Saints et Esprits Ancestraux : Comprendre la Perspective Catholique

Une question pertinente a été soulevée dans un groupe WhatsApp, abordant le sujet de l'intercession des saints tel que compris par l'Église catholique, et les réserves que certains non-catholiques peuvent avoir à ce sujet. Dans les lignes qui suivent, je vais tenter de répondre brièvement à cette question complexe.

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Question : "Pourquoi l'Église nous défend-elle alors d'invoquer les esprits des défunts alors qu'on récite la litanie des saints ? En quoi le rituel à nos parents défunts au village va-t-il à l'encontre de notre foi chrétienne ?"

Réponse : Je crois que la question a plusieurs composantes :

• l'invocation des morts
• l'évocation des morts
• la litanie des saints
• les rites envers les ancêtres
  

Prémier point: l'évocation des morts vs l'invocation des morts

Si nos traductions sont fidèles aux langues originales, je pense que la Bible interdit explicitement l'évocation des morts, mais ne semble pas se prononcer explicitement sur l'invocation des morts.

Ésaïe 8:19 : "Si l'on vous dit : Consultez ceux qui évoquent les morts et ceux qui prédisent l'avenir, qui poussent des sifflements et des soupirs, répondez : Un peuple ne consultera-t-il pas son Dieu ? S'adressera-t-il aux morts en faveur des vivants ?"

Deutéronome 18:10-12 : "Qu'on ne trouve chez toi personne qui fasse passer son fils ou sa fille par le feu, personne qui exerce le métier de devin, d'astrologue, d'augure, de magicien, d'enchanteur, personne qui consulte ceux qui évoquent les esprits ou disent la bonne aventure, personne qui interroge les morts. Car quiconque fait ces choses est en abomination à l'Éternel ; et c'est à cause de ces abominations que l'Éternel, ton Dieu, va chasser ces nations devant toi."

1 Samuel 28:7 : "Et Saül dit à ses serviteurs : Cherchez-moi une femme qui évoque les morts, et j'irai la consulter. Ses serviteurs lui dirent : Voici, à En Dor il y a une femme qui évoque les morts."

Quelques considérations en termes de définition selon le Dictionaire Larousse. Si nous évitons de confondre ces deux verbes, le dialogue interreligieux entre catholiques et protestants deviendra fructueux:

A) Évoquer

• Faire apparaître des esprits, des démons par des prières, des incantations, des sortilèges : Évoquer les âmes des morts.
• Rappeler quelque chose au souvenir, en parler : Évoquer des souvenirs de jeunesse.
• Faire songer à quelque chose, le rappeler : Ces maisons blanches m'évoquaient la Grèce.

Source 1 : https://www.larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais/%C3%A9voquer/31905

B) Invoquer = appeler à son secours par une prière ; citer en sa faveur."

• Appeler une puissance surnaturelle à son aide par des prières : Invoquer Dieu, les saints, la Vierge.
• Solliciter de quelqu'un de plus puissant, par des prières, une aide, l'expression d'un sentiment : Invoquer l'aide de ses alliés.

Source 2 : https://www.larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais/invoquer/44154

Je propose donc cette vue que l'évocation des morts est explicitement interdite par la foi chrétienne, car c'est ce que les Cananéens étaient coupables de, comme expliqué par la sorcière d'En Dor dans 1 Samuel 28 (La Catéchèse de l'Église Catholique numéro 2116-2117). Elle faisait apparaître les morts comme on le voit avec Samuel, par des probables incantations ou sortilèges pour les consulter en faveur de vivants. C'est ce qu'on appelle également la 'nécromancie'.

Cependant, l'invocation des morts, ou les prières aux saints ne sont pas en soi explicitement interdites dans les Écritures. La litanie des saints, qui a pour but de solliciter leurs prières puissantes, ne tombe pas dans la catégorie de l'évocation des morts, mais probablement dans l'invocation des saints. La question qui reste à savoir est : quels morts pouvons-nous dire sont en position de puissance pour s'allier avec nous dans la prière ? 

