Skip to main content

How to Remain Standing Firm in Your Faith at the End of Your Life (and helping others to do the same)

Deathbed DoubtsI have seen on several occasions when someone is dying that he or she has doubts about his or her faith. Normally, in order to help one suppress doubts and be encouraged in his Christian beliefs, I will discuss the eyewitness testimony of the Apostles,[1] 

the miracles that Jesus did,[2] who He was,[3] and that all of these things are possible because of the biggest miracle of all.[4]

I differentiate biggest miracle and greatest miracle by the creation and salvation/resurrection. The creation of the universe is the biggest miracle, and salvation/resurrection is the greatest. Because we have the biggest miracle, the greatest miracle is possible. The greatest Miracle, the Resurrection: Jesus was alive, He died, and He rose again from the dead. 


The reason I discuss these things specifically is because I want to help suppress these doubts by showing that we have evidence for our faith (an evidence-based faith). We do not simply believe blindly. 

I think that what happens when people experience these end-of-life deathbed doubts is because sometimes a person’s mind rushes through thoughts about his life (how he spent it, what happened to him, justifying moral and immoral behavior and so on) and in so doing, he becomes so earth-life minded and negatively self-centered from dwelling on his that doubts creep in and flood the mind. In other words, I think that when one comes to the end of his life, he starts to dwell on it, possibly seeking to justify himself. This act of negative dwelling snowballs into more thoughts and doubts and questions of faith, causing a deep sense of panic. 

 

The Bible Tells Us to Stand Firm 

 

In numerous places in the Bible, we are told to stand firm in our faith: 

1 Corinthians 15:58 says, “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” 

1 Corinthians 16:13 says, “Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.” 

Ephesians 6:11 says, “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.” 

1 Peter 5:9 says, “Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.” 

Philippians 1:27 says, “Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel…” 

2 Thessalonians 2:15 says, “So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter.” 

Philippians 4:1 says, “Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.”

1 Peter 5:8 says, “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”

James 1:12 says, “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” 



Galatians 5:1 says, “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.”

Ephesians 6:13 says, “Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.”

In Matthew 24:13 Jesus says, “But the one who endures to the end will be saved.”

1 Timothy 6:12 says, “Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”

Hebrews 10:23 says, “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.”

2 Corinthians 1:24 says, “Not that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, for you stand firm in your faith.”

Galatians 6:9 says, “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”

As we can see from this very short list of Bible references that tell us to stand firm in our faith, we should stand firm even when death is at the door.

 

 

How Do We Stand Firm in Our Faith when Death is Near? 

 

Paul tells us the secret to this in Colossians 3:1-4. 

 

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

 

Set your minds on things above, not on things that are on earth. How simple, yet profound. When we come to the end of our lives, and the very moments of life are in jeopardy, this is what we should think about. When you are speaking with someone at his or her deathbed, try to bring them peace by talking about the things that are above. Remind him that he is about to embark on the most wonderful journey that existence has to offer. Help him set his mind on things that are eternal, because all the reflection he does on his earthly life will not compare to what he is about to experience. Paul says, “to live is Christ and to die is gain.” [5] This means that we yearn for the day when we are clothed with new clothing. 

In 2 Corinthians 5:1-10, Paul says to his beloved Corinthians, 

 

For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. 

So, we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

 


We walk by faith, not by sight (and not even by hindsight!). We should not place too
much focus on the life we lived, but we should instead focus on the new life we will have when we shed our outer garment like a molted exoskeleton and put on a completely new garment, one that we were meant for. When we exit this tent, we will enter a more glorified dwelling, a building, to which we yearn because of the suffering and groaning we experience while living in this tent. Paul says that we know this because of Christ’s Resurrection, thinking from the in-context passage before the above (specifically, 2 Corinthians 4:13-15).

Argument from Degree

I feel like from 2 Corinthians 5:1-10 an argument from degree could be made, so I will briefly address that here. The reason we groan in our tents (our flesh) is because flesh is weak and because it is not enough for us, it is not the greatest situation for us, and we know it. We know that because we waste away, there must be a greater situation. Metaphysically speaking, the lesser situation points to the greater situation. Think about which is better for a moment. A pumpkin pie that your grandmother made, or a pumpkin pie you purchased from Wal-Mart and when you got home you noticed that the expiration date was long overdue. They are both pumpkin pies, so what is the issue? There is obviously a better pumpkin pie, even if you don’t like pumpkin pie. The degree to which pie is better implies something… That there is an ultimate pumpkin pie somewhere that would be the perfect recipe/freshness, even if only for your own tastebuds. 

