The Indignity of Death

The other day I read with interest an article about a 29 year old newly wed woman who moved to Oregon in order to end her own life through physician assisted suicide.  Her story was truly a tragic one.  Married just a little more than a year, Brittany Maynard was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer and in April was given just six months to live.  In her blog she wrote: “I’ve discussed with many experts how I would die from it, and it’s a terrible, terrible way to die. Being able to choose to go with dignity is less terrifying.”

Is there any way of dying that is not "a terrible, terrible way to die"?  How does choosing to die in a certain manner or at a certain time and place make death any less terrible?  How does choosing one's time or manner of death give death any more dignity? "Death with dignity" is a lie of the devil. There is no dignity in death. Death is the last enemy. Death robs us of dignity because death is sin's wages paid in full, and sin robs us of our dignity because it prevents us from being who God created us to be.

In the face of death, our only dignity comes from God who chose us from eternity to be His own in Christ Jesus. Jesus understood that there was no way to make death dignified.  Hebrews 12:2 tells us that He, "for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame." Jesus didn't choose to "die with dignity" as though death could somehow be made less horrible by choosing when or how or where to die.  In fact, Jesus chose the cross to show us just how hideous sin and death really are.

Nevertheless Jesus did dignify death in the only manner possible.  He dignified it by robbing it of its power to destroy.  In 1 Corinthians 15:55-56 Paul writes: "'Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?' The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." Jesus dignified death by His resurrection. In His resurrection victory over sin and the grave we find the only real dignity in death, since because He lives, we shall live also.

Almost one year ago my sweet wife Diana was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung Cancer.  It was shocking to hear the oncologist tell her on October 29 of last year that without treatment she would only have a few weeks to live.  It was difficult to hear him tell her that her form of cancer was incurable.  It was painful to hear that it could be treated and managed for an indefinite period of time, but ultimately it would claim her life.  It was no easier because Diana and I had been married for 43 years, not one year.  It was no easier because she was 65, not 29.

If I thought there was any way that I could help her cheat death out of its victory I would!  But I can't do that, only Jesus can, and she trusts in Jesus! If there were any way that I could bear her weakness and discomfort for her I would, but I can't. I don't even want to think about what this disease will do to her in the months ahead as it runs its course. Barring a miracle, she will become just a shadow of the woman I've known and loved for a lifetime.  However, I love Diana not for who she is suffering from the ravages of cancer.  I love her because of who she has been to me for a lifetime. I love her regardless of who she may become as a result of her illness. I love her because I have made a commitment to love her, no matter what, and I will love her to the end.

We will not seek to make death more dignified than it really is by choosing to end her life in our own time or place or manner.  I have promised her over and over again that although I cannot take away her suffering, "I will be with you every step of the way, and I will walk you all the way home to Jesus." So I will be by her side and hold her hand until she slips from my hand into the arms of Jesus. But for both of us, trusting Jesus is the only way to cheat death. The issues of life and death belong in the hands of God, who is the Giver of Life. We trust His perfect love, because He has given us life eternal through His Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior. And when that day comes that Jesus takes Diana home to heaven she will experience her real dignity, worth, yes, even her true glory in His presence as she shares in His glory. What a contrast it will be to the indignity of death!