Chaplain Jeanne

Salvation is by Faith in Jesus Christ There is none righteous, no not one. (Rom.3:10) For by grace are ye saved through faith, not of yourselves...not of works. (Eph.2:8,9) Not by works of righteousness which we have done. (Tit.3:5) Met an elderly women who was probably closer to death than not. He son was present and we had prayer. He told her to remember what he has said the other day that it was not going to get better and then she needed to make a decision if she wanted to continue treatment and live in pain, or go on to heaven. He seemed to be less than gentle with her, and I interrupted to tell her again who I was and asked her if I could pray with her. I asked her if she loved Jesus and wanted to go to heaven. She said that she did. The son followed me out in the hallway and asked me if she seemed to be ready to go to heaven. Really, I cannot answer that question, as I did not feel knowledgeable enough to answer his question. I did say that she wanted to go to heaven and someone that was not ready may say something. I did not feel I gave him a good answer. I did ask him if he wanted me to go in again and talk with her. He did not. He wanted a chaplain to come again and talk with other family members who were not present at that time. One family member was saying that the patient would get right up and walk out of that bed, which did not seem very likely to me. He said they were unrealistic. If someone is ready to die, it is not always easy to know. At times, family interferes with these kinds of matters. Family members want to think the best of someone they love who is dying without realizing the seriousness of the soul and eternity. They would put them in heaven if they could. If a loved one attended church, worked for the church, was a pastor, sang, or whatever, that seems to make them think they are ready to go to heaven. Without repentance of sins, there is no remission for the soul. © Rev. Jeanne McIntosh 2011