For another example, just like ice is cool to the touch, a truer way to say this is that ice is cold to the touch. The degree itself shows us that there is something better, truer, greater. Similarly, think about the presidential election, or just even voting in general. We often say that we vote for the lesser evil, and this proves that there are degrees to morality. There must exist a being with perfect morality somewhere because the very fact of our imperfect morality points directly toward that which is perfect, where all good morals come from.[6]

We long to be clothed with the better clothing. As we see ourselves age, with new aches and pains, we know that there must exist a better situation, because like goodness, our goodness must come from something somewhere. That something is God. Similarly, our bodies breaking down points to a greater body. 

 

 

Set Your Minds on Things Above

 

Set your mind on meeting Jesus, face to face, for the first time, and direct the dying to do the same. 

 

Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained.[7]

 

Stand firm, my friends. 



© Nace Howell, 2022


[1] See 2 Peter 1:16.

[2] For some examples, He changed water to wine (John 2), healed a man born blind (John 9), walked on water (Matthew 14), raised the dead (John 11), and countless others not mentioned here that are found in the Bible, and even more that are not even found within the biblical text (John 21:25).

[3] See John 10:30.

[4] See John 1:3.

[5] See Philippians 1:21.

[6] If you object to this, the objection itself proves the point that there is a better answer. Peter Kreeft, https://www.peterkreeft.com/topics-more/20_arguments-gods-existence.htm#4.  “Question 1: The argument assumes a real "better." But aren't all our judgments of comparative value merely subjective? Reply: The very asking of this question answers it. For the questioner would not have asked it unless he or she thought it really better to do so than not, and really better to find the true answer than not. You can speak subjectivism but you cannot live it.”

[7] Philippians 3:13-16.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

The Evidence and Power of Testimony: The Apostolic Witness

What to say to People who Demand more Evidence for God. Why is there something rather than nothing? Glacier National Park. © Nace Howell, 2018. The question is, how much evidence do you require? Would Jesus have to come back and slap you in the face with evidence that He is God? It seems to me that there is a line we must draw. We do this in all other areas of our lives, so why would we treat theism any different? When a court convicts, they do so “beyond a reasonable doubt.” I would like to take a few moments to explore this a bit. But before we get to that, I want to pose a question, which is… why are you the standard? What makes you think He has to prove His existence to everyone individually? He already created the universe from nothing. In the beginning, there was a big bang. Seriously… do you believe your mom when she tells you a story about her day? Did you believe the reports of 9/11 when they were happening? Do you accept the testimony of anything you hear on social ...

Baptism is Not Necessary for Salvation According to the Early Church

Let’s dive right in. The Bible says in Acts 2:37-41,    Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.   The phrase in Acts 2:38 that reads, “for the forgiveness of your sins” modifies the word repentance, not the word baptism.  See more about this Here .   What is interesting is that those who translate the above verse as meaning that baptism is a requ...

Using Guilt to Guide to the Truth

While taking a cultural apologetics class in my doctorate, I rambled along in a 30-page paper and in it, I wrote that, “I define religion as an anthropological system consisting of worship which is often filled with specific sacred rituals that seeks to appease or eradicate guilt.” My professor red-penned this and said that I am not yet in an authoritative position to make such definitions. But I was never asked how I came up with such a definition. The thing is, working on my second post-graduate degree in apologetics, studying many other religions on a deeper level was inevitable, and  by this, I noticed a pattern in all of them which was the fact that they all seek to appease or eradicate guilt, including   Buddhism , even though   many adherents of Buddhism claim that it is not a religion . The point is that all religions seek to eradicate guilt on some level, because   guilt crosses all cultures and times, to all people .   Guilt transcends all people. The ...

Self-tests of Some of the World's Religions

It is fairly common for a religion of the world to give itself a sort of test for truth, since this is one question that is asked of any religion: “Why should I believe what you are telling me is true?” After all, the answer to such a question will ultimately result in followers of specific beliefs and doctrines, let alone religions, or will result in a lack of followers.  If a religion can answer this question posed by seekers and thinkers, and therefore train its adherents to be able to answer why a religion is true, this will inevitably help people believe in such, even if the claims are false. If there is no answer, this is where a religion will perhaps find more trouble for itself.  Many religions make an appeal to a higher authority, namely,  God , for the veracity of their existence and as a result, no one can question the truth from such an authority. This is correct in a sense, that  if in fact God is making such a claim, then what is said or stated is true ...

