The Good Part — Preparing for Old Age and Death

We are thrilled to be able to post this piece written by our dear friend and former contributor Diane Bucknell.

“There are two things that elderly Christians, who have many long years believed and lived by faith in Christ, long for when they are nearing eternity. The first is, that all their spiritual backslidings will be healed and that they may be spiritually revived and recovered from all the spiritual declensions and decays to which they were liable in their daily walk with God. The other is that they may flourish in holiness and fruitfulness to the praise of God, the honor of the gospel, and the increase of their peace and joy. They value these things more than all the world.” ¹ –John Owen

My boomer generation has a serious problem with denial when it comes to aging and death. It’s driven, in part, by our culture’s worship of youth and beauty—60 is the new 40 and all that nonsense. I think advancements in modern medicine that prolong the inevitable have also contributed. Additionally, death has become so sanitized in western society that many people may never even see a dead person in their lifetime. More than ever before, we have been anesthetized to the reality that life is but a vapor and what we do in our short stay here will have eternal consequences.

 
But preparing for old age and death is something that hopefully, Christians begin doing when God saves us. Our battle against the world, the flesh, and the devil will rage against us until our last breath, and so we must continually fight against it whether we are 20 or 80.

So then, how can the Christian live in such a way that we will be as prepared as possible when we’re visited by affliction, the infirmities of old age, and ultimately our own death?

Written at the end of his life, Owen’s The Glory of Christ points us to the absolute necessity of daily meditating on the person of Christ in all His glory.

Some might think of meditation as something only mystics practice, but true Christian meditation doesn’t focus on “silence,” nor does it attempt to receive new revelation from heaven. The purpose of Christian meditation is to turn our thoughts as often as we can towards Him who loved and redeemed us. And what we know of Him can only be found through His Word. We don’t need to find a special place in order to meditate on the ever present person of Christ. Our thoughts can turn to Him wherever we are. And in so doing we will find comfort in our afflictions, hope in our sufferings, and joy in our everyday life. By this we are also preparing ourselves for that day when death, the last enemy, is swallowed up in victory as we pass from this life into His glorious presence.

And yet how easily our contemporary world distracts our thoughts with so much unnecessary clutter. Social media and television have increased our tendency to be distracted to a level the saints in times past could not have imagined. Regardless, there is still nothing new under the sun and the things we fill our minds with each day will guide our course as surely as the helm guides the ship. Our ruminations will impact our emotions, behavior, and can even effect our health. “A joyful heart is good medicine, But a broken spirit dries up the bones.”

While it goes without saying that we need to put the brakes on entertaining evil thoughts, we can also veer off course in more subtle ways by focusing more on the good gifts than the Giver himself.

“Others are of a more noble mind and spend their time meditating on the works of creation and providence. This is a work worthy of our nature. But in all these there is no glory to be compared to with the Glory of Christ’s person.

Let us diligently study the Bible and the revelations of the glory of Christ revealed there. This is what Christ himself tells us to do and the prophets in the Old Testament show us how to do”. ²

If we are to prepare ourselves for the ravages of old age and dying, we need to be continually hitting the reset button to focus our attentions on that “good part.”

“but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part,

which shall not be taken away from her." Luke 10:24

---

¹The Glory of Christ, John Owen, Puritan Paperbacks, Abridged, Banner of Truth Trust; 1994;
pg. 141
²Ibid, pg. 31.

Digital Downsizing

I’ve never been one for New Year’s resolutions but this year I have resolved to reduce  my online involvement  as much as possible. I began digitally downsizing last summer by deleting my Facebook and Twitter accounts.  Connecting with friends  was great but  it  had become  too  addictive for my liking. I had failed several attempts to scale back,  so  I decided it best  to avoid the temptation completely.   

Right away I discovered that unplugging was surprisingly liberating. The freedom  to  quietly enjoy  life's simple moments without  having the urge to grab my phone and broadcast it  has been refreshing. I have also noticed that my concentration has improved and that  I'm not as stressed out.  So far,  I  have  no desire to return to it and  hope that it stays that way.

My biggest concern was losing touch with friends, but alas!   In our modern world there are  other ways to communicate with people. Fancy that! Email,  texting , and phone calls  may  take a little more effort,   but they can also be more meaningful. And who knows?  Maybe I’ll even make good on  this challenge. 