Deuxiement: La litany de saints ou l'intercession de Saints

L'histoire de Lazare et du mauvais riche nous montre que le mauvais riche mort n'avait pas pu recevoir une exaucement favorable. Cela pourrait signifier que ces requêtes (ceux des morts impies) sont inefficaces (Luke 16:24-31). Cependant, les morts appelés saints sont des esprits justes qui ont atteint la perfection (Hébreux 12:23), et nous savons que la prière des justes est efficace (Jacques 5:16). Donc, ces derniers peuvent être sollicités pour leur intercession (Apocalypse 5:8).

Troisiement: Culte des ancêtres

C'est pourquoi pour en finir avec la question sur nos ancêtres, comme on ne sait pas qui de nos ancêtres lointains ou proches tombe dans la bonne catégorie (les esprits des morts impie ou les esprit de saints parfait), l'Église nous propose simplement de nous concentrer sur ceux qui ont déjà été reconnus ou canonisés comme saints, comme une mesure de sécurité qu'ils sont dans la présence de Dieu et peuvent intercéder efficacement (La Catéchèse de l'Église Catholique numéro 2683).

Endurance: A Year In Review (2019)

The year 2019 was an unexpectedly difficult year for me and my loved ones (family and friends). My family went through a heart-wrenching experience with the quasi-sudden death of my beloved Mother. How sudden you may wonder? Well, in the month of March 2019 we were discussing an important document to present to an interested third party investor who had confirmed to meet with us during the month of July 2019. The very first week of July, she had passed away from this life into the Eternal City, and we never had that planned meeting. Her sickness was a traumatic short-lived illness to all who were close to her. The wound left behind by her sudden departure hasn't been healed. It is too soon. And yet, the faith I have learned from her has carried me through this difficult past year, and I still cling to it to carry me throughout the year 2020. My Mother's death has put many of my personal projects on a halt and slowed down others. Despite the deep sadness experienced when She passed away to eternity, my family was comforted by the birth of two awesome and cute little Boys (Noah B. and Josh G.). The timing couldn't be more awkward but we received them as divine signs, as a rumor from another World which reached out to our hearts to appease our sorrows and anoint our hurting wounds!

Much more had happened in 2019 but this is no place nor the right time to speak about them. Nevertheless, I'd like to make an exception by pointing out one particular thing though. Something that I have learned from my parents, especially from my late Mother - the habit to learn through reading. She loved reading, especially Her Bible. Her favorite book of the Bible was the book of Psalm. I have developed a similar reading habit from my beloved Mother and I read the Bible and study it on a weekly basis with a group of dear friends from the Living Word Association (LWA).

To my regular bible reading, I also do some additional readings. Last year, I gave my 2018 reading list of books that shaped my mind and invigorated my spiritual commitment to the Lord. I want to follow on that new tradition and list the 2019 list of books that have reinforced my understanding of Christianity. The year 2019 also introduced me to a series of online debates with atheists and agnostic(s)? on different aspects of science, ethics, spirituality, politics, and other themes that intersected with religion. The debates have been spirited and at time pleasant, saved for some unavoidable toxic exchanges which are expected from the most virulent and militant atheists. These unexpected encounters led me to diversify some of the reading materials I was exposing my mind to. Below is the list of books I read and which I would also recommend with different degrees of enthusiasm. The rating simply reflects the way the book contents moved me at the time I read them. It is not an indictment of the quality of its content, but simply a reflection of my emotional response to the way it intrigued me.