The God of the Killdozer Operator, Marvin Heemeyer

While working toward becoming an apologist and a pastor, I was a heavy equipment operator. I have over 15 years’ experience in the field, focusing on hydrological restorations (stream bank and river restoration and water dam removals) and site development for building pads (ranging from houses to one million + sq. ft. warehouses). I say this because I want to show where the heart for writing article this came about. Marvin Heemeyer purchased a bulldozer from an auction which was a Komatsu D355A with an operating weight of 97,907 lbs. (this does not include the weight of Heemeyer’s fabricated addition). In the picture above, I am operating a Komatsu D155AX which has an operating weight of 89,300 lbs. (If I remember correctly, we were developing the site for a 550,000 sq. ft. warehouse building pad). Heemeyer then went on a rampage in his armored bulldozer in Granby, CO. I don’t want to go into great details about what led up to Heemeyer doing what he did, nor do I want to go into great ...

Two Problems Jesus has with the Mormon Doctrine of Eternal Families

Mormonism teaches that those who are married in a temple can be married for eternity. In Doctrine and Covenants 132:15–20, we find the following:   15 Therefore, if a man marry him a wife in the world, and he marry her not by me nor by my word , and he covenant with her so long as he is in the world and she with him, their covenant and marriage are not of force when they are dead , and when they are out of the world; therefore, they are not bound by any law when they are out of the world. 16 Therefore, when they are out of the world they neither marry nor are given in marriage; but are appointed angels in heaven, which angels are ministering servants, to minister for those who are worthy of a far more, and an exceeding, and an eternal weight of glory. 17 For these angels did not abide my law; therefore, they cannot be enlarged, but remain separately and singly, without exaltation, in their saved condition, to all eternity; and from henceforth are not gods, but are angels of God for...

An Overlooked Argument Against the Book of Mormon

The Book of Mormon is written in a style of language that was not used by anyone at the time that it was written and published. This style of English is called   Early Modern English . This fact is an anachronism that I find to be severely overlooked by those who seek the truth about the Book of Mormon. Many Mormons will instantly write this objection off concerning the veracity of the Book of Mormon, even to the point of saying that such an objection is lazy and pitiful, while not giving any rebuttals worth their weight.   I recently insinuated the absurdity of the Book of Mormon by asking the question, “Why was the Book of Mormon translated into Early Modern English?” I’m saying that it is absurd that the BoM uses an out-of-date language. A Mormon replied to me that the Bible has equal absurdities. He said, “Why is [The BoM translation into Early Modern English] absurd? Is it absurd that God uses a donkey to speak to Balaam in Numbers 22?”  First, this is a  tu quo...

Defending Christianity against Jehovah’s Witnesses

Defending Christianity against Jehovah’s Witnesses Using much of their “bible” to refute them “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect ” (NIV 1 Peter 3:15). In other words, LOVE THEM . Jehovah’s Witnesses                                       Biblical Truths Jehovah’s Witnesses do not believe in the Trinity. J.Ws. believe that Jesus was a “little god” (lower case g). J.Ws. believe in a different “ Jesus ” because of the NWT accounts. J.Ws. call themselves “Christians.” J.Ws. believe Jesus is not to be worshiped. J.Ws. believe that Jesus was once, and is again, Michael the archangel. Genesis 1:26 says, “Let Us crea...

Who Made God? Identifying Categorical Errors

A category is simply a distinct class to which something belongs… A set of objects that can be treated as equal in some way. A Macintosh apple belongs to the category, apple, and not what we categorize as an orange. Similarly, colors are in a different category than taste.   When we say, “apples and oranges” what we mean is that there has been a confusion of categories. Sure, they are both fruit, but when you examine both, there is an obvious difference. An apple is not an orange, and an orange is not an apple. Macintosh, Granny Smith, and red delicious are all apples. Navel, blood, and Valencia are all oranges. To mix the two, for instance, to call a navel orange an apple, would be a categorical error, sometimes referred to as a category mistake.      How Identifying Categorical Errors can Help with Apologetics It seems that simply learning about or being reminded of categorical errors can help us be more aware of them. We have all heard or thought of ourselves, the...

How to Show a Mormon the Difference Between the Mormon Jesus and the Biblical Jesus

I find that Mormons frequently claim that they are Christians, and that they want to be referred to as Christians, and that they have even recently sought to distance themselves from the word “Mormon.” The problem is, they worship another Jesus, and here is how to show them the difference between the Mormon Jesus and the Biblical Jesus. Before we get to that, some clarifications are necessary. Specifically, that they cannot even distance themselves from being called "Mormons."   The Mormon President Russell Nelson said,    “What’s in a name or, in this case, a nickname? When it comes to nicknames of the Church, such as the “LDS Church,” the “Mormon Church,” or the “Church of the Latter-day Saints,” the most important thing in those names is the absence of the Savior’s name. To remove the Lord’s name from the Lord’s Church is a major victory for Satan. When we discard the Savior’s name, we are subtly disregarding all that Jesus Christ did for us—even His Atonement.” [1] ...