By the way, I'm currently reading Desiring God by John Piper (it's pretty good, I would definitely recommend it to anyone). It's awesome so far! Check it out.
Living Will of Sarah Jo Spears
“To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die…”
~Ecclesiastes 3:1-2
Declaration made this 11th day of February 2010. I, Sarah Jo Spears am a child of God by the grace of God, through the sole merit of the atoning blood of the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, my Savior. I have received the gift of salvation by faith. I believe that God is sovereign and has ordained my every breath and heart beat. I am of the firm conviction that each and every life is created by God and therefore sacred. In light of this it is my desire to make known my wishes for my care in a terminal state. I am defining a terminal state as a state of coma (with a GCS of 8 or less), persistent vegetative state, or brain death.
It is my will to designate a healthcare surrogate. My healthcare surrogates are my parents, Laura and Terry Spears. In the event that my parents are incapacitated, my sister Jennifer Lykins will serve as surrogate. I reserve the right for my healthcare surrogates to make decisions on my behalf that go contrary to this document. I understand that is impossible to predict every possible situation, therefore in the event that I am mentally incapacitated my healthcare surrogates have the ultimate say in which treatments I receive or do not receive.
When I leave behind this mortal “flesh”, this “tent” I shall exchange it for “a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” (2 Corinthians 5:1-6). Death has been defeated and reins in me no more, yet I consider myself to be already dead, but alive in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:12-13, Ephesians 2:4-9). To be absent from this body and to be present with my Lord in eternity is no loss, but a great gain (Philippians 1:21-25). Therefore, while I do not seek death, I do not desire to unnecessarily prolong the inevitable. This living will may never be used to promote euthanasia, active or passive. No measures should ever be taken to cause death, nor be taken purely to end suffering. Suffering is ordained and will be endured by the grace of God. I have placed my total trust in the Lord God with this mortal body and with my eternal spirit.
It is my will that I never be placed on a ventilator. All other decisions are left to my healthcare surrogates.
If you are reading this document and do not know what will happen to you when you die, let me declare to you that assurance is possible. The Lord God Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, who is the first and the last, the holiest of holies has created a way for you to come into his presence. We, who are sinful from the day of our birth, deserve nothing but judgment (Romans 3:10-23). However, God in order to show the brightness of his glory, sent his only son to make a propitiation (an atonement) for our sins (Hebrews 1:1-3, Romans 3:24-26, Romans 6:23) and save us from the wrath of God (Romans 1:18, 5:9). Jesus Christ came to earth, being fully man and fully God and lived a sinless life. He was then was crucified unto death (Romans 5:6-9). He, then having been buried, rose to life again on the third day, as was prophesized in the scriptures. This was planned from the beginning of time so that He could bring us to God (1 Peter 3:18). I beg you, if you have not trusted in Christ as your savior, do not harden you heart. Salvation is a gift of God, free to all who believe, by faith alone (Ephesians 2:8-9, John 1:9-14). Lay down your rebellion and your pride, repent and turn to Jesus.
“So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written:
“Death is swallowed up in victory.
“O Death, where is your sting?
O Hades, where is your victory?”
~ 1 Corinthians 15:54-55
All glory to Him forever and ever, amen!
