June 22

He with Us; We with Him

The fear of the LORD prolongs life, but the years of the wicked will be cut short. — Prov 10:27 BSB

There’s no question about it. The fear of the Lord leads to righteous habits, and these protect us from the ruin that comes from sin. The peace that comes from faith in Jesus is also a great benefit when we face illness. Every doctor is glad to have a patient whose mind is at peace. Worry can destroy, but trusting in God is like a healing balm.

We have all the conditions for long life, and if it’s for our good, we will live to a ripe old age and reach the end of our days in peace, like a harvested crop. Let’s not panic and fear death just because we have a small illness, but instead, let’s trust that we may still have many days ahead to serve the Lord.

And if we are soon called to heaven, we have nothing to fear but everything to celebrate. Whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. If we live, Jesus will be with us; if we die, we will be with Him.

The best way to lengthen life is to live fully, making the most of every hour for the highest purpose. Let this be our goal today.