Luke 23:46 (KJV)

46. And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.

We come to the very last saying of Christ on the cross of Calvary. Jesus is often viewed as the model for how to live (WWJD), but He is also the model for how to die. For some, death is a far off concept. For some, death is thought of often, but for everyone of us --

Death is imminent, impartial, and irresistible. Yet most people ignore death totally. you are never really ready to live until you are ready to die. When am I ready to die?

1. When you are secure in your relationship with God - "Father, into thy hands . . . "
   Jesus has said, "My God, my God . . ." earlier, but now He cries, "Father." Jesus bore the wrath of God for sin, but now the wrath was over. Father is His favorite title. You are not ready to die until you know God as your Father -- sin is now gone.
   1. This is possible, not presumptuous - I John 2:3 - "And hereby do we know that we know Jesus . . ." I John is written that we might know that we know Christ.
   2. This is in the present, not the past - our relationship with God should not be built or based on what we have done in the past, but what He means to us now.
   3. This is a possession, not a profession - the fleshly excitement of "revival meeting" endures for a while, but then is "no root." Formal professions grow weary "in the race." To live the Christian life involves being born again! "By their fruit they shall be known." The fruit of the Spirit within you is love, joy, peace, goodness, kindness, meekness, gentleness, and lack of self-centeredness.
2. When you are strong in your realization of God . . . "Father, into thy hands . . ."
   "The Son of man shall be betrayed unto the hands of men" (Matthew 17:22).
   "The Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners" (Matthew 26:45).
   "Him (Jesus) being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God ye have taken and by wicked hands have crucified and slain" (Acts 2:33).

   God is sovereign over my suffering. He has a purpose for my pain, and though I may not know in full what that purpose is, I will commend my soul and care to Him.

3. When you are satisfied with your responsibilities from God - "I commend my Spirit."
   Jesus said (John 10:17,18) "I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it form me, but I lay it down myself." In other passages, the Bible says that "Jesus yielded up the ghost" (Matthew 27:50) and "gave up his spirit" (John 19:30). God gave Christ the responsibility to save sinners as it is written "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners" (I Timothy 1:15). And Jesus fulfilled his mission.

   What are your responsibilities? What tasks has God given to you to fulfill as a father, husband, employer, wife, mother, as a child of God? Can you die today with a sense of fulfillment? If not, seek forgiveness and recommit to those tasks.