In Christ

Your Appointment – Many times I have heard the phrase "It must have been their time to go...” Quite often people think that each of us has an appointment with death. Where does this idea come from? Is this idea actually scriptural?

Yes, you can do a word study and find some scriptures that mention people who were "appointed to die”, but that can also be translated as "condemned to die.”

Hebrews 9:27 mentions, "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgement.” (KJV) Possibly some people take this to mean we have an appointment with death, they may think it is up to God when He takes us. Yet God has promised us a long life! (see Psalm 91) If you read Hebrews 9:27 from other translations of the bible, it gives you a clear picture of what is being said. "And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgement...” Yes, we all are destined to die, but it doesn't mean we have a certain appointment with death!

In Philippians 1:21-26 the Apostle Paul writes that he has a decision to make – he can "depart” this world and be with Jesus, or remain and stay by them all. If he had an actual appointment with death, why would he have any decision to make? God would just "take” him and it would be over!

As I've already said many times, God is not an abusive Father! He doesn't put sickness and disease on us or kill us in a car wreck in order to "take us home!” Jesus came so that we could have a full, abundant life. It is Satan who comes to kill, steal, and to destroy (see John 10:10). Don't blame God for something that is not His fault.

If you get an impression to go a different way to work one morning – follow that impression! This is probably Holy Spirit prompting you to go a safe way. Many times we can get these "leads” and choose not to follow them. What a difference they can make. It may save your life!

A minister we know was flying his plane. He and his wife were on their way to a meeting. He heard a strong voice in his spirit tell him to suddenly veer to one side. He automatically did, and another plane immediately whizzed by their wing!

God the Father has given us much more freedom of choice than most people give Him credit for. In fact, we have complete freedom of choice, He just lays out the safe "rules of play” if you will. Then it is up to us to follow them!

Submission by Pastor Rena Mae