The Last Enemy: you have a say

S. SEKOU ABODUNRIN

In spite of all you have been told about the uncertainties surrounding death, I am persuaded that you do not really want to die just yet. You ask for proof? Why, it’s easy, the very fact that you are breathing speaks volumes. It is not complex is it? It is fact that breathing helps keep you alive on earth.

Perhaps you are one of those people who feel that death is a “friend”. Most of us have conceived of death as something that we must submit to at some unknown but specific date in the future without putting up any resistance.

The trouble with that perspective to things is that even nature contradicts it. There are some basics we all can agree on – man can breathe or decide not to and this directly affects his stay on earth. In fact you should be able to drive your car at 300 km/hr downhill without worrying about any outcomes since there is a guaranteed date for your departure from the earth. You’d agree with me that is one way of guaranteeing a quick exit from the earth, in other words even nature teaches us that we do have some say about death.


The bible declares that God is the author of life. Yet, none of us would be foolhardy enough, I hope, to adopt a reckless attitude of “It is up to God if I live so I have decided to stop breathing”. The simple fact is that there are things you do to cooperate with God in bringing to pass his intention to have you live on earth. The part you might not have considered is that you also need to cooperate with death.

I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:
Deut 30:19

Apparently God didn’t think it important to consult with any of us in designing the laws that govern the universe. In his system he calls us in as witnesses. In order words we don’t make the laws. Now, the word says that God set life and death before you. Then he turns around and says, “when I am ready I will choose death for you” … well, we know he didn’t say that. He said you choose. In order words man doesn’t make the laws, but he can determine outcomes by his choice. Once he makes a choice there are outcomes triggered by the choice.

You readily agree with the things said above, but the catch is this, God spoke these principles within the context of death and life issues. Many of us have understood the importance of our choice when we heard the gospel message and had to make a decision either to accept eternal life or to reject it. When you accepted eternal life you were in effect taking a stand against the laws of spiritual death.


Just as you have learnt to take such a stand in the spirit, you will learn to be a steward of the physical life housed in your body. You have a choice where death is concerned, just like you have a choice where life is concerned. For most of us though the choice is that we are ready to submit to anything.

God has settled some of these things – he says to choose life.

For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.
2 Tim 4:6

When the apostle spoke of the time of his departure, he was really talking about death. Did you notice the way he phrased it? He called it “departure”. In other words death is not cessation, but a transfer from one system onto another. He was departing and until he was ready there was to be no departure. He was simply going to leave the earth and going to be present with the Lord. We have here a beautiful analogy – think of death as a journey out of this system into another system. It is very much like traveling from oxford circus to Manchester. You could decide to miss the train or follow the sequence of the trip.

The point I want you to see is that there is such a thing as you having a say where your departure from the earth is concerned. You stand in awe of such declaration “I am now ready…”

For I am in a strait between two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:
Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.
And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith;
Philippians 1:23 – 25

Most believe that some other personality has decided for them where death is concerned, even though this same personality didn’t decide on their behalf on the issue of salvation. Going by the way most of us approach the issue of death, we are not in any strait at all. But the apostle says he was in such a strait. I want you to see that he had a desire to “depart”; this desire preceded his actual departure or death. There is something holy or “far better” about not allowing accidents of life serve you a sudden quit notice from the earth. You ought to know ahead. It is far better not only to be with Christ, but also to leave the earth when your desires are intact. You shouldn’t be evicted, you should depart.

Paul didn’t stop there though; he said that the saints of his day would benefit more from his presence on the earth. On the basis of the benefit he could bring to the church he decided to stay back on earth. It was this decision he had to make between abiding on earth or proceeding to heaven that he called a strait.

He was staying behind “having this confidence”!!!

In simple terms, you can face the issues of death with confidence. If you will accept the truths of God’s word on this matter you will walk in a greater degree of freedom knowing that you do have a say concerning when you die and how.

Death is no longer what it used to be.

Do you know you ought to factor in the benefit you bring to the church in deciding how and when death shall be?

My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:
For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.
Proverbs 3:1 - 2

The very word of God has been given to communicate to us knowledge of his laws. When my heart keeps the instructions that God has outlined in his word they actually ADD some things to me. In this verse we see that when I cooperate with the laws of God’s word length of days, long life and peace are added unto me. Now, this means that if I disregard the laws of God’s word I deprive myself from getting these additions. In simple terms I can ADD long life to myself right away by building my life on the truths of God’s word. Since I can have length of days “added” unto me, there is no definite, predetermined day of my departure from the earth. If anything, I can extend my stay here on earth.

There is a secret in that first verse. God says not to forget HIS law. There is a law at work that you can trigger by being mindful of its principles. You can add to the length of your life on earth. Do not forget that.

The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.
Proverbs 10:27

By now you should be convinced that you do have a say in the matter of death. If there were a specific day, some big unknown in the future concerning your death, then it would be impossible to talk of prolonging our days. You can prolong your days by learning the fear of the Lord. Thing is most of us fear death! The fear that you need to culture is the fear of the Lord for it directly impacts the prolonging of your earth-time.

Did you notice that the same verse shows that the years of the wicked shall be shortened? In order words the wicked affects his resistance to death, just like the one who fears the Lord does. The wicked affects the system by weakening his own resistance, which effectively shortens his days. So a man can have his days “shortened” or “lengthened” by things within his power.

The believer needs to learn the fear of the Lord and to wake up to the fact that death is no longer what it used to be. The Lord of life holds the keys now, and it is to our advantage.

Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
Proverbs 29:18

Have you considered that there is a much-overlooked secret in that verse? There is a link between the strength of your vision and the ability of circumstances of life to bring about death. One of the things you should work on is your vision. Another word for vision is the word “hope”.

When hope is not kept strong, the principles of death gain the upper hand.

You have to learn to keep your hope strong. This is precisely why this piece is written. There is a law that you need to keep – learning to keep your hope alive. If you leave yourself open to any and everything that people tell you about death, you will end up believing in myths that rob you of your resistance against death and snuff out the light of any hope you have left. The word of God communicates this supernatural hope to you.

You faith will give substance to the things you hope for. If hope is dead, faith has nothing to give substance to. Feed your hope where long life, peace and length of days are concerned. Let your heart keep a feast continually on these thoughts – then faith will rise within you and give substance to LONG LIFE!!!