Catholic authors:
1. "Evangelical Exodus: Evangelical Seminarians and Their Paths to Rome" by Douglas M. Beaumont (5/5)
2. "Diabolical" by Milo Yiannopolous (3.5/5)
3. "Christian Initiation & Baptism in the Holy Spirit: Evidence from the First Eight Centuries" by Kilian McDonnell & George T. Montague (4/5)
4. "Bad Shepherds: The Dark Years in which the Faithful thrived while Bishops did the Devil's work" by Rod Bennett (4/5)
5. "Jesus the Bridegroom: The Greatest Love Story Ever Told" by Brant Pitre (4/5)
6. "Born Fundamentalist, Born Again Catholic" by David B. Currie (5/5)
7. "Teaching with Authority: How to Cut through Doctrinal Confusion and Understand what the Church really says" by Jimmy Akin (3.5/5)
8. "Making Sense of Mary" by Gary G. Michuta (4/5)
9. "Salvation: What Every Catholic Should Know" by Michael Patrick Barber (4.5/5)
10. "The Salvation Controversy" by Jimmy Akin (3/5)
11. "Answering Atheism: How to Make the Case for God with Logic and Charity" by Trent Horn (3.5/5)
12. "The Myth of Religious Violence: Secular Ideology and the Roots of Modern Conflicts" by William T. Cavanaugh (4/5)

Protestant authors:
13. "Against Calvinism: Rescuing God's Reputation from Radical Reformed Theology" by Roger E. Olson (5/5)
14. "Stealing From God: Why Atheists Need God to Make Their Case" by Frank Turek (4/5)

Non-Christian author:
15. "Did Jesus Exist? The Historical Argument for Jesus of Nazareth" by Bart D. Ehrman (4/5)

As I look back to the year 2019, I am full of gratitude to all who have contacted me (international calls), wrote to me and visited me during my beloved Mother's funeral. God has shown His goodness toward me through family and friends. God had given me a fantastic support system that I didn't even know existed until tragedy struck home!

Thank you to all from the bottom of my heart for your love, friendship, words of affirmation and comforts, spiritual counsel and heartfelt prayers during those terrible moments. When my heart will be a little bit lighter and the wounds a little bit painless, I will write some more about my Mother and give Her a fuller tribute! Until then, God Speed!

My Mother was a Heroine of faith, and now She surrounds us with all the other Heros of faith. Though She is gone to Her Lord, I know by God's grace She is also still with us, surrounding us and witnessing my race and the good fight I continue to fight in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ whether in favorable or unfavorable time (Jeremiah 42.6)!

Hebrews 12:1-3;

"1 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."

The Side of Faith I Never Knew

Today's I am hosting a guest writer, Lisette Buki, who wanted to share something that she recently learned through a family tragedy she experienced. See he post below.
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The Side of Faith I Have Never known

“I order you to ask Adede or Coco about me” wrote Kunda in a WhatsApp group she and I along with some of my female cousins shared. She accompanied her puzzling order with a teasing, smiley emoticon. Kunda, Coco and Adede are all my cousins by the way, and today I will share a story specifically about Kunda.

Since the message had a teasing emoticon, I didn't expect nor gave any seriousness. I wasn't expecting any sort of aggravating news, at least, not a bad one. I initially thought, perhaps she want to inform us that her family was moving to join her husband (who has been working abroad for months) or something similar.

Following on her request or should I say her order, I contacted Adede who informed me that Kunda was from the doctor’s office and she was diagnosed with a failing liver that couldn't be cured. I later learned that it was an aggressive form of liver cancer. She was about to go to India for a second medical opinion hoping to counter the initial diagnosis. I was so shocked, I said to myself, “this cannot happen to Kunda!”

Let me tell you a bit about Kunda. She was the type of person that makes you ask yourself: “Is she a human or an angel?” At time, some family members were belatedly convinced that she was an angel who was living with us without us knowing! (smile)

I personally met Kunda in my first year of college. First year students didn't have right to have their own rooms in Campus so the trends was to look for an older person kind enough to share their rooms with new comers. Since Kunda was an elder, she had the right to have a bed in college; she was willing to share her bed with me at the requested of my elder sister. She agreed and welcomed me. The big surprise came when I noticed that she gave away her whole bed for me and a friend of hers who had nowhere to stay. She spent the whole academic year with no fixed address spending her nights sometimes at her friends’ room and sometimes back in our room (technically still her room) when one of us were absent from Campus. This type of sacrificial generosity marked me profoundly.