Most of us are keenly aware of  the good and  evil of  social media so I won’t bother going there except to say that I really appreciated David Murray’s thoughts on the subject last week:   2017: A Year of Digital Detox . He is following this theme throughout the year and has posted some helps for those who want to cut back.   

I have also decided to retire my personal blog and discontinue posting here.   This was a hard decision that I debated for a long time but I have finally accepted  that I have entered   a new season of life.  As much as I enjoy writing and the blogging community,  it's  time to slow down  and devote my full attention to my home,  family,  and local church.   

Blogging has  been an extremely rewarding  venture.  It has given me the opportunity to  expand my knowledge  in new ways and has provided a means to share my faith in Christ,  for which I am  very grateful.  I have also made some wonderful friends from around the world—yes, Internet friendships can turn into real friendships.   

I want to thank my friends here at Out of the Ordinary for inviting me to be a part of this terrific team. These women are such an inspiration to me and  I pray that God will continue to use this blog to His glory.    

And many thanks to everyone who has taken the time to read my blogposts here and at Theology for Girls. The kindness  of those who have encouraged me over the years has been very much appreciated!   

 If I have accomplished  one thing in my  blogging efforts, I would hope that  God has used it to point others to our wonderful Savior Jesus Christ and encourage women to dig deeper into His marvelous Word.  

“The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul;
The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.
The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.
The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the Lord are true; they are righteous altogether.
They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.”     
Psalm 19:7-10

Soli Deo Gloria!

Diane

  

His Name is Jesus

by Robert A. Bucknell

 

“She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus,

for He will save His people from their sins.”

Matthew 1:21

 

    Jesus’ name is Holy and Awesome (Ps. 111:9).    Jesus’ name is above all names (Phil. 2:9).   Jesus’ name is to be believed on (I Jn 5:13).   Jesus’ name is to be hallowed (Mt. 6:9).   Jesus’ name is our authority in prayer (Jn. 14:13).   Jesus’ name is to be glorified (Rv. 15:4).   Jesus’ name is the Word of God (Rv.19:13).   Jesus is the Word of God (Jn. 1:1,14).   Jesus’ name is to be loved (Heb. 6:10).    Jesus’ name will cause all to bow and confess (Phil.  2:10-11).    Jesus’ name is to be magnified (Ac.19:17).    Jesus’ name is the only name under heaven for salvation (Ac. 4:12).    Jesus’ name is faithful and true (Rv.19:11).

    Jesus existed before Abraham (Jn.  8:58).    Jesus spoke to Moses (Ex. 3:14).   Jesus appeared to Abraham (Gn.18).    To Jacob (Gn. 32).    To Joshua (Josh. 5:13-15).    To Daniel (Dn.10).    To Paul (Ac. 9:1-19).    To John (Rv.1:9-20).    Jesus was conceived in Mary’s womb by God (Mt.1:18).  Jesus is the Mighty God (Is. 9:6).    Jesus created the Universe (Co. 1:16; Heb.1:2).    Jesus personally manages every atom (Col. 1:17).    Jesus is called God by His Father (Heb. 1:8).    

   Jesus raised people from the dead (Jn.11:43-44, Lk .8).    Jesus raised Himself from the dead (Jn. 20).    Jesus told the Pharisees that He was God (Jn. 5:18; 10:30).    Jesus was human (Phil. 2:6-8).    Jesus ascended into a cloud (Ac.1:9).    Jesus will descend in the same way (Ac.1:11).    Jesus is preparing a Bride for Himself (Ep. 5:25-27).     Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (Jn.14:16).   Jesus is the Everlasting Father (Is. 9:6).      Jesus is the Light (Jn. 8:12),   Jesus is the Lamp (Rv. 21:23),  Jesus is the Bread (Jn. 6:35),  Jesus is the Lamb (Jn. 1:29),    Jesus is the Lion (Rv. 5:5),    Jesus is the Rock (I Cor. 10:4),    Jesus is the Morning Star (Rv. 22:16),   Jesus is the Vine (Jn. 15:1),   Jesus is the Rose and the Lily  (Song 2:1).  

