"End of life decisions"The tough decisions related to dying are all related to the tough decisions of living. Where do we go for guidance and direction when faced with challenging issues? Who do we trust to speak the truth without bias? Who knows what the future holds? Who understands all the issues involved in my situation? The answer for all of these questions is the only true and triune God; The Creator, Redeemer, and the Holy Spirit. He speaks to us clearly through the Holy Scriptures about what we need to know about life and death.The Bible clearly reveals God to be high on life in all its forms and stages. He has created everything that is living and everything was created to live forever. Death only came into creation through the disobedience of Adam and Eve. God warned them, "You must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die." (Genesis 2:16-17). They did not heed the warning, and when they ate of that forbidden fruit, their eyes were opened and they became afraid and embarrassed. They hid from God and all of mankind has shared in this fear and embarrassment ever since.All mankind believes that they have the ability to be like God and make their own choices. The problem is that it is all a big fat lie and always leads to heartache and failure. People do not have the ability to discern good from evil on their own, so clearly they do not have the ability to do good on their own either. All mankind is sinful from their conception, and no good thing comes from them apart from the good that God works in and through them. We must accept this as true in order for God to work in us the faith that we need to live in God’s creation.God creates faith in the hearts of all who will believe in Jesus Christ as the one who lived, died, and rose again as Savior and Substitute. St. Paul reminds the Christian, "It is not I who live, but Christ who lives in me." (Galatians 2:20). Christ was obedient to the will of His Father in heaven and committed no sin. If Christ lives in us as Christians, then we are obedient to the will of His Father in heaven and we have eternal life. This faith is the gift of God so that no man can boast of himself.As Christians face the issues of life in this sinful world, we look to God and His Word for the guidance and direction that we need to show Christ in our lives. This is not open to change or revision because we live in the 21st century. God’s Word is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. It reveals the truth that God would have us to know, confess, and practice in our lives. This word can be summed up with two simple commandments from God. "Love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, soul, and mind, … and love your neighbor as yourself." (Matthew 22:37, 39). Life and death are in God’s hands. We are to respect life always as a gift from God that will last forever for the Christian. Death is simply a doorway that leads to eternal life. We do not hasten death nor fear it any more than we can speed up life. We take it as it comes and trust in the Lord to walk us through it. He has been through it. He knows all things and promises that nothing can separate us from Him. He promises that He will supply all that we need when it is needed. Life and death are faced with the confidence that God is always in charge working things out for the good of those who trust in Him. Live life with Jesus Christ for He has overcome death!