Kunda didn't always have an easy life. She was a survivor from the 1994 genocide against Tutsi (Rwanda). She and her two sisters were the lone survivors. She lost her parents and brothers. After this tragedy, her and her sisters moved from family to family and were not most of the time treated with loving kindness.

It is in high school that she became a Christian and a journey of transformation began for her after that encounter with Jesus Christ. Since then, she had been a devoted Christian, serving the Kingdom of God as much as she could. Later in life, her husband and her 3 beautiful children were among her most prized possession and blessings. Personally, the main thing that amazed me about Kunda was her wisdom. She was only 4 years my elder but her wisdom was impressive! I have learned so much from her, I already miss our many discussion and her many profound and insightful advises.

Alright, back to my story! 

As I said earlier, I was so shocked and heart broken by the news of deteriorating health. “This cannot happen to Kunda!” I kept saying to myself. On her way to India she requested us, in our family WhatsApp group, to keep praying that she receive a contrary diagnosis from India. Being a Christian myself, I was convinced that Kunda could not die this early at the prime of her life and that somehow God will use the cancer to miraculously heal her. We immediately organized a fasting and prayer day for that request.

Unfortunately the diagnosis was equally confirmed in India. The team of doctors didn't even suggest a treatment, save one of them who wanted to try some alternative medical treatment. This alternative treatment came as good news. We thought that was a sign of God being at work! Kunda decided to take back home her alternative treatment in order to be closed to her family. As for us, we decided to continue to pray and fast for her once a week until the day she would be healed. The prayer group took a life of its own, growing beyond the confine of the family to attract friends and the extended family. Well, matter of fact, I came to learn that others people from all over the world had joined us in prayer.

Few months later, she went back to India for check-up on the effect of the treatment. Unfortunately, the doctors realized that the treatment didn't work as well as they hoped for. The only hope we had now was a miracle from the Lord. So we continued to pray for her. During this time of prayers, we received encouraging scriptures, ‘prophesies’, dreams, etc. From our interpretation of them, we were sure that she will be healed. Kunda, herself, was so sure that she will be healed despite the ravaging work of the cancer to her body, she resumed work until the day she was physically unable to continue. Days were passing by and day by day she was getting weaker and weaker. Her doctor decided to intern her at the hospital. A week after, I was informed that she had passed away and joined her Lord that she served with such love and loyalty. I couldn't believe the news. Then I remembered the thought I had few months ago while praying for her, “God was never late. The story of Lazarus proves it”. (The story of Lazarus can be found in the bible in John 11:1-46). I was encouraged. Even before the passing of Kunda, I shared the thought with her.

Here is our conversation:

Me: Hello Sisi. When I was praying for you this morning I had this thought: God is never late… the story of Lazarus proves it. I realized from Lazarus’ story that despite the fact that Jesus loved very much Lazarus’s family, and the cry for help from Lazarus’ sisters, he decided to stay 2 more days.  Later on in the chapter he gives the reason for waiting. We all know that God deeply loves you and your family. There might surely be a reason why God is taking time but let us remember that "He is never late". Meanwhile I pray that He strengthens you and your family

Kunda: Thx lovely sis to remember me in your prayers. Thank you also for the Word... Indeed I continue to trust in the Lord, keeping the faith waiting upon Him!  

So I thought to myself, “that is not over, God will resurrect her as he did for Lazarus”. My hope was back and I started praying for that to happen. To my surprise, I wasn't the only one in our prayer group who was convinced that God will bring her back to live. Besides, her husband decided that the burial ceremony would be on Thursday (it was the day we used to pray and fast for her healing) and that Thursday coincidentally fell on the 4^th day after her death. It reminded me the story of Lazarus. For me and my folks who wouldn't let her go, it was a sign that she would come back. So we prayed and prayed earnestly.

