Our greatest example in all things is Christ Himself. So, my question is, when did Jesus Thank God for the death he was about to suffer? He submitted himself to his Father for sure- but did He say anything remotely like, " thank you Father for choosing me to bear the sin of the world so I can suffer and die a hideous death. Gee, I'm just so blessed." Nope , i just dont recall that. The only thing He wanted less than dying on that cross was to not fulfill the will of God and leave us all without a sacrificial lamb. At least that is how I see it.
Matt 26:27 Then He took the cup,
and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you.
V. 28 For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
Mark 14:23 Then He took the cup, and when He had given thanks He gave it to them, and they all drank from it.
V. 24 And He said to them, "This is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many
This life in the flesh is a temporary thing, not something we should cling to beyond the purpose God has destined us all for. Jesus was here to fulfill a purpose, which He did... and Ray obviously fulfilled his purpose as well, God would not have taken him before his time was up. We all will live the exact length of time God has designated for us, not one day more or less.
Our hope is beyond this physical existence, we are looking to the kingdom, the spirit life in and with Christ. Like Paul was saying we remain here and do what we need to do, but our real desire is to be with Christ in His kingdom.
2Cor 5:1 For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
V. 2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven,
V. 3 if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked.
V. 4 For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life.
V. 5 Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.
V. 6 So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord.
Mercy, peace and love
Kat