Usually around the holidays and the turn of a year, the obituary page of the newspaper is full. Out of curiosity, we might peruse this section, taking notice with some gratitude that our name doesn’t appear. Wouldn’t that be a shocker if it did?!? Then, we might carefully scan the names and the family connection to determine if we knew the individual or anyone related to them. Another thing that captures our attention – or, at least, mine – is whether they had any affiliation with a church. This is often a good indicator of their spiritual condition, although it’s not definitive.
Finally, we look at their age at the time of their decease and begin drawing some conclusions. If it is a baby, we might think a stillborn or something tragic like SIDS. If it is a child or teen, we think of accidents and suicides. Young adults also bring us to that conclusion. As the individual’s age starts to increase, we might think of things like cancer, heart disease, or some other ailment. But have you ever caught yourself reading the obituary of someone in their 80s or 90s and saying, “I wonder what they died of?”
What do you mean what did they die of? They were old! They died of old age.
Now, I know that sounds crass and calloused. The thought and idea, though, was triggered by a Mental Floss article titled Do People Really Die of Old Age? In 1997, Jean Calment died. She went down in the record books as the oldest person with documentation to have ever lived in the modern era. She was 122 years old.
What did she die of? Seriously?!?
“For years, the World Health Organization (WHO) included “old age” as a cause of death in their International Classification of Diseases (ICD) data manual. The term wasn’t retired in the ICD until 2022, when WHO substituted it with “aging-associated biological decline in intrinsic capacity.
“But the fact remains that such a label is used not in the absence of a real cause, just in the
absence of determining one. This is often due to a lack of information rather than a lack of curiosity: In a patient with several co-morbidities, for example, the ultimate contributor to their death may not be clear.
“Not all cultures shy from relying on old age as a catch-all term. In Japan, rōsui, or decline associated with old age, was the third leading cause of death in 2021. “We would say these days, ‘She had all sorts of conditions but since she was old, let’s say she died of old age,’” gerontologist Akihisa Iguchi told The Wall Street Journal in 2022. One Japanese physician told the outlet he lists rōsui on half the death certificates he signs each year.
“It’s more accurate to state someone died at an advanced age rather than of an advanced age, though perhaps some families may prefer the vague term when there’s little sense in pinpointing the exact cause. It’s also a way to avoid the often-grim reality of what actually defeats us, from heart disease to pneumonia. When Queen Elizabeth II passed in 2022, the cause given was “old age.” Her actual cause of death has never been publicly revealed.”1
The true cause of death is never mentioned on any death certificate. Job 14:1-2, 5 says, “Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble. (2) He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not … 5) Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months are with thee, thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass.” If we believe this verse, there are a number of things that have to change in our view of death.
Aunt Matilda is in her final days. She is just hanging on and won’t let go. We need to tell her that it’s okay to go be with Jesus. I’ve heard it and said it. But if God holds our days in His hands and HE has set the number of days that we cannot pass, do we, the dying, really have any say in the matter? How much control does a dying person have?
Uncle Fred always said he wanted to live to be 100. He’s getting close at 95 but he has some heart troubles, diabetes, kidney disease, and is starting to get dementia. If he just hangs in there and tries really hard, I’m sure he is going to make his goal. Psalms 90:10, 12 says, “The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away … (12) So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” We don’t do the “cutting off.” The Giver and Sustainer of life does.
Now, it’s only natural for us to express our desires. We may desire to go home to be with the Lord or we may desire to spend more time with our loved ones here on Earth. As we express those desires to the Lord in prayer, we may find that the Lord gives us a more clear understanding if there are more days ahead or if they are coming to an end. Either way for the Christian, it’s something to rejoice about. God has our days in His hands.
“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. (22) But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. (23) For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: (24) Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you. (25) And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith; (26) That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again.” (Philippians 1:21-26)
1https://www.mentalfloss.com/posts/can-you-die-of-old-age
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