If I Die Today (It’s OK)
I'm excited to have finally released my Songs From a Hospital Bed album yesterday! Some of you joined me for the launch online last night - thanks for the support.
I want to use the songs on our devotions this week, starting with the first song on the album called "If I Die Today (It's OK)". There I was in the hospital after major surgery, and when people came to visit they all took one look at me and freaked out! I was not in good shape. The moment when I realised how bad it must have been was when my minister and mentor Rev Derek Wilson came to see me, and when he got to the bed he just went "oh my word!" If he was shocked, I must have been looking pretty bad.
Facing Mortality in the Hospital
I started to wonder if I was actually going to make it - I couldn't really move, and was being fed through a tube. And in my mind I began writing a song, which went like this:
Lately I have realised again that life is fragile and its frail
That my bones are surely weakening and even now my flesh will fail and fail
But life’s great certainties are being taxed and being taken to the other side
And if I die today I won’t have to pay no more, and at least I’ll have arrived!
The song goes on to talk about how if I were to die, that would be ok – because I knew what was waiting for me on the other side of death. Listen to the chorus:
No more fear... About what might happen over there
Perfectly safe.... Held in the Saviour’s grace
No need to cry... Looking in my Saviour’s eye
If I die today oh Lord... it’s OK
The Christian truly has no need to fear when death is near, because not only do we have a sense of God with us in the current moment, but we have the assurance of being with Him when we do close our eyes in death.
Celebrating Life While Accepting Death
Of course, this does not mean we glorify death! God is the giver of life, and the conqueror of death. I was saying that death was ok, because in Christ it would not be the end for me. But I didn't want to die. And in fact when I sang this the other day I thought to myself - I really don't want to die. I want to meet my twins and see them grow up! I want to enjoy the blessings God has lovingly given me.
So let me close today's message with the fourth verse which reminds us that if we die, it's ok - but if we live, that's even better and we’ll live to the glory of God!
But while I’m still around I’m gonna live life to the full with all my might!
I’m gonna learn all that I can from every bright and sunny day, and every darkened night
Because if I die today that’s OK – yes oh yes this is true
But if I don’t die today... That’s OK too!
