“And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days” (1 Kings 3:14).
I knew a man who was only thirty-nine years old when he went home to be with Jesus. He had been sick for awhile. People had prayed and done everything they could, but he never got healed.
Later, this man’s brother was talking to someone and said, “You know, it’s the strangest thing. When my brother and I were younger, we spent a lot of time together. Every now and then, he’d get really serious and say, ‘I’ll never live to be forty.'”
The man didn’t have any particular reason for believing that, but he kept thinking and planning for an early death. Just a matter of weeks before this man turned forty, he went home to be with the Lord. He could have had thirty, forty or fifty more years on this earth and done a particular work for God. He could have fulfilled God’s will for his life.
Now, I don’t mean to criticize people who go home early, and I don’t want to make it sound as if they didn’t have faith. But we need to keep our thinking right. The Bible says believers can enjoy abundant blessings in this life. We don’t have to go home sick.
And the good news is that whether a Christian gets healed or goes home to be with the Lord, he can’t be defeated. If he gets healed, he’s going to go tell everyone about it. If he dies and goes home, he’ll be with Jesus. Either way, he wins!
We have an eternity to spend in heaven, but we might as well accomplish all we can down here. Let’s get the job done first. Let’s finish what God has for us to do and then go home!
I obey God’s commandments with my whole heart.
Therefore, long life and peace are added unto me.
If Jesus doesn’t come to take me and His Church home first,
I’ll live on earth until I’m satisfied!!
Excerpt permission granted by Harrison House Publishers
For over 40 years, Pastors Mark and Janet Brazee have traveled throughout the world sharing the Word of God and the Spirit of God. Together they've shared the powerful truths of faith and healing in more than 50 nations.
Today Mark and Janet pastor World Outreach Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where they base their ongoing outreach to the world. The Brazees still travel as the Lord leads, and they are raising up a congregation who share their passion to reach Tulsa and the world.