   Jesus is the Friend of sinners (Mt. 11:19).  Jesus is our brother (Heb. 2:11).  Jesus is our Advocate (I Jn.2:1).  Jesus is the Good Shepherd (Jn. 10:11).  Jesus is our Counselor (Is.9:6).   Jesus is full of love (I Jn. 4:19),  mercy and compassion (Mt. 20:30-34).     Jesus is Lord (Lk. 2:11).   Jesus is our Savior (I Jn. 4:14),   Jesus is our Redeemer (Gal. 3:13-14).   Jesus is the Christ—Messiah  (Jn.20:31).   Jesus is our High Priest (Heb. 4:14)    Jesus is the Prince of Peace  (Is. 9:6) 

   Jesus is the firstborn from the dead (Rv. 1:5).   Jesus is the King of Kings (Rv. 19:16). Jesus is the Lamb of Wrath (Rv. 6:16).    Jesus has flaming eyes (Rv. 2:18).    Jesus will rule on the earth for a 1,000 yrs (Rv. 20:4).  Jesus will rule with a rod of iron (Rv. 2:26).   Jesus has a two-edged sword (Rv. 2:12) with which He will slaughter all people small and great (Rv. 19:15, 18).  Jesus wears a robe dipped in blood (Rv. 19:13).   Jesus will tread the winepress of His wrath (Rv. 19:15).  Jesus holds the key of Hell (Rv. 1:18).   Jesus is seated on a White Throne (Rv. 20:11).   Jesus will cast Satan and all unbelievers into the Lake of Fire (Rv. 20:10-15).    

 

   Jesus will provide His people with a new heaven, earth, and city (Rv. 21:1-2).    Jesus will wipe away every tear (Rv. 21:4).    Jesus will eliminate suffering and death (Rv. 21:4).    Jesus will give His people new bodies (I Co. 15:35-49),    white garments (Rv.3:15),  and secret new names written on white stones (Rv. 2:17).     Jesus has placed His people’s names eternally in His Book of Life (Rv.3:5; 20:11-15).    Jesus will have us to reign with Him forever (Rv.21:5).    Jesus is able to present His people blameless before the presence of His glory with great joy. (Jd.24).    Jesus will share His glory with us  (Jn. 17:22).   Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega (Rv. 21:6).    Jesus is the Beginning and the End (Rv. 21:6). 

 

Jesus’ Name Is Wonderful!

(Is. 9:6)

 

Lot’s Wife—a Woman to Be Remembered

 

Perhaps one of the most chilling admonitions in Scripture can be found in  the words  of  Christ,  “Remember Lot’s wife!”    Speaking to His disciples, Christ foretells  how His  return to judge the world  will be unexpected and  that judgment will be as swift  as  it was in the days of Noah and Lot.    The abiding truth  “He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it.” (Mt. 10:39)  is a sobering  warning for people in every age.    Who was this woman who lived nearly 2,000 years before Christ and why does He want us to remember her?

Mrs. Lot’s name is never mentioned in Scripture nor do we know where she came from.    She could have been among the Chaldean servants whom Abram,  Sarai, and  his nephew Lot  brought with them from Ur (Gen. 12:1-5),  or she may have been a  native Canaanite. 

 

As you recall,  after settling in Canaan  Lot and Abraham decided it best to part company and Lot pitched his tents near the  wicked city of Sodom  (Gen. 13).   Later,  when  the LORD  appeared to Abraham and sent two angels to obliterate Sodom and Gomorrah,  Abraham  interceded  and the LORD agreed to spare them if they could find even ten righteous people.    

 

Arriving in Sodom,   Lot  welcomed  the  two  celestial guests but   "every man"  in the city surrounded his home  and demanded to have relations with the angels.  (Gen. 19:4-5).   When Lot’s pleas to silence the mob failed he tried offering them his two virgin daughters,  which enraged them all the more.    Threats of violence ensued and the angels pulled Lot to safety and then  miraculously struck  all the  men with blindness.     When the angels  asked if there were  other relatives  not in the house Lot  went out to warn  his  daughter’s  fiancées,  but they thought he was joking.   The following morning the angels said, 

 “Up!  Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be swept away in the punishment of the city.”   When he lingered  the men seized  Lot, his wife and his two daughters by the hand  and brought them  outside of  the city. ”  Gen. 19:15-16 

We don't  know why Lot hesitated,  but we know that when the angels snatched them to safety  Lot and his daughters did not look back but his wife  did.

