As Good as Dead

I think that's my motivational phrase for 2025: "As good as dead."

I found the phrase recently while reading through Hebrews 11, but then I noticed it occurs in a second passage as well. In both places it describes Abraham who, as an old man, trusted God's promise of a son. Here's the first, from Romans 4:

In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be.” He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah's womb. No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. (Romans 4:18-21 ESV)

And the second from Hebrews 11:

By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the  seashore. (Hebrews 11:11-12)

I've noticed this phrase before, but it hits home in a new way since this fall I—gasp!—turned 50 years old. I know, some of you have now written me off as an old geezer, and the rest of you are thinking, "My, my, that boy doesn't know anything about old age."

Your opinions aside, my experience for the past several years is that the brevity of life is often on my mind. My analytical nature, though intended as a blessing, can tend toward skepticism and morbidity at times, and I've been painfully aware for a long time that I will never accomplish all the things in life that I wish I would. Mix in a strong perfectionist streak, the demands of familial relationships (one of life's richest joys), financial limitations, and the distractions of our electronic age... and many of the things I long for most deeply I just can't seem to accomplish.

But. Today and in 2025 I want to walk in renewed faith. Faith that what God has promised he will accomplish, even though I sometimes feel as good as dead. Even though in some ways I am as good as dead.

To be clear, God has not promised me that I'll write that book. Or books. Or that I'll become a more effective Bible teacher. Or a wiser father. Or that I'll be given days on end to play piano and reach a new level in my musicianship. Or that I'll create an album of my own original songs and other musical compositions (with enough variety included that every listener will find at least one song that they don't like—my guiding musical vision for years). 

But God has promised that our labor in the Lord is not in vain (1 Cor. 15:58). He has promised his Holy Spirit to those who ask (Luke 11:13). And he has promised that his Holy Spirit will bear good gifts (1 Cor. 12:4-11) and fruit (Gal. 5:22-23) through us. And that could include some of the things above.

So as I walk into 2025, I want to consider my own limitations without weakening in faith (see Rom. 4:19). Yes, in some ways I am as good as dead. But that's the kind of person that God likes to use, right?

A couple more things before I sign off:

First, let's not miss Sarah's role in all of this! Both texts emphasize that she, too, was just as "dead" as Abraham, and that she, too, displayed a faith that allowed God to work miracles. 

In fact, the Hebrews passage suggests that if Sarah had not trusted God, then Abraham would never have experienced the fulfillment of God's promise of descendants. Wives (and husbands), I hope that doesn't scare you too badly, but it's worth pondering. Jesus said, "if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven" (Matt.18:19). What if there aren't two? It takes two to tango, as they say. Or, better, it takes two to make a baby.

Second—drumroll—in the NIV translation there is actually a third time that the phrase "as good as dead" appears in Scripture. Here it is:

But God came to Abimelek in a dream one night and said to him, “You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken; she is a married woman.” (Genesis 20:3 NIV)

(The NIV translation here is a little loose; a more literal translation would say "You're dead" or perhaps "You are a dead man." But let's not let exegetical details get in the way of a good Bible teaching moment.)

I'll trust you to recall or read the story if you  want the details, but the main point I want to observe is this: In this account Abraham's lack of faith (pretending Sarah is only his sister in order to save his own skin) leaves someone else (Abimelek) "as good as dead."

Again, the lesson here is that people near me will be profoundly impacted by my faith or lack thereof. 

I want to hold "as good as dead" before me as I enter the new year. 

God's ability surpasses my inability. If God could use Abraham when he was "as good as dead," then he can use me, too. I want to act in that faith, making choices each day and week that open the door for God to act.

Will you join me? May it be said of us, as of Abraham:

_____ did not weaken in faith when they considered their own strength, which was as good as dead... No unbelief made _____ waver concerning the promise of God, but _____ grew strong in their faith as they gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. (Romans 4:20-21,  ESV adapted)

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