Breath of Life

Recently, a friend’s daughter-in-law passed away suddenly in her sleep. Cause of death was a mitral valve prolapsed. As people express concern for the young family and talk about the tragedy, one of the things that comes up is, “There is medical treatment for that. Why wasn’t it treated?” or “Lots of women have that, everyone should get checked out and get medical treatment.” This is a common response to deaths of anyone under the age of 80 who dies from a medical condition. But it doesn’t bring much comfort to a grieving family.

In a world without God, those responses would make perfect sense – especially if the person speaking had no knowledge of what had or had not been done to treat the condition. It is an expression of trust in the medical profession. However, as followers of Christ, I wonder a lot about that response. Following are some of the reasons.

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. ” Psalm 139:13 Doctors and the medical knowledge are limited and fallible. They did not create you and they do not know everything about how our bodies function. They know a lot and they can be helpful in some situations, but they are not God!

“In the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa was afflicted with a disease in his feet. Though his disease was severe, even in his illness he did not seek help from the LORD, but only from the physicians.” II Chronicles 16:12 Asa had been one of the good kings of Judah. Yet in his last years, he refused to ask God for help with his diseased feet, but depended only upon physicians. The writer of this Scripture does not draw any conclusions, but rather just states the facts. I am convicted by this verse when many times I turn to over-the-counter drugs or run to the doctor for an illness and don’t seek help from the LORD unless the doctor’s help isn’t helping. As I ponder this, I believe that doctors have their place, but God is the true Healer and we need to include Him in the healing process – always – no matter the severity. “Stop trusting in mere humans, who have but a breath in their nostrils. Why hold them in esteem?” Isaiah 2:22 Why do we trust in humans who receive life rather than in the God who gives life?

“Then the LORD God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.” Genesis 2:7 Life comes from God. God breathed life into Adam and then Adam became a living being. Human beings are capable of taking life away. Cain showed that early in Genesis when he killed Abel. But only God can give life and sustain life. “In His hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.” Job 12:10 “And He is not served by human hands, as if He needed anything. Rather, He himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else.” Acts 17:25

“You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before You. Everyone is but a breath, even those who seem secure.” Psalm 39:5 “Show me, LORD, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is.” Psalm 39:4 “Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” James 4:14 “A person’s days are determined; you have decreed the number of his months and have set limits he cannot exceed.” Job 14:5 

I wonder then, do I truly trust God when it comes to my life and breath and the lives of those I love? Do I trust Him as He numbers my days? Do I trust Him when He numbers the days of those I love – even if they are shorter than the days I think they should have?

And as I wonder about the length of my days, I wonder why does God give more days to one person than another? Why did God give more days to John than to Peter? “Jesus answered, ‘If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.’” John 21:22 So it seems that how long we live in reference to another is not as important as what we do with the life God gives each of us today.

When Jesus walked on this earth, His focus was on eternity. He came to restore us to a right relationship with God so that we could live with Him forever. Our perspective on life totally changes when we focus on eternity instead of day to day ‘life’ in this world. What am I doing with the breath that God gives me each day? Is it preparing me and others for eternity or am I spinning my wheels in the mud going nowhere. “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” Psalm 90:12

Lord, teach me to use the days that you give me wisely. As we suffer the tragedies in this world, help us to keep our eyes on eternity – on You. For life comes from You and eternal life is the gift of hope You give to us as we grieve tragic losses in this world. Thank You that You do not leave us alone but that You give us a Comforter in Your Holy Spirit and in others who walk with us and support us when we are too weak to handle things on our own. Lord, I have found so much healing as I trust and worship You. My prayer is that others who are suffering would find healing in their relationship with You as well. I praise You for the life You have given to me. I will praise You with the breath that You give me each day on this earth. I love You Lord. Amen.

“Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD.” Psalm 150:6