Tim Maas Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

I can understand how an individual in unremitting physical pain or suffering (for example) might desire to be relieved of it through death, but, in my opinion, the reasons that the questioner cites for such a desire do not, from a Christian perspective, meet that degree of severity.

(Also, Christians -- even in such pain -- have been known to give very effective witness to their faith by bearing their circumstances for as long as the LORD wills.)

Rather, the conditions described by the questioner should (by contrast) increase the desire on the part of the Christian for an EXTENDED life that will afford as much opportunity as possible to save as many others as he or she can from the designs of the devil by helping them to come to the same faith that the Christian should already possess. To concentrate only on one's own state would not, in my opinion, be indicative of "loving one's neighbor as oneself".

December 21 2022 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Mark Vestal Proud of nothing of myself. Freed by Christ who did it all!

The despair of this present evil world (Galatians 1:4), that you and our apostle Paul speak of, is exactly what Satan desires (2 Corinthians 4:4). The more people that are kept in despair, the fewer people there are to spread the truth of our hope in God through Jesus Christ.

Mankind is evil by nature (Romans 3:10-18, Romans 7:18) and follows his own desires of the flesh. It is by the very nature of man that the world is in the state that it is in. Mankind needs no help from Satan to destroy himself, but Satan uses man's desires of the flesh to continue to draw us away from God.

God, in His sovereignty, is allowing Satan to reign on Earth until the 2nd coming of Christ (John 12:31, John 14:30, Ephesians 2:2, 2 Corinthians 4:4). We, living in God's dispensation of grace, have been offered the free gift of salvation, and deliverance from this world, by simply believing the gospel as given to the apostle Paul from Christ ascended in Heaven.

It is the gospel that saves today (1 Corinthians 15:1-4, Ephesians 1:13), where it is by belief that we are sealed with the holy Spirit until the day of redemption (Ephesians 1:13). We find the hope needed to continue our long-suffering (Ephesians 4:2, 1 Timothy 1:16, Colossians 1:11), as God continues to long-suffer for us (Romans 9:22).

By God's grace through faith alone in Christ alone (Ephesians 2:8-9), we have accepted God's free gift and are made the righteousness of God in Christ at the moment of belief (2 Corinthians 5:21). There is no other requirement to remain in this positional standing with God as we are now complete in Christ (Colossians 2:10). Knowing this truth helps us overcome the hardships we face while living. We will view our challenges as a means of growing in faith, and as an opportunity to bring others to the joy we have found through our hope in Jesus Christ. Paul reminds us of his own "thorn in the flesh" in (2 Corinthians 12:7-10).

Share the word of truth, the gospel of our salvation, with anyone you know who may be lost and without hope today. Laying the proper foundation of faith will finally give them the spiritual strength that they are in desperate need of to endure the trials of life with hope until the end:

1 Corinthians 15:1-4
"Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:"

What does it mean to have faith alone in Christ alone for salvation?

Let's say we're back in school and are presented with one final exam for graduation. It is a most difficult exam, and a score of 100% is required. The teacher is VERY gracious however, and states that we can take the test on our own, or we can accept the grade of someone else in the classroom of our choosing. I decide to accept the results of someone whom I believe is smarter than myself. I have faith that he will pass the exam on my behalf. I submit that I am not capable of passing the test on my own, and there is nothing that I can do that will assist him and his perfect score. The teacher states that any attempt made by me to add to his work will cause an automatic failure. It is his performance that matters now and nothing of myself.

Just as the teacher is in the above analogy, God is so gracious to us by offering His free gift of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ and what He accomplished on the cross on our behalf. There is nothing throughout our entire lives that we can do or could have done that would add to Christ's finished cross-work for us (2 Corinthians 5:21).

December 21 2022 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Justin Hale

The Holy Spirit speaking through the apostle Paul said that this was the 'better' option by far, but that he was 'hard-pressed' between this and remaining in the flesh out of 'necessity' for others still here learning the lessons being taught by Christ, (Philippians 1:23-24).

So are you living for yourself or for others?

It may seem impossible to decide to live for others when living life here for yourself seems burdensome and difficult enough. Where will the strength come from? Yet, scripture tells us that this is actually the answer when we feel crushed under the weight of the world.

We are expected to treat all others as 'equals,' ('Love your neighbor as you love yourself'), yet the Bible tells us that this actually requires viewing others as 'superior' to ourselves, (Philippians 2:3-5). 

Do you genuinely see others as 'superior' to yourself?

When we begin to do this, that 'crushing burden' being placed on us by other supposed 'leaders,' 'idols' and 'teachers' suddenly changes. Christ doesn't place these kinds of burdens on us:

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS." (Matthew 11:28-29).

Your circumstances don't actually need to change at all in order to experience this 'rest for your soul.' There is a new way to view and interpret those same circumstances that inspires hope and even joy. 

"And convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith." (Philippians 1:25).

Shift your eyes to the plights and difficulties of others and expect GOD to 'somehow' bring joy to them. This is how we remind GOD of His promises to us and express our faith that He will bring joy to us too.

I would also like to correct your statement that Satan is 'in charge' of the world and that the entire world is growing increasingly evil. That simply isn't true. 

Two distinct works are underway. GOD is doing a work of 'irreversible goodness,' (Romans 8:28), teaching His people to love one another with greater intimacy and knowledge with each passing day. The 'gates of Hades' will NEVER overcome the Church, (Matthew 16:18). Christ Himself is in total authority of both heaven and earth, (Matthew 28:18). Satan is now powerless and resigned to deceiving and manipulating ONLY his own people, (Hebrews 2:14). The closest the devil comes to any of us is to act as a temporary 'tool of instruction' when we become arrogant, blaspheme GOD and need a 'lesson' in humility by spending some time under the crushing weight of Satan's 'yoke.' (e.g., I Timothy 1:20).

The growing evil that you are seeing is actually the result of Satan's people 'maturing' side by side with us into their own version of 'self actualization.' We are told that Christ Himself will make the final 'separation' between us and them once we both 'fully mature' into everything we will become under our very distinct spiritual influences, (Matthew 25:32, Ephesians 4:10-16).

Once you realize this, the burden of personal despair should lift.
You will also realize that there will never be a reason to 'pray to be taken to heaven' since this will happen gently, peacefully and automatically when your work here 'bringing joy' to others is finally complete. 

"You will not fear the terror of the night,
nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.
A thousand may fall at your side
And ten thousand at your right hand,
But it shall not approach you.
You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.
If you say, 

“The LORD is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your dwelling place." (Psalm 91:5-10).

December 29 2022 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report