The day of the burial arrived and the ceremonies happened as it was planned. The body of Kunda was buried and the miracle so expected didn't happen.

The realization of Kunda’s death then deemed on me, “Kunda really left us to join our Lord”. I had mixed feeling about everything. I knew I will be missing her but I was especially sad that she was gone so young leaving a husband and three young kids. At the same time, I knew she was not suffering any more, she was happy to be with her Lord she serves so faithfully and God would take care of her family. I knew from Christian theology, the dead in Christ finally rest in the presence of their Master.

In addition to my mixed emotion, I was left with one main concern I couldn't rationalize post-facto: Kunda faithfully believed until her last day that she would be physically healed. Dying was not an option for her. She believed so much that she didn't even bother to prepare her family just in case she didn't get through the illness. She relied on the many supposedly confirmation she had received from herself and others people in prayers, dreams, comforting scriptures, prophecies, etc. 

So why the promises she believed to have received did not happen?

Is God a liar? What did really happen? Perhaps we were misled on the promises received? Or they were not true? Kunda and her husband were really open to know the will of God whatever it would have been, good or bad. They told us that from the get go in our early prayer meetings. This confused and discouraged me. I started asking around but I received answers that did not satisfy my queries. It became a heavy burden. I was getting no way. I couldn't figure out God anymore.

Thanks God, my confusion didn’t last for long. Two weeks after Kunda’s death, in a bible study group, I voiced my concern once again by popping the question. “Can God promise something, and it doesn’t come to pass?”

One of the members in the Bible Study replied by sharing with me this verse:

“³⁹ These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, ⁴⁰ since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.” Hebrew 11: 39-40

This scripture felt like a Eureka to me. I had read this scripture many times when praying for Kunda but never realized this portion of the chapter. It is possible that God promises you something but you do not receive it. However, from the same scripture it doesn't make God a liar since He gives you even better than the way you expected to receive the promise. “How come I never knew about it?”,

I felt so free and overwhelmed with joy. Kunda after all received more than what was promised her on this earth. ALLELUIA!

I still miss her for sure, but the idea that she received more than her physical healing brings smile on my face. I will keep that smile until the day I smile with her again and that will be for eternity.

This is the end of my story. Today I have a thought for all the heroes of faith who did not received what was promised to them but received even better according to Scriptures. 

A special tribute to Dr.Nabeel Qureshi, a brother in Christ and friend I have never met.

A Christian Reflection on Life After Death

Death comes for all of us. Escaping it has been the wishes of many throughout generations. Under the sun as would have said the sage of old, after death all dreams cherished on earth ceases to be. This sentiment was expressed forcefully by the Ecclesiastes:

"At least the living know they will die, but the dead know nothing; they no longer have a reward, since memory about them has been forgotten."- Ecclesiastes 9:5

The Ecclesiastes is known to be a preacher that presented everything being done or happening on earth as being vain, futile and ultimately without lasting purpose, hence his signature, 'Vanity of vanities, says the preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity' (Ecc.1:2). His specialty was to portray a grim picture of human life by taking out all purposes and meaning out of man's existence if this natural life was all there is to be. If all end with death, he reasoned, then nothing really matters. If all end with the end of this life, then it doesn't matter whether one live a life of nobility and goodness or if one live a life of wickedness and corruption, wise or fool, men or beast we all end up in a forgotten place with no memories, no pleasure and no pain.

