Do We Have An Appointed Time To Die? - Soul Choice Ministries

We have all heard it said, “You never know when it’s your time to go” or “God must have decided to take him home.” Many Christians believe they have an “appointed” time to die and they believe God controls when it will happen. They believe it doesn’t matter how or when they die, but that it’s always in God’s timing. Is this thinking merely man’s tradition…or is this taught in the Bible?

This thinking is unbiblical. This may sound completely foreign to some, but the length of our life largely depends on what we do and what we believe. We’ll examine the verses that support this ahead. God’s plan for His children is for each of us to live long and finish our God-given assignment on the earth. However, if a person is satisfied at a younger age and desires to go home to the Lord, then that is their choice although that choice may not be God’s best for them. God’s desire is for each of us to live long enough to fulfill His plan for our lives.

Psalms 91:16 says, “With long life will I satisfy him…”

If a Christian is satisfied and desires to go home to heaven due to pain or disease in their body, or something of that nature, and they choose not to stand and believe God for healing, then that is their choice. Suffering in pain is terrible and no one should condemn a person’s decision.

In addition, a person can shorten their life with poor eating habits, or taking personal risks with sports, activities and such. This is a given. But outside of that, we can actually lengthen or shorten our days, as we will see in the scriptures.

Now disobedient people, or those who don’t know God can die at any time. I am not saying that a Christian can just skip through life and never experience any pain, loss, or suffering. We all can experience trials and challenges in this life. We live in a fallen sinful world where Satan is the god of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4). He is our enemy and he seeks to destroy, steal and kill. We can and will be affected by his arrows at times.

In addition, we can make poor decisions, which do affect our lives. However, if we obey God’s word and learn to listen to the Holy Spirit’s instruction, we can be spared and shielded from many of his fiery darts (Ephesians 6:16).

Ephesians 6:11-13 describes the armor we need to wear daily for our protection, and it mentions the evil day that comes. We all will experience an evil day. Jesus mentioned the evil day in Matthew 6:34.

Here are several verses that promise us long life if we do what his word commands.

Prov. 3:2, Keep my commandments for length of days, and long life, and peace shall they add to thee.

Prov. 3:13,16, Find wisdom…length of days is in her right hand.

Prov. 4:10, Hear and receive my sayings, and the years of thy life shall be many.

Prov. 9:11, For by me thy days shall be multiplied and the years of thy life shall be increased (those who fear of the Lord).

Prov. 10:27, The fear of the Lord prolongeth days, but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.

Prov. 14:27, The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.

Prov. 28:16, He that hates covetousness shall prolong his days.

Eph. 6:2, Honor thy father and thy mother, That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.

These wrong attitudes will shorten our lives:

Prov. 11:17, He that is cruel troubles his own flesh.

Prov. 7:21-23, She caused him to yield…he goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter…till a dart strike through his liver. (The fornicator and adulterer will have liver problems).

Prov. 14:30, Envy is as rottenness to the bones.

Ps. 31:10, Strength faileth because of mine iniquity, and my bones are consumed. (Sin causes bone problems).

Job 20:1, His bones are full of the sin of his youth.

Prov. 17:22, A broken spirit drieth the bones.

Prov. 18:8, The words of a talebearer are as wounds, they go down to the inner most parts of the belly.

Ps. 109:18, As he clothed himself with cursing…so let it come unto his bowels like water, and like oil in his bones.

Deut. 28:64,65, If ye serve other gods, the Lord shall give thee a trembling heart and failing of eyes and sorrow of mind and thy life shall hang in doubt and thou shall fear day and night and have no assurance of thy life.

Ps. 55:23, Bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days.

Prov. 2:22, But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it.

You might ask, “What about the ungodly people who live a long life?” One of the reasons is that God is merciful and desires all to be saved. He gives them long life in order to allow them more opportunities to repent and turn to Him. This is God’s mercy and longsuffering mentioned six times in the New Testament. See: Romans 2:4; Romans 9:22; 1 Timothy 1:16; 1 Peter 3:20; 2 Peter 3:9; 2 Peter 3:15.

A Christian may also be praying for them to be saved, so God is answering that prayer by extending their life. Look at this wonderful promise:

Ps. 37:37, “Mark the perfect (blameless) man and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.”

Notice his end is peace, and not some horrible disease or tragic accident. To expect to die in peace is not arrogance, but confidence in God’s promises. One more point: Our own mouth has a lot to do with how long our life is.

Ps. 50:23, To him that ordereth his conversation aright, will I show the salvation of God.

Prov. 12:14, A good man shall be satisfied with good by fruit of his mouth.

Prov. 12:18, The tongue of the wise is health.

Prov. 16:23, The heart of the wise teachest his mouth and adds learning to his lips.

Prov. 18:8, The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

Prov. 30:32, If thou hast thought evil, lay thine hand upon thy mouth.

1 Pet. 3:10, To him that would love life and see good days, let him refrain his mouth from speaking evil. (Evil is doubt – Numbers 13:32).

I hope you can see there are many things we can do or not do that will affect our years on the earth. May we seek to be doers of God’s word, live long, and influence as many as possible into God’s kingdom.