There is a difference between causing someone’s death and allowing someone to die.  To cause someone’s death, no matter how dire their circumstance, is wrong.  Only the Lord has the right to determine when someone should die. 

Early on, the Lord gave strict restrictions on the taking of someone’s life.  He commanded in Exodus 20:13, “Thou shalt not kill.”  He also stated in Genesis 9:6, “Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.”  It is a very serious matter to take away from the Lord His right to give life to man until the very day He deems it proper to end that life.  No one has the right to do that.  Of course, we should consider the proper meaning when the Lord says we should not kill.  The Hebrew word here used is “râtsach” and it means to murder.  We read that word later in verses such as Numbers 35:20-21, “But if he thrust him of hatred, or hurl at him by laying of wait, that he die; Or in enmity smite him with his hand, that he die: he that smote him shall surely be put to death; for he is a murderer: the revenger of blood shall slay the murderer, when he meeteth him.” 

This is not to say that to kill in time of war is murder, or if a policeman would have to take a life in his role as a protector of citizens, or that capital punishment is murder.  No…the meaning of murder is to take a life unlawfully.  This is murder and is strictly forbidden.  This principle is repeated several times in the New Testament in verses such as 1 Timothy 1:9 which says, “Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers.” 

So, we see clearly that it is wrong to take a life unlawfully.  However, would it be wrong to allow someone to die who has no hope of recovering?  I see nowhere in scripture that we must prolong life when death seems inevitable.  Sometimes it is God’s will to allow some people to die earlier than we would expect. Even though we might not know all the mind and purpose of God, He knows exactly what He is doing.  Let’s consider these precious words from Isaiah 57:1-2, “The righteous person perishes, and no one takes it to heart; and devout people are taken away, while no one understands. For the righteous person is taken away from evil, He enters into peace; They rest in their beds, each one who walked in his upright way.”  Isn’t that precious?  The Lord may determine to take our lives away to prevent us from suffering longer, or to prevent some evil thing to come upon us.  Surely, we would not want to interfere with that.  I believe we do well to allow the Lord to do His work. 

I have worked with Hospice for many years.  The mission of Hospice is not to try to prolong life, but to make the patient comfortable until death comes.  Most of us have witnessed someone suffering with death being apparent.  I’m sure most of us have prayed that our loved ones would not have to suffer any longer.  Sometimes, going to great measures to keep that person alive only results in their lingering suffering.

If we have a loved one who seems to be on their “death bed.”  We should be greatly concerned about their spiritual well-being.  Do we know if our loved one is saved?  Do we have confidence that after death, they will go to be with the Lord in glory?  May we use the time we have to share the Gospel with the dying.  We read in Hebrews 9:27, “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.”  We will all die one day, unless the Lord returns for His own in our lifetime.  We should be speaking to our dying loved one about what will happen after death.  We should share with them the good news of salvation through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, so that after death they may go to be with the Lord and dwell with Him in glory for eternity.  (CC)  (673.2)