"For neither the wise nor the fool will be long remembered, since in days to come everything will be forgotten. The wise man dies the same way as the fool, does he not?"-
Ecclesiastes 2:16 

Attracting our attention to the creation of man as expressed in Genesis, the Ecclesiastes reasoned that,

"All of them go to one place: all of them originate from dust, and all of them return to dust." - Ecclesiastes 3:20 

If man is no different from an animal or any other creation then his existence ends with this world. But, is this all the Ecclesiastes says about the death of human beings? We discover if we keep reading that as he come close to the end of his book, a message of hopes started emerging. A message that recognizes that not all is vain, not everything is insignificant. On the last chapter (12) of his book, he reminds his readers that evil man and good man in this life shall not be treated the same. He warned that there is indeed something more to this natural realm. There is a spiritual realm, and God who is Spirit is interested in what has happened in the natural world, "God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it is good, or whether evil." (Ecc 12.14).

The language dramatically changes after 11 chapters of 'vanity, vanity, all is vanity'. Suddenly, not everything is vanity and meaningless. Now there is a judgment, there is someone who cares and remind us that the natural life is not all there is to be. It seems that the Ecclesiastes has tried to make an argument based on Genesis 2:7 throughout the book.

"(a) God formed man of the dust of the ground, and (b) breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul." Genesis 2:7

 It seems that the Ecclesiastes in chapter 3:20, quoted above, was only making an argument based on the first part (a) of Genesis 2:7, namely "man was made of dust" without attracting the attention of the readers to the second part (b) which clearly pointed out that man was made with more than a material element namely "dust". There was a spiritual element in man, an immaterial element in man which has been called "spirit" or "soul". And it is in his last chapter 12 that the Ecclesiastes complete his thoughts in order to bring significance and meaning to human life,

"Then man's dust will go back to the earth, returning to what it was, and the spirit will return to the God who gave it." - Ecclesiastes 12:7 

In completing his thought, the Ecclesiastes make two affirmation, a) man's body which is dust will go back to earth. However, b) man's spirit which is immaterial and soulish will go to another destination, a spiritual destination, to the realm of his creator.

This belief that man has both a material aspect to him (the body that stays in the dust realm) and an immaterial aspect to him (the soul that goes to the Creator's realm) became more forcefully expressed in the New Testament starting with the one who had both knowledge of this world and of the other world,

"Stop being afraid of those who kill the body but can't kill the soul. Instead, be afraid of the one who can destroy both body and soul in hell." - Matthew 10:28 

The Lord Jesus encouraged his disciples not to be afraid in the face of deadly opposition to their faith reminding them that those who kill the body can not kill their soul. Even though they might put the believers body to death and return it to the dust as would say the Ecclesiastes, their soul can not be equally killed for their souls will survive the persecution, the Lord Jesus informed his disciples.

This wasn't the first time Jesus pulled the veil of what happens after death when man's body go to dust and his spirit to the Creator. In the book of Revelation, St. John is given a revelation of what had happened to the souls of the martyrs after their physical death,

Revelations 6:9 "When the lamb opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slaughtered because of the word of God and the testimony they had given."

Rev 6:10  "They cried out in a loud voice, "Holy and true Sovereign, how long will it be before you judge and take revenge on those living on the earth who shed our blood?" 

Rev 6:11  "Each of them was given a white robe. They were told to rest a little longer until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers was completed, who would be killed as they themselves had been."

From this portion of Revelation 12:9-11, we are informed that St. John was able to:
1) see the Souls of the Martyrs (v.9)
2) hear them speak and cry out in a loud voice (v. 10)
3) see the Souls receive something (white robe, v.11)
4) see the Souls receive instruction about remaining calm and being at rest (v. 11).

These four (4) points are biblical proof that the Souls which survive the physical death are conscious. So conscious matter of fact that they could speak and hear instruction given to them. More interesting is that when God lifted the veil of the spiritual realm, St. John was able to see the souls of those who died as Martyrs as pointed out in verse 9. This is not unlike what happened to the disciples when they prayed with the Lord Jesus at the Mount of transfiguration and that God opened their spiritual eyes to see beyond the veil of the natural world as St. John did in the book of Revelation:

"And Elijah with Moses was seen by them, and they were talking with Jesus. And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. And let us make three tabernacles, one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah ... And suddenly, looking around, they did not see anyone any more, except Jesus alone with themselves." - Mark 9:4-5, 8.

