You are either absolutely desired and wanted by those in your neighborhood or you have failed in loving your neighbors. The day you die if you are not considered missing and looked for inside of 4 hours....you have FAILED in your relationship with Christ....meaning you never had one. Nobody considered your relationship with them as valuable....because you did not understand how they felt or received love. You obviously know how to make yourself feel loved....do you know how to get others to feel loved? We ALL want to feel loved....psychotics need not apply.
I'm sure your posts are useful for someone out there, John. Just because I don't find them to be very helpful, it doesn't mean they're not useful for others, so as I said to you in my other thread, keep going, as you wish.
And I know you certainly will.
There are some things about your posts I truly do enjoy -- like your sense of humor.
But as for all the doom and gloom, I'll be skipping over all of that.
In the Biblical story of the rich man and poor Lazarus, no one knew -- or cared -- who Lazarus was when he died, or even that he died. This was a man so overlooked by society that he was covered in sores -- and it was the dogs who attended his wounds, not other human beings.
And what does the Bible say?
"The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side." -- Luke 16: 22
And what happened to the rich man?
"In Hades, where (the rich man) was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, and Lazarus by his side." -- Luke 16: 23
WE all know this is not a matter of being materially rich or poor in this lifetime, but rather -- one man had a right relationship with God -- and the other did not.
I highly doubt that people noticed or came running "inside of 4 hours" (as you say in your post) when Lazarus died. And yet, He was carried into the presence of God.
Now I know people will say, "But this is just a parable -- an allegory, a made-up story -- Lazarus and the rich man didn't even exist! Maybe so.
But I'm not so sure.
One thing I'm certain of is that Jesus would not have told this story if it didn't accurately represent the nature of God. And even if these people weren't "real" in this form, I have no doubt that there are multitudes of other "Lazaruses" out there.
I personally believe that God created some people mostly as a test for others. Maybe some are disadvantaged, and some downright difficult -- simply because God wants to see how we treat them -- and that's the whole reason for their existence. I have long thought this about some, not all, but some, of the ailments we see in this life.
God Himself told Moses, "And the Lord said to him, 'Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord?'" -- Exodus 4:11
And I believe this can (not always, but sometimes) be true with any human condition we see as less than ideal -- the mentally ill, the narcissist, the differently abled, the physically stricken, and the homeless. Their whole purpose -- which might be pleasing to God -- is to be there as a test to other people -- and to His people in particular.
If that's the case, the people around him (like the rich man) obviously failed Lazarus. But that didn't matter. And it didn't matter that no one knew Lazarus when he died. Neighbors didn't rally around his body, nor was there any flashy "Celebration of Life" service held in his honor. But apparently to God, Lazurus' did exactly what he was supposed to do in life -- he ran his race to the end -- and God alone saw that worthy of His own eternal prize.
And I fully believe that even if Lazarus isn't a real person, this is how God sees, and will reward some people that the world misses. Even if they didn't have an "impact" on thousands of people who swarm in mourning mere minutes after noticing this beloved person is gone, God knows -- and will reward accordingly.
In other words, no, it doesn't matter how many people notice when you die, and no, it certainly doesn't mean you've "failed in your relationship with Christ" as you said.
I mentioned this in another post: I know people always say we aren't supposed to talk about our "good works" -- "Do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing," -- Matthew 6:3, but I've always seen this as a matter of motivation. If one's motive is to gain approval, then no, don't mention it.
My motivation here is not approval, but an illustration of why I'm ok with dying alone, so I'm hoping I'll be ok with mentioning it.
The past few years, God has granted a lifetime prayer of mine. I've shifted into a stage of "pre-retirement" in my life, and I get a little more vacation time than I used to. I told God that if He ever answered that prayer, I would try my best to help the people I know who have been helping other people their entire lives. I know you can't bargain with God, but so far, He has graciously granted my request.
I have been using that time to fly to other states to assist my friends with their various needs -- like working at their businesses, for which they want to pay me like a regular worker, but I know God's answer -- "No, absolutely not. You bless everyone else -- God sent me here to bless you!" But I actually am being paid, as they generously supply room and board, and most importantly, their company.
I recently got back from a 6-week trip God called me to in order to help a married friend. She's caring for a group of people with everything from dementia to not being able to walk. It took a year to arrange the trip -- the timing never lined up -- but right after I got there, one person fell and broke bones, doubling my friend's workload, and I obviously knew why God had sent me at that time.
It was a very harrowing experience. But it was motivated purely by the love I have for my friend. Every time I heard her laugh at a corny joke I made (I actually prayed before the trip, "God, please make me funny enough!") was like hearing an angel sing.
All of my friends are in other states. People at my church don't really know me -- and so far, that's by my own choice. There are many scenarios in which I enjoy being anonymous. The people where I live don't know me -- and again, that's by choice. Because drugs like fentanyl are a common, everyday thing here -- the public areas are filled with clouds of smoke from various "herbs" -- and that's just not something I want anywhere near my life.
I'm sure there are some perfectly lovely people out there. But for myself, I feel safer being anonymous in all my living situations because when the parties break out (and I hear them,) I don't want any of them thinking (while strung out of their minds,) "Oh, let's go pay a visit to that girl who lives in **** (because I know her living situation and her schedule.)" No, thank you.
That's the thing about being single, especially as a woman. You have to be smart and stay aware, even if it means making a lot of social sacrifices and keeping to yourself.
Will this protect me from everything? Certainly not. But so far, keeping to myself and not letting local people know much about me has served me well.
If my family in this area dies before me, and I die alone in the corner of the place I live, what is that to me?
Yeah, it might be a mess for anyone who finds me, and I would truly be sorry for any inconvenience. But if I had any remaining family and friends, I have money saved to cover any expenses that would be involved in the cleanup, moving my things out, and of course, a funeral, if there should be one -- that would be up to them. I don't want anyone to have to worry about paying for my demise.
If God calls my relatives first, and I don't have the chance to move the thousands of miles away to where my friends are, if I die alone in this place -- and no one finds me in 4 hours -- have I failed at my relationship with God?
I'd like to think not.
If the testimonies of others count for anything, I know the friends I've tried my best to serve would certainly have something to say on my behalf.
But of course, in the end, it's up to God to decide.
Is there a chance I'm going to die alone someday, with no one in the immediate area caring or noticing -- especially not within 4 hours? Absolutely.
But God will know.
And maybe it's just my own arrogance in saying so, but I really don't think God will think I wasted my life -- and I surely hope He won't think I've failed in my relationship with Him.
But again, that's up to Him.
If you measure people's faith by how many people notice or show up when they die -- I'm pretty sure that's your own measurement, and certainly not God's.
But I'm sure you'll insist, "No, everything I'm telling you is directly in line with what God says -- you'll have to take it up with Him!" as you have said over the years.
And guess what?
I do.
And I'm pretty sure that God is ok with me not worrying about how many people show up -- within 4 hours -- when I die.
Even if one HAS made a huge impact on all the immediate impact on everyone around them -- that doesn't guarantee anyone will show up.
I know there are surely others out there who are afraid of dying alone. I just hope that some of these posts will give comfort to those who are feeing anxious about this -- you are not alone.
And, just like me, you serve the God who knows us -- from cradle to the grave -- and no matter what happens, He will be by our side.
It's the people who see the bad -- and decide to stay anyway -- who are the ones you know you can trust.