   “But Lot’s wife,  behind him,  looked back,  and she became a pillar of salt.” Gen. 10:26

 

The account of Lot's wife is a frightening reminder that one can  have ample knowledge of the truth and experience the goodness of the Lord,  and yet have an unregenerate heart anchored to the world.     Peter tells us that she was married to a righteous man who was daily vexed by the evil in their city  (2 Pet. 2:7-8).     In order for Lot to have been declared righteous he would have had to believe the Gospel that was preached to Abraham in accordance to  Galatians 3:8:

“And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.”

It's  likely this woman had also seen the  godly examples of Sarah and Abraham and knew of their miraculous deliverance from Egypt.   She  had witnessed  the  violence  in her city towards her guests, her husband, and potentially  her daughters and experienced God’s divine intervention.   She was mercifully brought to safety  while the heavens rained fire and brimstone,  and  yet  she looked back.   This was no ordinary glance out of curiosity because the Hebrew  word  "wat·tab·bêṭ",  which is only used 3 times  in the Old Testament,   implies  that her  heart was still tethered to  Sodom. 

"That look was a little thing, but it told of secret love of the world in Lot's wife.  ... Her eye turned to the place where her treasure was — as the compass needle turns to the pole.  And this was the crowning point of her sin. "The friendship of the world is enmity with God" (James 4:4). "If any man loves the world,  the love of the Father is not in him" (1 John 2:15)  …She was no murderess, no adulteress, no thief; but she was a professor of religion, and she looked back.”  J.C. Ryle (1)

“Remember Lot's wife”.    The Bible warns that Christ will return when we least expect it.    And even if He doesn’t return in our lifetime,  we  could die before the day is over.  (Luke 12:20).   Lest we find ourselves among the self-deceived who are banking on our religiosity to save us,    we  must  consider the gravity of Christ's words.    We are commanded to examine ourselves to make sure our faith is genuine  (2 Cor. 13:5).  Do we secretly find our  fulfillment in  forbidden  pleasures,  riches,  or  the applause of this world instead of  Christ who died for us?    Can we say with Paul  "I have been crucified with Christ.   It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. "?  (Gal. 2:20).    Recently  I posted  20 Surprising Ways a "Believer" Can Be Self-Deceived ,   which is a synopsis of  the Puritan Matthew  Meades’  challenging  book  The Almost Christian  Discovered.    This is one of those gems I believe every professing  believer should have in their  library. 

 

Lot’s wife was found lacking but God's children can  be encouraged  by this account because it also powerfully demonstrates that God will preserve His elect.   The Scriptures promise that  He will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we are able but will provide a way of escape that we  may endure it  regardless of how wicked our culture is (1 Cor. 10:13),  

“and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the depraved conduct of the lawless (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)— if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment”  2 Peter 2:7-8

 

 

(1) Holiness: It's Nature, Hindrance, Difficulties, and Roots; Chapter 10;  by J.C.Ryle; 1877

Image:  Dead Sea - Lot's Wife 

* This edited article was originally posted on my blog for the Women in Scripture  series  (2013)  which most of us here at OOTO contributed to.   

12 Steps to a Happy Marriage

 "There is no more lovely,  friendly,  and charming relationship,  communion,  or company than a good marriage."     Martin Luther

When I  first considered  writing this blogpost I  said to Robert something to the effect,   “I think I  can sum up our marital felicity  these past 43 years in just two words:  'Christ and Grace’  - What do you think?”    Without hesitation he said,   “Honey,  I’ve never known you to say anything in just two words."  

On that note,  these are some things we've learned  together over the years.   

1.  LOVE GOD MOST

 “And He said to him, "'YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.'  Matthew 22:37

A happy Christian marriage must be a Christ centered marriage.   If  you are a  single Christian  and have considered marrying someone who is not a believer  please read  2 Cor.6:14.  However,  if you’re already married to an unbeliever the Bible says to be content  and  stay put  (with the exception of  special circumstances like  infidelity or abuse).  I Cor. 7:13-14 

2.  CHERISH GOD’S WORD  

 “Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You.” Psalm 119:11

Always hold God’s Word in the highest regard.  The Bible is God's revealed Word and is without error.   It is the way God communicates with us and is completely sufficient to guide us in all  matters pertaining to godly living.  2 Tim. 3:16.  Read it.  Memorize it. Saturate your mind  with sound doctrine.  Test everything  in life against it. 