The Gospel of Mark emphasizes that the disciples saw both Elijah and Moses. Regardless of what your theology maybe of the status of Elijah, what is sure to all though is that Moses was dead, "And Moses the servant of Jehovah died there in the land of Moab, according to the Word of Jehovah." (Deuteronomy 34:5). Despite Moses physical death, which mean his body returning to dust by being buried, his souls survived his physical death long enough to meet with his Lord in Palestine on the Mount of Transfiguration many centuries later.

We find similar stories of the human soul surviving the physical death of man. One such strange story is told of Elijah the prophet that involved the soul of a departed child,

"And he [Elijah] stretched himself on the child three times, and cried to Jehovah, and said, 'O Jehovah my God, please let this child's soul come to him again'.  And Jehovah heard the voice of Elijah, and the soul of the child came into him again, and he lived." - 1 King 17:21-22

So those who think that life end with this world have seriously misunderstood the Ecclesiastes, and have not paid much attention to what the scriptures kept saying on the issue of man's death. For man do not only have a body that sleeps in the dust but man has also a soul/spirit that survives man's bodily's death. This was the whole exercise of the parable of the wicked rich and the poor Lazarus. Though both bodies went to the ground, back to dust, and that their cerebral activities ceased functioning (Ecc 9:5), their story of their conscious existence didn't end there (Luke 16:19-31).

Here is what St. Paul the apostle had to say about death despite his desire to stay on earth to serve his beloved brothers and sisters in the faith,

"Indeed, I cannot decide between the two. I have the desire to leave this life and be with the Messiah, for that is far better." - Philippians 1:23-24 

St. Paul was totally positive that to leave this life was not an absolute end to his conscious life, but he knew based on the biblical evidence that he would be with the Messiah, Jesus. What He said to the Church to the Philippians he also reiterated to the Church of Corinth,

"We are confident, then, and would prefer to be away from this body and to live with the Lord." - 2 Corinthians 5:8 

Understanding that man is made with a material part (body) and an immaterial part (Spirit and/or Soul) is the key to understand what happens to those who experience physical death. St. Paul exemplify this understanding of man as a tripartite entity, "And may the God of peace Himself sanctify you, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blamelessly at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." - 1 Thessalonians 5:23

I will end by quoting Dr. Ravi Zacharias tributes to our departed beloved brother Nabeel Qureshi who is at this moment at the presence of His Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,

"Knowing the biblical message, the poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow said it well:

Life is real! life is earnest!

And the grave is not its goal.

Dust thou art, to dust returnest,

Was not spoken of the soul."

How Long Will I Live? A Brief Case for Premature Death

I have never been a big fan of fatality. This is why I hardly accept as a rational statement, when people say: "People dies because it is their day." Today, I'll explain why I do not hold that view. This is long overdue. I had promised some times back that I'll write a post on death to my friends. To be precise, about my belief about premature death.

Let's consider my opening verse:

Psalm 39:4 NIV "Show me, O LORD, my life's end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting is my life.

Psalm 39:4 KJV "LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am."

Both biblical versions of Psalm 39:4, say essentially this: 1) Life has an end; 2) The day of life have a limit, a measure. They are numbered, counted. 3) The Lord sole knows our life span and it is possible that He can reveal that to us.

In this verse of Psalm 39:4, we are not told that we will always die when our life days have been all used or come to an end. God certainly knows the length of our days, but He also knows that we can die before those days are completely used. This is what we call a premature death. It is when death comes before the full maturity of our days. How do I know that?

For first, God himself who knows the length and the amount of our days, let us know about it:

Proverb 4:10  "Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many."

