"Ars Moriendi" is Latin for "the art of dying" or "the art of dying well". Specifically it refers to a common visual art practice common in the 16th century. Pictures would be carved into wood and then inked and press printed hundreds of times into books. Few of the books contained many words - since most people didn’t -- or couldn’t -- read. Typically the pictures would show a dying man in bed, surrounded by the benevolent figures of family and clergy while demons danced around the bed. The goal was to educate the public about the sanctity of life and the struggle between good and evil.(http://www.stevenmackey.com/pnotes/ArsMoriendi.doc) Ultimately it was a means of teaching the art of dying well. Which meant the art of dying in faith -- so as to escape the demonic hoards gathering ’round the room.
I don’t care much for Ars Moriendi as an art form but dying well for a Christian **should** be second nature.
What does dying well look like? As we come to Genesis 25 and the closing of Abraham’s life we come down to The end of an epic life in 42 words or less (v7-8). I believe that Abraham’s life closes well; and demonstrates for us a bit of the art of dying well.
1. A DEMONSTRATION OF GOD’S FAITHFULNESS.
2. A RECORD OF LIVING WELL
The whole episode is surrounded by two genealogies which are in a sense the eulogy for Abraham’s life. Let’s read 25:1-18 < read it>
On the one hand the genealogies themselves tell a story to the Israelites who would read it.
They would explain the relevant history of cultures spread far and wide - from their Arab neighbors (The son’s of Ishmael) to the far east descendants of many of these particular tribes.
On the other hand it would fill Abraham’s eulogy with a DEMONSTRATION OF GOD’S FAITHFULNESS.
You and I look at these names and see a bunch of gobbledygook. The Israelites would have recognized it immediately. Bruce Vawter has a helpful analogy that gives us a sense of what is going on here. He suggests, that if we were to record our own history in the following fashion: "The descendants of Europe: Britain, France, Spain …Britain became the father of America, Canada …To Spain also children were born: California, Mexico …The descendants of America: Virginia, Georgia, Carolina …Georgia became the father of Atlanta, Augusta, Savannah..."and so on.(Gibson, John C.L. Genesis : Volume 2. The Daily study Bible series. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2001, c1981.)
The record of names demonstrates that Abraham was not just the Father of Israel but the Father of MANY NATIONS: which is exactly what God promised him back in chapter 12. It’s a testimony of Gods faithfulness.
2. I would propose that the art of Dying Well can only follow THE ART OF LIVING WELL.
Some would say that "any day above ground is a good day." I’m not so certain that such a phrase reflects Christianity very well. Perhaps "any day above ground is another chance to Serve Him; and every day after is best!" Would be a better way for Christians to view both life and death.
Abraham’s Obituary in verses 7 and 8 reflect a life well lived.
(Gen. 25:7–8). He died "in a good old age" as the Lord had promised him (15:15).
He had walked with the Lord for a century (12:4)
and had been "the friend of God" (James 2:23).
Verse eight says that he died "an old man and full of years." Other translations lean towards the translation "Satisfied with life" as the NASB does. It’s actually a better translation from the Hebrew. For Abraham to be satisfied with life indicates that as he looked back at the last 175 years - even if he saw rising and falling - he was pleased with what he saw in his past. He had no regrets.
The Greek Philosopher Epicurus is quoted as saying, "The art of living well and the art of dying well are one. " Abraham lived the truth of the statement that dying well means living well. Living well means living faithfully not perfectly.
Abraham had most certainly not been perfect - contrary to the teachings of the Jewish scribes. Some of his warts were written down for us to see in God’s word. Early on he had faith issues as he waited 25 years for a son God had promised - so he jumped the gun and took Hagar as his concubine, and along came Ishmael. He also had a habit of lying and trying to pass his wife off as his sister in order to save his own hide as if God couldn’t do that for him.
While he hadn’t been perfect he had lived by faith. Whenever he did fail - the Bible shows Abraham going back to the land of Canaan and returning to an altar he had made in the past or constructing a new one. He believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness and he ultimately was willing to faithfully sacrifice his own son whom he loved; because God had asked him to.
The writer of Hebrews declares the life of Abraham as a life lived by faith.
Hebrews 11:8-19 8 By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise; 10 for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. 11 By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore there was born even of one man, and him as good as dead at that, as many descendants AS THE STARS OF HEAVEN IN NUMBER, AND INNUMERABLE AS THE SAND WHICH IS BY THE SEASHORE. 13 All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 14 For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. 15 And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them. 17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begotten son; 18 it was he to whom it was said, "IN ISAAC YOUR DESCENDANTS SHALL BE CALLED." 19 He considered that God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back as a type.
3. Finally I think dying well includes leaving A Godly Legacy.
Look specifically at verse 11....
Gen. 25:11 "It came about after the death of Abraham, that God blessed his son Isaac;"
Leaving a godly legacy starts today; with how we’re living. May it be that the record of our lives is one of a testimony of God’s faithfulness. May it be that when our time comes, it comes without regrets. So that we live today well and in faithfulness; resulting in leaving behind a godly legacy by leaving the mark of Christ upon those who come after us.
From time to time we’ve sung the song "Find Us Faithful" by Steve Green:
We’re pilgrims on the journey Of the narrow road
And those who’ve gone before us line the way
Cheering on the faithful, encouraging the weary
Their lives a stirring testament to God’s sustaining grace
Surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses
Let us run the race not only for the prize
But as those who’ve gone before us
Let us leave to those behind us
The heritage of faithfulness passed on through godly lives
Chorus
Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful
May the fire of our devotion light their way
May the footprints that we leave
Lead them to believe
And the lives we live inspire them to obey
Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful
After all our hopes and dreams have come and gone
And our children sift though all we’ve left behind
May the clues that they discover and the memories they uncover
Become the light that leads them to the road we each must find
Repeat Chorus
William Gurnall in his book "The Christian In Complete Armour" writes:
"Ask faith to look through the keyhole of the promise and tell you what it sees there laid up for him that overcomes; ask it to listen and tell you whether it cannot hear the shout of those crowned saints receiving the reward of all their services and sufferings here on earth. And do you stand on the other side afraid to wet your foot with those sufferings and temptations, which, like a little trickle of water, run between you and
glory?" (William Gurnall in "The Christian In Complete Armour")
What a way to die - faithful at the end. Abraham had not lived a perfect life; his foibles are recorded in God’s eternal word for us to see and take heart in our own misery. But he does show us that it is possible to die well and faithfully.
... with a little Christian license we can surely put into [Abraham’s] mouth the words which John Bunyan put into the mouth of Mr. Valiant-for-Truth in his Pilgrim’s Progress, as that intrepid soul received his summons to enter the Celestial City. I can think of no better epitaph.
"Though with great difficulty I am got hither, yet now I do not repent me of all the trouble I have been at to arrive where I am. My sword I give to him that shall succeed me in my pilgrimage, and my courage to him that can get it. My marks and scars I carry with me, to be a witness for me, that I have fought his battles, who will now be my rewarder...."So he passed over, and all the trumpets sounded for him on the other side. (Gibson, John C.L. Genesis : Volume 2. The Daily study Bible series. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2001, c1981.)
