

(E
CCLESIASTES
3:1-2).

Death can be a doorway to a more abundant (eternal) life, or it can be the gateway to eternal misery. Death is not an end to life, but the beginning of a different kind of life. We are born with a heart’s desire to live forever, and only through faith in Christ can we reach out and embrace God’s promise of eternal life.

“Small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it”

(M
ATTHEW
7:14).

The reality for all Christians is that
you have already died!
God’s desire for you as His child is
death to self
and submission to the divine life of Christ living within you, expressing His life through you. Eternal life began the moment you accepted Christ.

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me”

(G
ALATIANS
2:20).

“It [heaven] shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal”

(R
EVELATION
21:11).

Heaven is the place where God dwells (1 Kings 8:30) and it is the place where there is no…

— hunger or thirst

“Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst”

(R
EVELATION
7:16).

— crying or pain

“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more…crying or pain”

(R
EVELATION
21:4).

— death or mourning

“There will be no more death or mourning”

(R
EVELATION
21:4).

— impurity or evil

“Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful”

(R
EVELATION
21:27).

If you yourself are terminally ill, the best way to allay concerns for your family is to put your house in order. You can make many decisions that will help lighten the load of your loved ones.
⁵

“This is what the L
ORD
says: Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover”

(2 K
INGS
20:1)

When facing the
reality
of death, here is how you can help your family:

— Prepare a legally binding will.

— Make a list of specific items for special family members and friends.

— Consider a bequest to your church and trustworthy ministries.

— Pray about becoming an organ donor.

— Consider a “living will” declaring your preferences in medical decisions.

— Read Hebrews 9:17.

— Choose whom you want to conduct the service.

— Select meaningful poems, music, and scriptures.

— Designate pallbearers and favorite musicians.

— Name organizations you want to receive memorials.

— Communicate choices about your funeral and burial.

— Read Hebrews 11:22.

— Vest someone with power of attorney to act as your agent or attorney-in-fact to make property, financial, and other legal decisions.

— Gather important documents in one place (insurance, investments, key to safety deposit box).

— Secure legal guardianship for any dependents.

— Write out names of persons to be contacted (lawyers, family, friends).

— Communicate decisions to dependents.

— Read 1 Chronicles 28:11,19.

Leave a Legacy of Love

— Share the significance of your Christian faith with others.

— Communicate love, appreciation, and words you’ve always wanted to say.

— Write, phone, or visit special people.

— Mend broken relationships with “I’m sorry,” or “Please forgive me.”

— Read 2 Timothy 1:3-4.

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear”

(P
SALM
46:1-2).

— God has a purpose for everything that happens to you (Proverbs 19:21).

— God’s thoughts and ways are not your thoughts and ways (Isaiah 55:8).

— God promises a silver lining behind your darkest cloud (Romans 8:28).

— God holds on to you even if you let go of Him (2 Timothy 2:13).

— Submit your will to God’s will and be at peace with Him (Matthew 26:39).

— Choose to reflect Christ’s spirit in hope and humility (Philippians 2:8).

— Allow Christ to strengthen your heart (Ephesians 3:16).

— Respond to your circumstances with the strength of Christ (Philippians 4:13).

— Anticipate God’s promise of hope for the future (1 Corinthians 2:9).

For guidance on this, see “Salvation” on pages 349-56.

As you face illness, and eventually death, adopt Paul’s mind-set:

“I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain”

(P
HILIPPIANS
1:20-21).

Any illness which can be a burden can also be a blessing. When we allow difficulty to draw us closer to the Lord, the gift tag simply reads, “Grace from God included.”

—JH

Psalm 10:17

Psalm 22:24

Psalm 119:50,71

Psalm 23:4

Psalm 56:3

Psalm 73:26

Mark 14:36

2 Corinthians 12:9

1 Peter 1:6-7

Romans 8:18

Philippians 1:21

For additional guidance on this topic, see also
Alcohol and Drug Abuse, Decision Making, Depression, Evil and Suffering…Why?, Fear, Financial Freedom, Grief Recovery, Hope, Rejection, Salvation, Self-worth, Stress Management, Suicide Prevention, Victimization, Worry
.

I
f your nose grew every time you told a lie, would you stop telling lies? Pinocchio was a wooden marionette given the opportunity to be transformed into a real boy, but on one condition: He had to follow his conscience. Every time he told a lie, his nose would grow.

Pinocchio faced one roadblock after another—tell a lie or be embarrassed, tell a lie or miss out on some fun. Each time, telling a lie seemed a better choice than telling the truth. Over time he deadened his conscience by repeatedly telling lies, leading him to a ditch of desperation lined with deceit. Before long, his nose measured more than a foot long and he was buried under a muddy pile of myths.

No. Over time, repeated lying deadens the conscience. Then it becomes easier and easier to lie and be deceptive.

—
Lies
are untrue statements made with the intent to deceive (Proverbs 27:3-4).

—
Half-truths
are partially true statements made with the deliberate intent to deceive (Genesis 12:13).

—
Perjury
is false testimony given under oath (Deuteronomy 19:16-20).

—
Deception
is intentionally giving a false impression through a statement or by omission (Psalm 12:2).

—
Duplicity
is a form of deception in which a person gives two different and opposing impressions (Proverbs 11:3).

—
White lies
are untrue statements that appear harmless and unimportant (Hebrews 3:13).