But why would the Lord inspire the writer of Proverb to embrace the belief that our years of life would be longer and many if we listening to His instructions or sayings? The only reason He could possibly say this, it is because not listening to God can significantly shorten our lives. He gave life, hence He knows our limits and the length it can be lived in full. In our hands, there is no guarantee that we can make it to the fullness of our days.

You see, if you can't foresee the future events, you can't possibly prepare yourself in advance for calamity. More so if you don't have the one who have foresight of the future by your side how could you avoid accident of destiny? One of the easiest way to cut short our life and die prematurely is to engage ourselves into risky behaviors and deadly sins. For example in Psalm 55:23, we read "But You, O God, shall bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in you."

So the key for a longer life is to synchronize our life interest with that of the Creator of life, for Him alone can assure us to have a prolonged and purposeful life. This doesn't mean that if we all live with an attentive hears to God's commands that we will all live to reach the same old age. Remember that this is not the promise. The promise is that our life will reach a full age according to the already set days of our life measure. In Job 5:26, we are informed that 'You shall come to your grave in a full age, like as a shock of corn comes in in his season.' It is about 'full age' and not necessarily 'old age'.

If God purpose for me is to go to Eternal felicity by age 44, this means that is the measure of my life and days - my full age. If I am attentive and cooperative I can live a purposeful life and die at the fullness of my time - meaning age 44. If I am not cooperative, I might get unfortunate and die earlier than that. If your life span (your full age) is 98 years of age, you may still be unfortunate and meet an early death by age 21 or 31 or even 84 if you do not listen attentively to God's prescriptions for your life purpose. You might maybe remember these scriptures from Deuteronomy 30:19 warning us that those who take the wrong turn are responsible for their early death, not their destiny, “If he chooses disobedience (sin), he takes the path leading to death.”

The Bible has always surprises for us. It seems that at time, people can literally escape death, even when they have reached the set limit of their days measure. There is this story of King Hezekiah who received a reliable prophecy by the all time winner of exact prophecy - the prophet Isaiah. Hezekiah was an honorable man, who had listened to God and live an correct life. Hence when the news of his death came from a reliable source - Isaiah prediction - the King prayed and asked God that He wanted to live more. He wanted to live beyond his allocated time. So he bargained with God through prayers. Can I just add this, prayer is most effective when we are living a godly life.

"In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came unto him, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order: for thou shalt die, and not live. Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall, and prayed unto the LORD, And said, Remember now, O LORD, I beseech thee, how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore. Then came the word of the LORD to Isaiah, saying, Go, and say to Hezekiah, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will add unto thy days fifteen years." Isaiah 38:1-5

Interesting story. Hezekiah has cheated death because of his righteous life. Actually, a righteous living in principle do grant you the ability to reach your full appointed age on earth. However Hezekiah has showed the abundant potential of having a good life with God. You can make yourself be heard in prayers for things that was not even in store for you. As long as you have a promise and that you have the requirement, you can apply for it. That is why I don't really worry about spiritual techniques and principles preachings that are in vogue too much. I believe that If you live in harmony with God, you might just discover why St. Paul believed that 'godliness has a greater benefit than anything'. Deuteronomy 4:40, "You shall keep therefore his statutes, and his commandments, which I command you this day, that it may go well with you, and with your children after you, and that you may prolong your days upon the earth, which the LORD your God give you, for ever."

So as much as it has been proven that a healthy life through exercise give you a fighting chance for a longer life, i would like to submit to you that a godly life can do as much and even more, 1Timothy 4:8 "For bodily exercise profits little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come."

So back to my title question, 'How long will I live?' I don't know. But I know at least two things. Bodily exercise can add to a longer life but not as much as a godly life. Your life length is related to your submission and listening to God's commands, just like the Bible teaches us in many places: Ephesians 6:1-3  "Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) That it may be well with you, and you may live long on the earth."

This is the first commandment with a promise but it is certainly not the only one with a promise of a longer life as already seen above.

Have a Merry Christmas Day and a Happy New Year 2012 in Jesus' name.