Do we know when our time has come?

I had been to Bulldog ballgames with Jim Stone many, many times and we always stopped at Poss’ BBQ to eat on the way into Athens. Jim would spend money on something he really wanted, but by and large was very tight with a buck. At Poss’ he always, without exception, ordered the cheapest thing on the menu which was, as I remember, a hash sandwich. This Monday night we were headed for a basketball game against Kentucky, and Jim ordered a filet steak. I didn’t think much about it until later that night. We were sitting in Jim’s living room talking with Virginia, his widow; Jim had died of a massive heart attack on the way home from the game. One of the first questions Virginia asked was about his last meal; it was strange she would ask, strange also that Jim changed that night.

Aaron knew when his time had come: (Numbers 20:26) “And strip Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son: and Aaron shall be gathered unto his people, and shall die there.”

In the parable of the rich fool (Luke 12:20), Jesus said. “Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee”; obviously this rich man did not know his time had come.

Moses knew when his time had come: (Deuteronomy 32:48-50) “And the Lord spake unto Moses that selfsame day, saying, Get thee up into this mountain…..and die in the mount whither thou goest up, and be gathered unto thy people; as Aaron thy brother died in mount Hor, and was gathered unto his people:”

Joshua knew when his time had come: (Joshua 23:14) “And behold, this day I Am going the way of all the earth”.

King Hezekiah knew when his time had come: (II Kings 20:1) “In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the Prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live.” Hezekiah subsequently pleaded with God and was granted 15 more years, see verses 2-6 

God says because we forsake Him and go backwards, He will stretch out his hand and destroy us; for He is weary of our repenting (Jeremiah 15:16).  For Christians, I believe this is the destruction of our physical bodies. In answer to the original question, “Do we know when our time has come”; the answer is a definite “sometimes”, and I think also that sometimes we may know why.