Genesis 47:27-48:7, The last moment of the saint's life

 

Topic

   The people of Christ must fulfill their holy calling and best service to the end of life.

Key question

   How should Christians spend their end of life?

1. Entering

   The oldest living person in the Bible is named Methuselah. He lived 969 years old and was the son of Enoch who rose to heaven without dying. However, it is recorded in Genesis 5:27 that Methuselah, who was 969, died.

   All life is towards the end of life, and you have no choice but to die. This is also the result of the judgment of God that man must bear for his sins. How are we living a life that is only once, a life that is bound to die? Older adults usually spend their old age doing small things, leisure and entertainment.

   If you think about your hard life until now, of course you have to spend your old age comfortably. But as believers, we should not just live with the thought that the body can spend its old age comfortably. Looking at Jacob's appearance in the text today, I would like to find out how we as saints should spend our old years in life.

the last moment of Jacob

2. In the text

   Have a hope for the kingdom of God.

   As the day of his death nears, Jacob is sworn to Joseph to bury himself in the graves of his fathers in the cave of Machpelah in Hebron.

but let me lie with my fathers. Carry me out of Egypt and bury me in their burying place." He answered, "I will do as you have said."(Genesis 47:30, ESV)

   After hearing Joseph's oath, Jacob worships the holy God on the head of the bed. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the fathers of faith, finished their lives with a holy desire without wavering, without vain greed. The saints who believe in God must live with their holy wishes for the kingdom of God until the end of their lives.

Bless your descendants.

   Jacob, who was old enough to know that death was near, told Joseph to bring his two sons. And bless them.

And now your two sons, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you in Egypt, are mine; Ephraim and Manasseh shall be mine, as Reuben and Simeon are. And the children that you fathered after them shall be yours. They shall be called by the name of their brothers in their inheritance.(Genesis 48:5-6, ESV)

   Bless Joseph and his two sons, and each one of Joseph's sons will occupy a place of one tribe. He gives the blessing that God has given him to Joseph and his sons, and blesses them that God's promise will continue.

   Jacob did not forget the blessings and promises God gave him until the last moment. And we are blessed to continue the grace to our descendants. The saints must live a life of blessing for their descendants, remembering God's promise until the last moment.

our last moment

   Jacob remembered God's promise until the last moment and had a desire for the prosperity of his offspring. What should we remember and leave this land at the last moment when it will come to us? Shouldn't we, like Jacob, end our lives with a wish for the kingdom of God and a blessing for our descendants?

   No one knows when the last moment will come to us. Because no one knows when to leave this land. Because it's not in order of age.

   Therefore, we must live looking at God and seeking his will, just like Jacob, at every moment. We must live with gratitude in memory of God, who is always with us at the hard and happy moments of life.

Is darkness our life?

3. On your way out

   It's very important to end your life well. It's because we can't do anything about the beginning of life, but we can make the end of life. We should always be awake so that we don't ruin the last moments of our lives with stubbornness, discontent and old-fashionedness.

   At this dawn, like those of you who pray to God, when we raise the beginning of the day and thank God, he will be a good shepherd and guide us to the last moment of our lives. May all of us be living by faith today, looking at the day when we will end with God until our last moments and see God's face in heaven and praise him forever.

4. Prayer

God's Father, who guides and holds me. Looking back on my life so far, I confess that everything is God's grace. May God guide and bless me to the last moment of my life, as you have shown me so far. May God accompany you to the last moment of your life, and grace you so that you may move toward heaven in praise and joy. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

5. Prayer Title

Let only God lead my life with faithful love.

Let the complicated situation of our country be settled in the grace of God, and let the Korean church pray.

Protect the missionaries who work hard today for the gospel of the world, and take responsibility for their families. Give me the wisdom and power of the Holy Spirit so that I can fulfill his mission.