3.  PRAY, PRAY, PRAY  

 “Rejoice always,  pray without ceasing,  in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you”   1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Susannah Wesley,  mother of  the beloved hymnist Charles Wesley,  had 19 children, nine of which died in infancy.    She was noted for her fervent prayer life  but finding a quiet place for her was impossible.  Nevertheless,  that didn’t  stop her and her children knew it was time to be quiet when she threw her apron over her head to pray. 

4.  STAY IN CHURCH  

“Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”  Hebrews 10:25

 Plug into a  good Bible teaching church and  be faithful to honor the Lord’s Day by  gathering with His people.  Don’t get flaky about this.     Too many Christians allow sports, recreation,  or a bad church experience to sabotage their corporate worship.     If you have children it is essential that they understand not only the Gospel and sound doctrine,  but why Sunday worship takes priority.  

5.  THE "S" WORD

“Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body.” Ephesians 5:22-23

Marriage is depicted   as a beautiful picture of Christ and the Church and is said to be a great mystery.     Wives are to submit to the authority of  their  husbands as the church submits to Christ and husbands are to love their wives  as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her.     Both commands  are tall orders,  right?     Showing mutual love and respect for one another is essential to any happy marriage. 

6. KINDLE THE ROMANCE

Like the warmth of a cozy fire,  love needs to be rekindled.    Whatever accomplishes that for you,  keep it up.    And never stop dating each other.   Even when  you're broke as a joke most of us can still scrape up a buck to get a cone at the Golden Arches.    Some of our sweetest dates  have been sitting in the car  with ice cream watching the sunset.  

 

7.  A WORD ABOUT THE KIDS

It goes without saying,  if God gives us children they are a great blessing and we are responsible to train  them up in the fear and admonition of the Lord.   We are all bound to  make some fumbles,  but one big mistake I've seen well meaning parents do is to create a child-centered home—one where everything revolves around the children's interests.   This is true for both married and single parents.   Our children will have a greater sense of security and be better prepared to face the world  when they understand they are not the center of the universe.   And we will also be better prepared for the empty nest.

 

8. FORGIVE QUICKLY

 “Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.”  Ephesians 4:32

Recognizing  that we are just  two  wretched but forgiven  sinners on this  pilgrim journey together really helps when we blow it.   We are all in need of compassion and forgiveness every day.   I’ve tried to make a habit of never going to bed angry,  but I know it's not  always easy to do.

 

9. DON’T EXPECT THE IMPOSSIBLE

I don’t know how other wives feel,  but I’ve had to resist expecting more from my husband than I should.   Regardless of how knowledgeable in the Scriptures or how kind  our husbands  may be,  they are not perfect and can NEVER fill the need  for us that only Christ can fill.   I love what Ruth Bell Graham  said:

  “It is a foolish woman who expects her husband to be to her that which only Jesus Christ Himself can be: always ready to forgive, totally understanding, unendingly patient, invariably tender and loving, unfailing in every area, anticipating every need, and making more than adequate provision. Such expectations put a man under an impossible strain”  

 

10. CULTIVATE GODLY FRIENDSHIPS

“He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will suffer harm.”  Proverbs 13:20

This is so important.   God has blessed us with many wonderful Christian friends  over the years who  have encouraged us and sharpened us spiritually.     Like my mom used to say,  “Show me who your friends are, and I’ll show you who you are.”     Who we hang out with will have a big impact on how we think and how we treat our spouse.

 

11.  TRUST GOD IN THE STORMS

“God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.”  Psalm 46:2

One of my life verses is  Job  5:7   “man is born unto trouble as the sparks fly upward”.    A healthy  marriage will endure the whole gamut of troubles including money, family conflicts,  church problems,  illness, death—you name it.    Run to God  and trust in His sovereignty over all of it.  

 

12.  THINK POSITIVE

“A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.”  Proverbs 17:22

David Murray writes,  " Christian hope is a realistic expectation of and joyful longing for future good and glory based on the reliable Word of God." 1

The  Christian has every reason to  be cheerful.    Our sins have been forgiven and  we have an inheritance waiting for us in Heaven!  

 

 

1.The Happy Christian, by David Murray, pg. 92