“These all died in faith” (Heb 11:13).
All the heroes of faith died in faith. We need faith, not only to live a life that’s pleasing God, but also to die pleasing God. The Old Testament saints died in faith although they did not receive the promises.
What is meant by dying in faith? Dying trusting in divine healing is, in a way, dying in faith. But all those who die without taking medicine may not die in faith. Many die filled with fear – tormented with the fear of death, fear of hell, or the fear of the devil. Dying in faith means dying fully trusting in God, without any fear at all. Some may have a wonderful gift of faith – faith to heal the sick, raise the dead, etc. But that faith will not help them at the time of death. We need faith as a character, faith, the fruit of the Spirit.
When the founder of our mission, Pastor Paul, was about to die, the old priest from his former nominal church came to see him. Pointing to the boils on his body he said, “Look at all the pain you are suffering now.” Then Pastor Paul smiled and said, “You are only looking there. You are not looking here (pointing to his heart). There is a lion roaring inside!” Even the whole of hell rises against us, we should not be afraid. The righteous are bold as a lion. Even in the deepest trouble, even at the time of our death, we should be like a lion.
When Pastor Lazarus was dying, he was extremely weak but his spirit was roaring like a lion. Raising his hand, he was saying, “The gates of hell cannot prevail against the militant church of God.”
Some people may appear bold and may seem to have greater faith but when the time comes for them to die, they are shaken. The heroes of faith stood for the faith, lived for the faith, fought for the faith, and also died for the faith.
What is meant by dying in faith? Dying trusting in divine healing is, in a way, dying in faith. But all those who die without taking medicine may not die in faith. Many die filled with fear – tormented with the fear of death, fear of hell, or the fear of the devil. Dying in faith means dying fully trusting in God, without any fear at all. Some may have a wonderful gift of faith – faith to heal the sick, raise the dead, etc. But that faith will not help them at the time of death. We need faith as a character, faith, the fruit of the Spirit.
When the founder of our mission, Pastor Paul, was about to die, the old priest from his former nominal church came to see him. Pointing to the boils on his body he said, “Look at all the pain you are suffering now.” Then Pastor Paul smiled and said, “You are only looking there. You are not looking here (pointing to his heart). There is a lion roaring inside!” Even the whole of hell rises against us, we should not be afraid. The righteous are bold as a lion. Even in the deepest trouble, even at the time of our death, we should be like a lion.
When Pastor Lazarus was dying, he was extremely weak but his spirit was roaring like a lion. Raising his hand, he was saying, “The gates of hell cannot prevail against the militant church of God.”
Some people may appear bold and may seem to have greater faith but when the time comes for them to die, they are shaken. The heroes of faith stood for the faith, lived for the faith, fought for the faith, and also died for the faith.
– Taken from Morning Manna – Thoughts for Daily Devotion
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