Wednesday after the Sixth Sunday after Trinity, 8/2/00

Psalm 31:14-16 But as for me, I trust in You, O Lord; I say, "You are my God." My times are in Your hand; deliver me from the hand of my enemies, and from those who persecute me. Make Your face shine upon Your servant; save me for Your mercies' sake. --NKJV

In the name of the One Who holds our times in His hand, amen..

Ever notice how irritated some people get if you take away their authority? It's probably most obvious in business. Everyone has their little area that they protect. Step on their toes and look out! In business much of the authority exists only in the head of the person who thinks he has it. But there are other areas where we would never dream of taking someone's authority. I personally would never dream of making decisions for the President of our country-although I often think I might do a better job of it. I don't interfere in Police work, because that is not where my authority lies.

So what does all this have to do with murder? Well, the length of a person's life is in God's hand as our passage tells us. That is God's authority and we do not dare interfere by shortening it. From conception to death, our days are appointed by God. He is the only one who is supposed to end life. And that is only right for a number of reasons. First, He created us, therefor it is His right to determine how long we live. Second, He is the only One Who clearly sees the future and knows what will happen if we continue to live. Third, only God has the wisdom and compassion to choose the proper time for us to go to our home in heaven.

Whether we die suddenly or linger on, it is in God's hands. He has purpose in the time of our death. He chooses the time of our death according to His great mercy. May we have the faith to trust Him, amen.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, You created man from the dust of the earth and gave him life. For this reason You alone have the right to end his life. Help us to realize that you set the day of our lives according to Your mercy in Christ Jesus. When our time comes to leave this world, grant us a peaceful, blessed end in faith, amen.

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