A time to live, a time to die

[davy39]

Do you think God has a pre-appointed time for all of us to die, regardless of our actions? (Example: “It was his/her time to go”.

 

[Todd_Easton]

It would seem that our actions, even at the point of death, may influence when we die. 2 Kings 20:1-6, for instance, says:

In those days Hezekiah became sick and was at the point of death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him, and said to him, “Thus says the LORD, `Set your house in order; for you shall die, you shall not recover.’” Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall, and prayed to the LORD, saying, “Remember now, O LORD, I beseech thee, how I have walked before thee in faithfulness and with a whole heart, and have done what is good in thy sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly. And before Isaiah had gone out of the middle court, the word of the LORD came to him: “Turn back, and say to Hezekiah the prince of my people, Thus says the LORD, the God of David your father: I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; behold, I will heal you; on the third day you shall go up to the house of the LORD. And I will add fifteen years to your life. I will deliver you and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria, and I will defend this city for my own sake and for my servant David’s sake.”

 

[pnewton]

No. That is why both suicide and euthanasia are so tragic. Human freewill is excersied to shorten a life contrary to the will of God.

 

[Mijoy2]

I’ve often thought about this in the context of 9/11 (which is today). Three thousand lives were lost in a very short span of time. People of all ages , faiths and in varying maturity in thier faiths.

I wonder about all the people who may have lost thier lives, who, if it were not for the tragedy, may have come to a strong faith in God. How does God handle such a thing? I came back to the Catholic faith after 30+ years of ignoring it completely. Did God know I was going to revert back to faith and therefore spare me from a premature death, either by disease or accident or was it simple happenstance? If I died during those years would I have been lost, or, was there no chance of my dying during those years because it wasn’t part of Gods plan?

Were any of the 3000 lost prematurely and therefore possibly lost for all eternity or did God arrange so that this was not the case?

I hope I was able to articulate my thought well enough that it is understood clearly. If so, I’d be interested in some opinions. I suppose it is a question of pre-destination.

 

[Todd_Easton]

Mijoy2:

Were any of the 3000 lost prematurely and therefore possibly lost for all eternity or did God arrange so that this was not the case?

I hope I was able to articulate my thought well enough that it is understood clearly. If so, I’d be interested in some opinions. I suppose it is a question of pre-destination.

Jesus said, “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father’s will. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.” (Matt 10:29-31)

Since God desires the salvation of all, it is a matter of our faith that God gives everyone sufficient grace to come to salvation, even those who die an untimely death. Of course, not everyone responds to God’s grace and are eternally lost but there is no reason to believe that those who die an untimely death are eternally lost.

 

[pnewton]

Todd Easton:

…there is no reason to believe that those who die an untimely death are eternally lost.

We may never know this side of heaven how much grace was poured out on those souls from the time those planes hit and the two buildings went down. We can only trust, as always in the mercy of a merciful God. I haven’t to think, though, there must have been much conversion of heart.

 

[maggiec]

I guess I have always thought that we make decisions that change our direction but when you think about it don’t you think that God knows from the time before we’re born when we will die because He knows the decisions before we make them?
maggiec

 

[DaveBj]

I’ve heard (or read) a similar discussion with regard to air travel. Someone was trying to convince a fearful person to go ahead and fly somewhere by saying, “If it’s your time to go, it’s your time to go, and if it’s not your time to go, nothing’s going to happen.” The other person answered, "What if it’s the pilot’s time to go?

DaveBj

 

[Mijoy2]

DaveBj:

I’ve heard (or read) a similar discussion with regard to air travel. Someone was trying to convince a fearful person to go ahead and fly somewhere by saying, “If it’s your time to go, it’s your time to go, and if it’s not your time to go, nothing’s going to happen.” The other person answered, "What if it’s the pilot’s time to go?

DaveBj

Dave, you say this somewhat jokingly but it is precisely my point. If we believe God gives us all adaquet graces to come to sufficient faith to be “saved”, then in an issue like a plane crash, or 9/11, or even more significant in terms of numers, Hiroshoma, then God has a lot of coordinating to do. Although if He can ccreate the universe, I suppose this is a piece of cake.

 

[Robin_L.in_TX]

It’s my understanding that a few of the saints have said that God gives us one last chance as we die to accept or reject Him. It is a comforting thought in view of tragic and unexpected death.

I firmly believe Jesus when He says that God wants each and every one of us to be saved, and so the thought of a final burst of grace as we leave consciousness in this world would be in line with the love of our Prodigal Father–prodigal as in extravagant…

Robin

 

[Toni]

Yes I do believe God has an appointed time for you to be born and for you to die, yes our own free will could possibly change that.
But here is something about that from the book Trustful surrender to Divine Providence.
Nothing happens in the universe without God willing and allowing it. This statement must be taken absolutely of everything with the exception of sin. "Noting occurs by chance in the whole course of our lives’ is the unanimous teaching of the Fathers and Doctors of the Church ‘and God intervenes everywhere.’
“I form light and create darkness; I the Lord, do all things. It is I who bring both death and life, I who inflict wounds and heal them,” He said to Moses.

 

[Joanna]

Mijoy2:

Dave, you say this somewhat jokingly but it is precisely my point. If we believe God gives us all adaquet graces to come to sufficient faith to be “saved”, then in an issue like a plane crash, or 9/11, or even more significant in terms of numers, Hiroshoma, then God has a lot of coordinating to do. Although if He can ccreate the universe, I suppose this is a piece of cake.

I heard a convert to the Catholic Faith tell a story. He said that he had no faith nor did he desire to have faith. He was in Rome and accompanied a group to the catacombs. Everyone but him listened intently to the guide speak of the christian history of the catacombs. He wandered about after the group looking but untouched. He glanced around at the walls and niches with the casual interest of a tourist. As the group moved on, realizing they were leaving, he turned to follow them. In the time it took to turn around, in that instant he suddenly knew “This is the truth”.

I believe that all those people had a moment like that. God knew they were coming from all eternity and had everything in readiness.

 

[RobedWithLight]

Robin L. in TX:

It’s my understanding that a few of the saints have said that God gives us one last chance as we die to accept or reject Him. It is a comforting thought in view of tragic and unexpected death.

I firmly believe Jesus when He says that God wants each and every one of us to be saved, and so the thought of a final burst of grace as we leave consciousness in this world would be in line with the love of our Prodigal Father–prodigal as in extravagant…

Robin

What a beautiful way of saying it. God’s saving love is truly wonderful, profound beyond all depths, who despite our worthlessness before His eyes, has seen it fit to extend a loving hand, even in our final breaths…

Gerry .